Against the backdrop of continuous cost optimization in photovoltaic (PV) systems and the drive for more efficient material utilization, cables—often described as the “arteries” of PV power plants—play a critical role in determining both the initial investment and long-term reliability of solar installations.
Recently, SOWELLSOLAR, a brand under Xiaowei (Zhejiang) Electric Co., Ltd., introduced an innovative photovoltaic cable known as the 70% copper conductor PV cable (model: SE-TCA). The product represents a significant advancement in conductor materials, offering a new solution for reducing costs while maintaining performance in solar power systems.
Innovative Conductor Material
The SE-TCA belongs to the category of special-conductor photovoltaic cables. Its conductor is manufactured from a copper alloy containing 70% copper, a design intended to significantly reduce the amount of pure copper traditionally required in PV cables.
Despite the reduced copper content, the cable is engineered to maintain stable electrical performance and mechanical reliability in demanding outdoor environments, where PV systems typically operate for decades.
Compliance with International Standards
Performance and compliance with industry standards remain key indicators of PV cable quality. According to the manufacturer, the SE-TCA cable fully complies with several major international standards, including:
· IEC 62930
· EN 50618
· PPP 58209
· 2 PFG 1169
Notably, the product has successfully passed stringent testing under EN 50618 and IEC 62930, and has obtained multiple certifications from TÜV. These certifications confirm that the cable meets internationally recognized benchmarks for safety, durability, and performance.
Cost Efficiency Without Performance Loss
Compared with conventional pure copper PV cables, the key advantage of the SE-TCA lies in its balanced cost-performance ratio.
According to technical data released by Xiaowei Electric, the SE-TCA cable achieves the same DC resistance as pure copper cables with the same nominal cross-sectional area—for example, 4 mm².
This means that system designers can directly replace conventional copper PV cables with SE-TCA without increasing cable size to compensate for higher resistance. As a result, PV developers can maintain system efficiency while mitigating the impact of copper price volatility on project costs.
Installation Compatibility
The SE-TCA cable also offers practical installation advantages. It is compatible with standard MC4 photovoltaic connectors, allowing installers to use widely available connection components.
This contrasts with certain aluminum-alloy cables that require specialized copper-aluminum connectors such as MC4AL. By avoiding the need for special connectors, SE-TCA simplifies installation, reduces inventory requirements, and minimizes the risk of connection mismatches.
Designed for Long-Term Reliability
According to the R&D team at Xiaowei Electric, the development of SE-TCA was driven by the need to address copper resource constraints and cost pressures while maintaining the minimum 20-year service life expected for PV systems.
The product reflects years of investment in conductor material science, insulation technologies, and long-term reliability testing.
Meeting Growing Global PV Demand
As global solar installations continue to expand, the demand for high-performance and cost-efficient PV components is growing rapidly.
With its innovative conductor design and internationally recognized certifications, the SE-TCA 70% copper conductor PV cable offers the solar industry a new option that balances electrical performance, long-term reliability, and economic efficiency. The cable is expected to find applications in large-scale ground-mounted solar plants as well as distributed photovoltaic systems.
Source：SouHu