Prysmian Wins Innovation Challenge with Groundbreaking Pluggable MV Substation Solution
Prysmian has been awarded first place in the Quick & Simple Substation innovation challenge, hosted by Dutch grid operators Alliander, Enexis, and Stedin. The competition, which drew participation from 14 teams, aimed to identify transformative solutions for accelerating the deployment of medium-voltage (MV) substations — a critical need in the face of Europe’s rapidly advancing energy transition.
A Game-Changing Innovation
Grid operators across Europe face a growing challenge: the need to install thousands of MV substations to meet rising energy demands. However, current installation methods are time-consuming, labour-intensive, and constrained by a shortage of skilled technicians. Until now, no pluggable solution existed to simplify and speed up this process.
Prysmian’s winning concept introduces a pluggable MV jointing system that is fast to install, technician-friendly, and scalable — offering a practical and forward-looking answer to these challenges.
“The pluggable solution enables to plug in a more sustainable option,” said Svetlana, R&D Engineer at Prysmian.
Immagine
| Immagine
| Immagine
|
A Cross-Border Collaboration
The development of the solution was the result of a true international collaboration between Prysmian’s R&D teams in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. This international teamwork brought together diverse expertise and perspectives, enabling the team to co-create a solution that is both technically robust and aligned with real-world operational needs.
"Prysmian’s new connectorized cable solution—featuring a flexible cable design and an innovative splitable connector—redefines substation installation " — Joannes Vonk, Business Manager Power Distribution & Network Components, Prysmian Netherlands
Immagine
| Immagine
| Immagine
| Immagine
|
Looking Ahead
The pluggable jointing system is expected to play a key role in helping grid operators scale up their infrastructure more efficiently, while reducing physical strain on field technicians and improving installation consistency. It represents a major step forward in building a smarter, more resilient energy grid.
As the energy sector continues to evolve, Prysmian remains committed to leading with innovation, engineering excellence, and sustainable thinking.