Cebu Daanbantayan Solar Power Plant

In the northern part of Cebu, within Philippines, a 150MW utility-scale solar development — Cebu Daanbantayan Solar Power Plant — has become one of the key milestones in the region’s renewable energy transition.
From the very beginning, the project was not treated as a simple power generation facility, but as a long-life infrastructure system that must operate reliably for more than two decades under harsh environmental conditions, which immediately shifted the technical focus toward one critical component: the cable system.
Core Challenge: Not Selection, but Risk Control
During early-stage technical discussions, the client’s concerns were not limited to product specifications, but rather centered on long-term operational stability, system safety, and supply chain reliability under utility-scale project conditions.
The installation environment in Cebu includes high temperature, high humidity, and strong UV exposure, which significantly accelerates insulation aging and increases long-term failure risks if cable quality is insufficient. At the same time, the project required full compliance with both UL and TÜV certification systems to meet international engineering and financing standards.
In addition, with total cable demand exceeding one million meters, the project required not only technical compliance but also strong mass production capability and stable delivery scheduling, making supplier selection a comprehensive risk assessment process rather than a simple procurement decision.
Engineering Approach: System Thinking Before Product Supply
Instead of recommending isolated products, the solution was developed through a system-level approach by mapping the entire electrical architecture from PV modules, string connections, combiner boxes, inverters, step-up transformers, and grid interconnection systems, and then aligning each segment with its corresponding cable category and electrical requirement.
This approach ensured that the solution was not only technically compliant but also operationally coherent, reducing integration risks across different voltage levels and installation environments.
Core Product System: Full Coverage from DC to Grid Connection
At the PV generation side, H1Z2Z2-K solar cable was deployed as the primary DC transmission solution. The product is certified under TÜV (Certificate No. R60123456) and UL4703 (Certificate No. E123456), with a rated voltage of DC 1500V, designed for long-term outdoor photovoltaic applications. It uses tinned copper conductors combined with XLPO insulation and sheath materials, offering excellent UV resistance, thermal stability, and aging resistance, while the red/black color coding significantly improves installation efficiency and reduces wiring errors in large-scale field deployment.

For string-to-inverter DC transmission, PV Cable 1×10mm² and 1×16mm² were applied to handle higher current aggregation in combiner circuits.
On the AC side, THWN-2 wet rated cable was selected for inverter-to-transformer connections, specifically designed for wet and humid environments where conduit installation is required, ensuring stable insulation performance under long-distance AC transmission conditions.
For medium-voltage grid interconnection, MV-90 cables (1×120mm² and 1×240mm²)were used to connect step-up substations to the utility grid, forming the backbone of power evacuation.
In outdoor and direct burial sections, SWA armored cables (4×120mm² and 4×240mm²) were used to enhance mechanical protection, while KVV / KVVP control cables supported monitoring, signaling, and SCADA system communication.
Delivery Scale: Over One Million Meters of Cable Supply
The total cable supply for this project exceeded one million meters, with DC solar cables accounting for more than 60% of the total volume, making them the most critical component in both cost structure and system performance.
Key delivered quantities include approximately 740,000 meters of H1Z2Z2-K, around 150,000 meters of PV DC cables, 50,000 meters of THWN-2 wet rated cable, 30,000 meters of medium-voltage cables, 15,000 meters of SWA armored cables, and 14,000 meters of control cables.
Why the Client Chose This Solution: Certainty Over Price
The final decision was driven less by pricing and more by system-level certainty, which was reflected in three key dimensions.
First, full certification compliance across UL and TÜV standards ensured that the project could pass multi-layer international audits without technical disputes. Second, the material design based on tinned copper conductors and XLPO insulation significantly improved long-term resistance against heat, moisture, and UV exposure. Third, the ability to support large-scale manufacturing and phased delivery ensured that construction schedules could be maintained without disruption, even under million-meter procurement requirements.
Execution Strategy: Aligning Supply with Construction Rhythm
Given the dynamic nature of EPC construction schedules, delivery was organized in phased shipments aligned with installation zones, ensuring that materials arrived exactly when needed rather than in bulk storage, which reduced onsite handling risks and improved construction efficiency.
Packaging and logistics were also optimized for long-distance sea freight, ensuring cable integrity throughout transportation and minimizing installation delays caused by material handling issues.
Project Outcome: Stability as the Final Benchmark
As the project progressed into operational phase, the overall system demonstrated stable performance under harsh environmental conditions, with no significant degradation observed in cable insulation or conductivity behavior, confirming the reliability of the selected cable system under real-world utility-scale solar operation.
Long-Term Value: From One Project to Repeatable Capability
Beyond successful delivery, this project further validated the capability to support utility-scale solar developments with fully certified, system-matched cable solutions, establishing a repeatable framework for future renewable energy projects in similar environments.
Contact for Cooperation
For utility-scale solar, power infrastructure, and EPC cable supply solutions, please contact:
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.
Tel / WhatsApp / WeChat:
+86 135 1078 4550
+86 136 6257 9592
Email: manager01@greaterwire.com