Products Supplied:
- JZD H1Z2Z2-K Photovoltaic Cable (EN 50618 / IEC 62930, TÜV certified)
Specifications & Quantities:
- H1Z2Z2-K 1×6mm² (tinned copper, Class 5): 18,000 m — DC string cabling between modules and string combiner boxes
- H1Z2Z2-K 1×10mm² (tinned copper, Class 5): 12,000 m — string combiner box to inverter DC cabling
- H1Z2Z2-K 1×16mm² (tinned copper, Class 5): 6,500 m — main DC bus from inverter to DC disconnect / transformer
Total Cable Supplied: Approx. 36,500 meters
Client: An EPC general contractor
Project Name: 20MW Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Power Plant, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Project Commencement Date: Q1 2025
Project Status: Grid-connected Q4 2025
Project Details & Narrative:
Market Context — Ethiopia’s Solar Transformation
Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most ambitious solar energy markets. With a national electricity access rate of approximately 30% (43% rural, 94% urban), the government has committed to increasing installed solar capacity from the current ~20MW to 10GW by 2030 under its Renewable Energy Development Plan.
The Oromia Region in central Ethiopia is a priority development zone for utility-scale solar. The Shashamane area, with an average annual sunshine duration of 3,200 hours and stable high irradiance, is one of the most suitable locations in East Africa for large-scale ground-mounted PV plants.
Ethiopia’s solar development pipeline includes:
- Oromia 400MW PV Park (under development, ~$680M investment)
- Gad II 125MW (PPP tender, Somali Region)
- Weranso 100–150MW (PPP tender, Afar Region)
- Metehara 100MW (operational)
- Multiple mini-grid and community solar projects
The Project
In early 2025, a 20MW ground-mounted PV plant began construction in the Oromia Region near Shashamane, Ethiopia. The project was developed under Ethiopia’s PPP framework, with EPC construction managed by an international contractor.
The plant design included:
- ~40,000 PV modules (500W each) arranged in ground-mounted arrays
- ~1,600 strings (25 modules per string) across a 50+ hectare site
- String combiner boxes distributed across the array field
- Central inverters (1–2.5MW units) converting DC to AC
- Step-up transformers connecting to the regional grid at 15kV or 33kV
- Expected annual generation: ~35 million kWh, serving approximately 50,000 people
Why Large-Section H1Z2Z2-K?
The project specification called for large cross-section H1Z2Z2-K cables — 6mm², 10mm², and 16mm² — instead of the more common 4mm² or 2.5mm². This was driven by:
| Factor | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Long DC cable runs | Ground-mounted arrays require longer string-to-combiner and combiner-to-inverter distances than rooftop installations — larger cross-sections reduce voltage drop |
| High ambient temperature | Shashamane summer temperatures reach 42°C — larger conductors reduce I²R losses and thermal stress |
| UV intensity | Equatorial UV radiation is 1.8× temperate regions — H1Z2Z2-K’s cross-linked halogen-free insulation provides 25+ year UV resistance |
| Dust and sandstorms | Frequent sandstorms in the region — cables must withstand abrasive dust exposure on exposed runs |
| 25-year design life | Utility-scale PV plants require cables rated for the full project life — H1Z2Z2-K’s EN 50618 certification guarantees this |
H1Z2Z2-K vs PV1-F — Why the Upgrade?
The project deliberately specified H1Z2Z2-K (European standard EN 50618) rather than the older PV1-F (TÜV 2 PfG 1169):
| Property | PV1-F (old standard) | H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618) |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage rating | 1.5kV DC | 1.8kV DC |
| Insulation class | Class I (single) | Class II (double insulation) |
| Standards | TÜV 2 PfG 1169 | EN 50618 / IEC 62930 |
| Temperature range | -40°C to +120°C | -40°C to +120°C |
| Halogen-free | Yes | Yes |
| UV resistance | Yes | Yes (enhanced) |
| Fire performance | IEC 60332-1 | IEC 60332-1-2 (improved) |
| Current standard status | Being phased out | Current European standard |
Why JZD Won
- EN 50618 + TÜV Dual Certification: JZD’s H1Z2Z2-K cables carried both EN 50618 compliance and TÜV Rheinland certification — meeting the project’s dual certification requirement demanded by the international financing institutions supporting the project.
- Large-Section Manufacturing Capability: Not all cable manufacturers can efficiently produce H1Z2Z2-K in 10mm² and 16mm² cross-sections. JZD’s production lines were already tooled for these larger sizes, with established quality control protocols — the project did not require special tooling or new production setups.
- Complete Test Documentation: The EPC contractor’s quality team required: conductor resistance tests, insulation resistance, dielectric strength, high-temperature endurance, UV aging, and fire performance test reports — all per EN 50618 requirements. JZD provided these with every shipment batch.
- Africa Export Experience: JZD had prior experience exporting to African markets and understood the logistics challenges — including shipping to Djibouti port (Ethiopia’s main import gateway) and inland transport to Shashamane, customs documentation for development-finance-funded projects, and cable drum packaging suitable for long inland transit.
- Volume Production Capacity: The 36,500-meter order, including 18,000 meters in a single cross-section (6mm²), required a manufacturer with reliable volume production capacity. JZD’s dedicated PV cable production line delivered the order across two coordinated shipments without delays.
Execution & Outcome
The cable supply was delivered in two shipments:
- Shipment 1 (Q2 2025): 6mm² and 10mm² cables — the first cables installed for the DC array field
- Shipment 2 (Q3 2025): 16mm² main DC bus cables and remaining 6mm²/10mm² quantities
Post-installation:
- All DC cabling passed insulation resistance and polarity testing before inverter commissioning
- The plant achieved first grid connection in Q4 2025
- No cable-related defects or warranty claims during the first months of operation
- The EPC contractor added JZD Cable to their approved vendor list for future Ethiopian and East African solar projects
JZD Cable H1Z2Z2-K Solar Cable Highlights:
| Property | Specification |
|---|---|
| Conductor | Tinned copper, Class 5 flexible |
| Insulation | Cross-linked halogen-free compound (Class II double insulation) |
| Outer Sheath | Cross-linked halogen-free, UV-resistant |
| Rated Voltage | 1.8/1.8kV DC (U₀/U) |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to +120°C (at conductor) |
| Flame Retardant | IEC 60332-1-2 |
| Certification | EN 50618, IEC 62930, TÜV Rheinland |
| Expected Service Life | 25+ years |
| Available Cross-Sections | 1.5 – 16mm² (large sections: 6/10/16mm²) |
About JZD Cable
JZD Cable (Shenzhen JZD Wire & Cable Co., Ltd.) is a professional cable manufacturer with over 20 years of experience, headquartered in Shenzhen, China. We produce a comprehensive range of solar and photovoltaic cables — including H1Z2Z2-K (EN 50618), PV1-F (TÜV 2 PfG 1169), and YJV solar distribution cables — certified by TÜV Rheinland and exported to utility-scale PV projects across Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. Our factory operates under ISO 9001 quality management, with every shipment backed by complete EN 50618 / IEC 62930 test documentation and batch traceability.
Need EN 50618 certified solar cables for your utility-scale PV plant? Contact JZD Cable for a customized quotation, free sample evaluation, or technical consultation.
