The following topics will be discussed:

Sub-topics:

1. Materials, New Materials and Ageing Assessment in AC and DC

2. Cables and Accessories Design - Modelling

3. Testing Methods: Electrical and Non Electrical

Definitions
Selection criteria
Validity
Development tests, evaluation, prequalification tests, type tests, acceptance and after laying tests
Low frequency testing
PD testing as maintenance tool
Testing of Conductor Connectors

4. Cables, Environment and Sustainable Development

Impact of cables on the environment (overhead, underground, submarine)
Magnetic field limitation and health effects
Environment friendly design
Impact of the environment on cable systems (tropical, etc.)
Corrosion
Derating in metallic structures
Specific technologies
Lifecycle analysis
End-of-life treatment methods
Developments in cable regulations
Coexistence of cables and nearby systems (eg. Telecommunications)/Shared structures

5. Diagnosis, Maintenance, Remaining Life Estimation and Management

Methods for assessing the properties and characteristics of materials and possible impact on the performances of cables and accessories
Monitoring
On-line diagnosis of materials
Fault location
Methods of examination
Expert systems
Remaining life estimation in different environments: temperature, electric fields, ionizing irradiations,...
Life extension

6. Economy of Cable Systems

Cost reduction and optimisation of cable systems
Experience in service
Shared installation structures: multipurpose pre-installed ducted systems in roads, galleries, tunnels, …
Cost reduction and optimisation of civil works and laying techniques
Financial investments
Availability and insurances

7. LV and MV Cable Systems

LV and MV cables and accessories (insulated underground and overhead networks)
New materials, environmentally concerned design,
Developments in manufacturing processes and techniques
Laying methods, experience in service and quality assurance, comparative performances of cables buried with and without mechanical protection
Operating conditions, thermo-mechanical behaviour, reliability, failure analysis, operating life extension
Cables for smart grids
Use of telecommunication cables in conjunction with LV and MV cable circuits, powerline communications
Safety in case of fire
Standardization

8. HV and EHV AC Cable Systems

HV and EHV AC cables and accessories
New developments
Forced cooling, water cooling, …
New materials, environmentally oriented design
Developments in manufacturing processes and techniques
Laying methods, technical specifications, shared installation structures, quality assurance, prevention of third party damage, new innovative laying methods with reduction of the duration of works and of the disturbance of the side residents
Operating conditions, maintenance, service experience, reliability, failure analysis operating life extension, improving performances and operating at design limits, upgrading and uprating
Technical and economical optimisation (high stresses, taking into account reliability, availability, temperature in normal, overload and short-circuit conditions, etc.)
Integration in networks
Use of telecommunications cables in conjunction in HV and EHV links, powerline communications
Safety in case of fire
Maintaining the integrity of accessories
Prevention of Third Party damage
Standardization

9. HVDC Cable Systems

HV and EHV DC cables and accessories
Transition joints
Phenomena associated at the interfaces, cables and accessories
Space charge measurements (interfaces and materials)
Aging and reliability
Simulations and numerical models
Testing: investigation, development, Qualification, Type Tests, Routine and Sample tests …
Qualification procedures including Extension of Qualification
Operational experience
Change from AC to DC

10. Submarine Cable Systems

AC and DC cable systems
Mechanical Testing
Technical and economical optimization for the different parts of the installation
Cable systems for offshore wind power plants and oil platforms
Dynamic cables
Use of Aluminium
DC cables and accessories
Laying, embedding and protection techniques
Operating conditions, feedback
Availability of submarine links
Integration in the network

11. Cables for the Future

Superconducting links
Feedback from the first High Temperature Superconducting links (HTSC)
Prospects for new High Temperature Superconductors (HTSC)
Low-temperature properties of insulating materials
Technical-economical evaluation
Questions related to the integration of superconducting links in standard networks

12. Industrial and Special Cables

Technologies and installation (eg. land, underwater, overhead and spatial cables); wind power plants, PV photovoltaic / solar energy cables, nuclear power plants, etc.)
Substation cables, generation station cables, LV secondary cables, …
Cables with improved fire behaviour and fire resistance
Cables submitted to harsh external conditions: high mechanical stresses, chemical attack, ionizing irradiations,…
Other Special Cables: aerospace, automotive, rolling Stock, railway, marine, lift and crane cables, oil & gas, airport beaconing, …
New materials
Developing manufacturing techniques

13. Technical challenges encountered with cable systems

Integration of long cables (high power) in networks (compensation, static stability and dynamics of networks, distribution of the power flows in the mixed networks)