Armenia Solar Project (AboitizPower)

The Armenia Solar Project engineering team faced three interconnected challenges during cable procurement:
Certification Compliance Pressure: The Philippine solar market relies heavily on international capital. Project financiers and insurance companies explicitly demand UL4703 certification for key electrical components. Some international investors simultaneously require TÜV certification to ensure full lifecycle safety. Single certification alone can no longer satisfy increasingly stringent market access requirements.
Tropical Climate Demands: Tarlac Province experiences a tropical monsoon climate with annual temperatures ranging from 26-34°C, humidity consistently above 70%, and a five-month rainy season. Cables must withstand intense ultraviolet radiation, corrosion in high-humidity environments, and mechanical stress during typhoon season. Standard cables deteriorate rapidly in these conditions, leading to power generation losses or even safety incidents.
Supply Chain Timing Risks: The project timeline was tight, with only months from component installation to grid connection. Any cable delivery delays would trigger substantial liquidated damages. The project also required phased deliveries—DC photovoltaic cables, AC low-voltage cables, and high-voltage grid connection cables had to arrive precisely according to construction schedules.
Solution: Dual-Certified Cables for Every Power Stage
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd. provided a comprehensive dual-certified cable solution for Armenia Solar Project, ensuring every kilowatt-hour flows safely and efficiently from solar modules to the national grid.
From Module Strings to Combiner Boxes: Cables That Endure Scorching Sun
Across the vast expanse of Armenia Solar Project, tens of thousands of photovoltaic panels stand in precise rows. The DC power generated by each module must travel through cables to combiner boxes, then onward to inverters. This seemingly straightforward path conceals significant challenges—cables remain constantly exposed to tropical sunlight with surface temperatures exceeding 70°C, while simultaneously resisting monsoon rains.
We equipped this "vascular system" with H1Z2Z2-K photovoltaic cables bearing both UL4703 and TÜV certification marks. When installation workers laid 4mm² and 6mm² cables to connect individual modules under the blazing sun, the flexibility of the XLPO sheath made conduit pulling remarkably smooth. On main trunk lines, 10mm² and 16mm² cables carried heavier current loads, their tinned copper conductors maintaining stable conductivity in humid air without oxidation-related resistance increases or excess heat generation.
The black and red insulation layers enabled workers to quickly identify positive and negative polarities amidst complex arrays, preventing wiring errors that could reduce power generation. These cables underwent temperature cycling tests from -40°C to +90°C before leaving the factory, meaning they withstand both the midday heat of Tarlac and morning dew exposure, with a design lifespan matching the 25-year life of the photovoltaic modules themselves.

From Inverters to Transformers: The Bridge of Efficient Conversion
Once DC power reaches inverters and converts to AC, electricity must travel through low-voltage cables to step-up transformers. While this distance is relatively short, the high current creates substantial heat generation. Ordinary PVC cables soften and deform under such loads, potentially developing insulation cracks after prolonged operation—creating hidden safety hazards.
We provided XLPE-insulated YJV cables for inverter outputs: 25mm² for smaller inverters, 35mm² and 50mm² for high-capacity central inverters. XLPE material, after cross-linking treatment, possesses far more stable molecular structure than PVC. Even at continuous operating temperatures of 90°C, it maintains integrity, ensuring efficient and safe power transmission from inverters to transformers.
From Transformers to NGCP Grid: The Energy Artery Crossing Five Villages
This represented the project's most challenging power stage—from step-up transformers to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) connection point, an 11.58-kilometer transmission line traversing five barangays through farmland, roads, and residential areas. Some sections were direct-buried underground, others mounted on cable trays. The cables had to simultaneously resist soil corrosion, ground loading, and typhoon impacts.
We supplied high-voltage XLPE cables for this "energy artery," with cross-sections ranging from 150mm² to 400mm² precisely selected based on transmission capacity and voltage drop calculations. Direct-buried sections utilized YJV22 steel tape armored construction—galvanized steel tape acting as armor protecting internal insulation layers from mechanical damage caused by construction equipment or ground settlement. Tray-mounted sections used non-armored types with HDPE outer sheaths, resisting ultraviolet radiation and chemical corrosion.
When the high-voltage cables finally connected to the NGCP substation, 45MWp of clean power officially flowed into the Luzon grid, supplying renewable energy to thousands of Philippine households.
BESS-Ready Interfaces: Flexible Layout for Future Expansion
Considering AboitizPower's ongoing Bay BESS energy storage project, we incorporated storage-ready interfaces into Armenia Solar Project's cable solution. Battery energy storage systems require highly flexible high-current cables to connect battery clusters with power conversion systems. These cables must navigate tight battery compartments while withstanding frequent charge-discharge cycling.
Our energy storage-specific DC cables range from 25mm² to 240mm², utilizing multi-strand fine copper wire construction with bending radii small enough to install flush against battery racks. The XLPO insulation ensures no aging or cracking under long-term high-temperature cycling. These cables also comply with TÜV/UL4703 standards, providing plug-and-play hardware foundation for potential future storage expansion.
Why GERITEL Won: Competitive Advantages of Dual Certification
In the Philippine solar market, supplier competition extends beyond pricing to certification completeness, technical adaptability, and supply reliability. Armenia Solar Project ultimately selected Dongguan GERITEL Electrical based on these differentiated advantages:
Dual Certification Endorsement: Bridging Local and International Markets
Our UL4703 + TÜV dual-certified cables represent the "safest" product strategy for the Philippine market:
• For Local Developers: UL4703 certification (E552397) serves as the mandatory threshold for Philippine EPC bidding. Our certificates can be directly submitted with bid documents, eliminating disqualification risks from certification gaps.
• For International Investors: TÜV certification (B 126326 0001 Rev.00) satisfies European capital and multinational banking requirements for full lifecycle safety, streamlining project financing approval processes.
• Insurance Benefits: Dual-certified cables reduce risk assessment ratings with insurance companies, helping secure more favorable premium rates.
Tropical Environment Optimization

Compared to standard photovoltaic cables, our products feature three key improvements specifically for Philippine climate conditions:
1. Enhanced UV Protection: XLPO sheaths incorporate specific proportions of carbon black and UV stabilizers, reducing aging rates by 60% under equatorial-level ultraviolet intensity.
2. High-Humidity Sealing: Insulation and sheath layers utilize co-extrusion processes, completely blocking moisture penetration pathways.
3. High-Temperature Formulation: XLPE material heat deformation temperature increased to 150°C, addressing combined effects of summer ground temperatures and cable self-heating.
Optimal Balance of Cost and Delivery
• Price Competitiveness: Compared to European and American brands, our dual-certified products offer 15-20% cost savings while maintaining equivalent certification levels and material specifications.
• Inventory Assurance: For the Philippine market, we maintain spot inventory of H1Z2Z2-K common specifications (4mm², 6mm², 10mm²), with emergency orders arriving within 7 days.
• Phased Delivery: Three-batch delivery according to project progress reduces on-site storage pressure and capital occupation.
Full-Cycle Technical Support
From the selection phase, our engineering team engaged with the project:
• Providing cable cross-section calculation reports to optimize line loss and material costs
• Developing installation plans specifying different technical requirements for direct-buried, tray-mounted, and conduit sections
• On-site installation guidance ensuring bending radii and tension control align with XLPO material characteristics
Project Execution: From Factory to Tarlac Site
Armenia Solar Project cable deliveries strictly followed construction milestones:
Phase One (Module Installation Period): Delivered H1Z2Z2-K photovoltaic cables in 4mm², 6mm², 10mm², 16mm² specifications, pre-sorted by color coding to support efficient string welding team operations.
Phase Two (Inverter Commissioning Period): Synchronized delivery of YJV low-voltage cables in 25mm², 35mm², 50mm², with drum lengths customized to inverter spacing to minimize intermediate joints.
Phase Three (Grid Connection Sprint): High-voltage XLPE cables 150mm²-400mm² arrived in batches coordinated with transmission line trenching progress, with clear labeling distinguishing armored and non-armored sections to prevent construction confusion.
Zero-delay delivery throughout provided the foundation for the project's successful commissioning in November 2024.
Results Validation: Reliability Tested by Monsoon Season
Upon project commissioning, GERITEL-supplied cable systems passed all acceptance tests:
• Insulation Resistance Testing: All circuits exceeded 1000MΩ, far surpassing IEC minimum requirements
• Withstand Voltage Testing: High-voltage cables successfully passed 5-minute withstand voltage tests at 2.5 times rated voltage
• Continuity Testing: Full line DC resistance matched design calculations, with line losses controlled within budget
During the first complete Philippine monsoon season, the cable system demonstrated excellent waterproof sealing performance. Combiner boxes and inverter terminals showed no corrosion signs, with power generation efficiency meeting design expectations.
The AboitizPower project team noted: "Dual-certified cables not only satisfied financing and insurance requirements, but also demonstrated excellent workability during actual installation—the XLPO sheath maintained appropriate flexibility even in tropical heat, conduit installation proceeded smoothly, and terminal fabrication showed no cracking."
Long-Term Value: From Single Project to Strategic Partnership
The success of Armenia Solar Project established GERITEL as a reliable cable supplier in AboitizPower's supply chain. This collaboration delivers ongoing value through:
• Benchmark Effect: The successful operation of this 45MWp project provided cable selection references for subsequent large-scale developments including Calatrava (173MWp).
• Certification Mutual Recognition: Dual-certified products entered AboitizPower's group procurement list directly, shortening supplier qualification cycles for future projects.
• Technical Collaboration: Based on this project's experience, we optimized cable packaging specifications for the Philippine market (moisture-resistant wooden drums with plastic film wrapping), further enhancing tropical transportation adaptability.
Take Action: Secure Dual Certification for Your Philippine Solar Project
In the Philippine solar market, UL4703 certification is your entry ticket; TÜV dual certification is your insurance policy. Whether you're an EPC contractor developing large-scale ground-mounted projects or a project developer seeking international financing, Dongguan GERITEL Electrical delivers cable solutions meeting the highest standards.
Our Philippine Market Advantages:
• ✅ UL4703 (E552397) + TÜV (B 126326 0001 Rev.00) Dual Certification—covering both local developers and international investors
• ✅ Full-Specification Spot Inventory—4mm² to 400mm² cross-sections, rapid emergency order response
• ✅ Tropical Environment Design—UV protection, humidity resistance, anti-aging, 25-year lifespan assurance
• ✅ US Standard Certification System—UL1072 medium-voltage cables, UL4703 photovoltaic wires, meeting diverse project requirements
Contact us for project quotations and technical solutions:
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.
Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 135 1078 4550 / +86 136 6257 9592
Email: manager01@greaterwire.com
Let dual-certified cables safeguard your Philippine solar project—from modules to grid, from bidding to operation, with complete peace of mind.