Material Insights · Understanding the Material World

AC transmission and Underground, submarine and superconducting cables

Energy flows from underground, submarine and superconducting cables to AC transmission; their prices have moved together.

AC transmission (energy) and Underground, submarine and superconducting cables (energy): 2 relationships.

How they are linked

1. Energy flow

Physical flow · Direct · Underground, submarine and superconducting cables → AC transmission

Underground and subsea cables connect into the AC grid.

2. Price link: grid partner

Cost and price · Strong · Both ways

Underground and submarine cables are bought for the same grid projects and share copper, aluminium and insulation inputs. The two indices correlate at 0.34 for monthly moves and 0.72 for yearly moves, as grid spending cycles push both together.

  • 0.34 monthly change correlation
  • 0.72 12-month change correlation
  • 1.12 fitted elasticity

Built from the site data on production routes, energy flows, industry value chains, input-output tables and prices.