Madagascar Ambatolampy Solar Power Plant

In early 2023, we received an urgent inquiry from East Africa's island nation, Madagascar. The client was planning to construct a large-scale ground-mounted photovoltaic plant in Ambatolampy, a central highland city situated at approximately 1,600 meters above sea level. With a total installed capacity of 25MW, this project ranked among the most significant renewable energy developments in the region in recent years.
The project location presented a tropical highland climate characterized by substantial day-night temperature variations, intense ultraviolet radiation, and a rainy season extending six months annually. The client faced three critical pain points in cable selection:
First, stringent certification requirements. As a project partially financed by international development institutions, all electrical equipment had to comply with rigorous IEC standards and hold TÜV certification—requirements that local suppliers could scarcely meet.
Second, aggressive delivery timelines. Following financial close, the client needed major electrical equipment delivered within 90 days to meet the grid connection deadline set by JIRAMA (Madagascar's national utility company). Any delay would trigger substantial penalty clauses.
Third, demanding environmental adaptability. From the PV module DC side to the inverter AC output, then to the external transmission lines, different sections imposed differentiated requirements on weather resistance, mechanical strength, and electrical performance. The client needed a supplier capable of providing comprehensive, one-stop cable solutions.
Needs Analysis and Customized Solutions
Through three rounds of technical video conferences, our engineering team gained thorough understanding of the project's electrical architecture. The plant adopted a block-based generation with centralized grid-connection model, comprising eight PV arrays, each equipped with a 3.125MW central inverter. Based on this topology, we developed a three-tier cable solution tailored specifically for the client:
PV DC Side: Dual Protection Against UV and High Temperatures
The DC side of the photovoltaic zone represented the largest cable consumption segment. Considering the module's temperature coefficient of peak power and the local summer ground temperature reaching 65°C, we recommended H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² as the primary connection cable from string to combiner box.
H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² is a TÜV-certified photovoltaic-specific DC cable featuring irradiation cross-linked polyolefin insulation and sheathing. Its operating temperature range spans -40°C to +90°C, with a rated voltage of 1.5kV DC, perfectly matching the 1500V system voltage platform. Compared to ordinary PVC-insulated cables, its ozone and UV resistance performance exceeds threefold, ensuring a 25-year service life under Madagascar's intense equatorial sunlight. We supplied over 180 kilometers of H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² cables for this project, covering both 1×4 mm² and 1×6 mm² specifications for different power-rated module configurations.
The client initially considered substituting with lower-cost general rubber cables, but we provided comparative test data under IEC 62930 standards: in long-term thermal aging tests at 85°C, H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² maintained over 80% retention of insulation tensile strength, whereas ordinary rubber cables showed cracking under equivalent conditions. This technical evidence ultimately convinced the client to adopt the professional photovoltaic cable solution, avoiding potential fire risks from insulation degradation.

Low Voltage AC Side: Stable Transmission with Large Cross-Section Copper
For the AC output side from inverter to packaged substation, we selected YJV 4×185 mm² cross-linked polyethylene insulated power cable. This model employs oxygen-free copper conductors, with a 90°C long-term allowable current-carrying capacity of 352A, fully satisfying the full-load output requirements of 3.125MW inverters at 400V voltage level.
Given the mixed cable tray and direct burial installation at site, the steel tape armored variant of YJV 4×185 mm² effectively resisted rodent gnawing and mechanical stress from rocky foundations. We simultaneously provided YJV 4×240 mm² as future expansion reserves, demonstrating the solution's forward-looking design.
External Main Transmission Lines: All-Terrain Adaptability
For external connections from substation to 35kV step-up station, as well as power wiring between distribution cabinets within the station, we deployed SWA 4×185 mm² and SWA 4×240 mm² steel wire armored cables. The SWA (Steel Wire Armoured) structure endows the cable with excellent radial compression resistance, enabling direct burial in gravel roadbeds or crossing seasonal stream riverbeds without additional conduit protection, significantly reducing construction costs.
For the step-up station's secondary systems and energy storage interfaces, we supplied H07V-K 35 mm² and H07V-K 50 mm² single-core flexible cables. These specifications feature high-flexibility multi-strand finely twisted copper conductors, compliant with HD 21.3 standards, with temperature ratings reaching 90°C—particularly suitable for compact space wiring within switchgear cabinets and charge-discharge circuits of large-capacity energy storage batteries. Compared to rigid conductor cables, the H07V-K series allows bending radii reduced to four times the cable outer diameter within cabinets, greatly facilitating installation operations.
Safety Assurance: Certification Systems and Quality Control
As a Francophone country, Madagascar's electrical codes follow French NF standards while maintaining compatibility with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) systems. We submitted a complete certification documentation package to the client, which became a decisive factor in winning over the project's EPC general contractor:
• H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² series: TÜV Rheinland certification (compliant with IEC 62930 & EN 50618)
• YJV series: CE certification (compliant with IEC 60502-1)
• SWA series: BASEC certification (compliant with BS 5467/BS 6724)
• H07V-K series: VDE certification (compliant with HD 21.3 S3)
Our manufacturing facilities hold ISO 9001 quality management system certification. Raw material copper rods are sourced from Chilean CCCP-grade high-conductivity oxygen-free copper, while insulation compounds are selected from Borealis photovoltaic-grade cross-linked polyethylene. Every cable batch undergoes full inspection including high-voltage DC withstand, insulation resistance, and conductor DC resistance testing before shipment, accompanied by third-party SGS inspection reports.

he Dual Test of Speed and Precision
Following contract signature, we initiated emergency production scheduling. Leveraging the flexible capacity of our Dongguan manufacturing base and strategic raw material reserves, H1Z2Z2-K 1×6 mm² and other PV DC cables completed production within 15 days, while low-voltage power cables were delivered within 25 days—20 days ahead of the client's 90-day deadline throughout the entire process.
For logistics, we coordinated direct ocean freight from Shenzhen Port via Indian Ocean routes to Toamasina Port, Madagascar, and handled Certificate of Origin (CO) and IEC Declarations of Conformity (DoC) for the client to ensure smooth customs clearance. Upon cargo arrival, our technical engineers provided remote video guidance to local construction teams for pre-installation insulation testing and termination process training, eliminating client concerns about on-site technical capabilities in Africa.
Project Outcomes and Operational Verification
In December 2023, the Ambatolampy photovoltaic plant successfully achieved grid connection, with first-year generation reaching 102.3% of design values and zero cable system failures in operation. The client's project manager specifically noted in the acceptance report: the timely cable delivery safeguarded the overall construction schedule, while professional model selection avoided post-construction modification risks, with comprehensive costs actually falling below initial budgets.
This case's success validates the practical value of our three core competitive advantages:
First, comprehensive certification coverage. From TÜV to VDE, from IEC to BS, our certificate matrix matches entry requirements for major global markets, eliminating compliance concerns for clients.
Second, vertically integrated supply chain responsiveness. From copper rod drawing to irradiation cross-linking, from cabling and armoring to finished product testing, full-process autonomous control enables us to compress standard delivery times by over 30%, capably addressing urgent projects.
Third, scenario-based technical consulting capabilities. We don't simply move products—we provide comprehensive technical support from selection calculations to installation guidance based on project electrical architecture, environmental conditions, and standard specifications, reducing decision-making risks for clients.
Extended Partnership Value and Client Feedback
Following project delivery, based on the quality trust established through the Ambatolampy case, this client has included us in their shortlist of suppliers for African projects and placed additional orders in 2024 for cable batches destined for another 15MW plant in southern Madagascar. The core value points in client feedback centered on: compared to dispersed procurement of different cable brands, our one-stop supply ensured electrical parameter matching and unified after-sales responsibility, simplifying project management complexity.
Initiate Your Project Partnership
Whether you're planning photovoltaic plants in Sub-Saharan Africa or renewable energy infrastructure in other emerging markets, we can provide cable solutions compliant with IEC/EN/BS international standards, backed by complete certification credentials.
Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd. specializes in special cable exports, with products covering PV DC cables, low-voltage power cables, control cables, and custom wiring harnesses, serving markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Contact us today for complimentary technical consultation and quotation:
• Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 135 1078 4550 / +86 136 6257 9592
• Email: manager01@greaterwire.com