Meanguera del Golfo Solar&Storage Project in El Salvador

Project Background

In 2023, AES El Salvador launched the Meanguera del Golfo Solar & Storage Project on Meanguera del Golfo Island in the Gulf of Fonseca, aiming to deliver uninterrupted, carbon-free electricity to isolated island communities. The region previously relied on a single fragile undersea cable from the mainland, which was prone to damage from harsh ocean conditions and large vessel disruptions, causing prolonged outages that threatened local livelihoods and economic development.

As Latin America’s first large-scale distributed solar+storage project tailored for island environments, it features a 1.3 MWp photovoltaic array and a 4 MWh battery energy storage system, with a total investment of $5.2 million. The core challenge was to select power cables that could withstand the island’s extreme conditions—high salt spray, intense UV radiation, high humidity, and frequent temperature fluctuations—while ensuring compliance with international safety standards and seamless integration with the solar and storage systems. For Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd., this project became a key case to demonstrate its expertise in providing UL-certified cables for harsh marine environments.

Core Challenges & Needs

The client, a leading EPC contractor in El Salvador’s renewable energy sector, faced three critical pain points that required tailored solutions:

Extreme environmental adaptability: Conventional cables failed to resist salt spray corrosion and UV aging, leading to insulation degradation, conductor oxidation, and frequent outages. The project demanded cables with long-term reliability (25+ years) in marine conditions.

Stringent international certifications: As a cross-border project, all cables needed full UL certification to meet El Salvador’s electrical safety standards and facilitate smooth customs clearance and grid connection.

One-stop supply & on-time delivery: The project required a comprehensive range of cables for DC side, AC side, medium-voltage grid connection, and control systems, with fast delivery to avoid delays in the 6-month construction cycle.

Solution: Customized Cable System with UL-Certified

To address these challenges, we provided a full-range, UL-compliant cable solution tailored to the project’s specific scenarios, with core models including XHHW-2 electric wire power cable, USE-2, and MV-105, along with auxiliary cables for control and communication.

1. XHHW-2 Electric Wire Power Cable (UL 44)

Core specifications: 600V rating, XLPE insulation, 90°C temperature resistance (dry/wet environments), copper/aluminum conductors, single/multi-core options

Application scenarios: Inverter AC output lines, AC distribution cabinet internal wiring, overhead/underground bridge laying in the power station area

Advantages over alternatives: Compared to ordinary PVC-insulated cables, XHHW-2 uses cross-linked polyethylene insulation, which has higher heat resistance, better UV resistance, and lower water absorption. Its 90°C temperature rating ensures stable performance in the island’s high-humidity environment, while the XLPE structure resists cracking and aging, reducing maintenance costs. We supplied sizes from 2 AWG to 4/0 AWG for main AC lines and 14 AWG to 8 AWG for branch lines, matching the project’s power distribution needs.

2. USE-2 Cable for humid and corrosive environments (UL 44/UL 854)

Core specifications: 600V rating, 90°C temperature resistance, moisture-proof, corrosion-resistant outer sheath, suitable for direct burial

Application scenarios: PV module to combiner box DC lines, outdoor direct burial lines between the PV array and inverter

Advantages over alternatives: Unlike general outdoor cables, USE-2 is specifically designed for humid and corrosive environments. Its special sheath material prevents water ingress and salt spray erosion, avoiding internal conductor short circuits caused by moisture. We provided 10 AWG to 6 AWG sizes for DC lines, ensuring low power loss and stable current transmission in the 1500V DC system.

3. MV-105 Cable (UL 1072/1277)

Core specifications: 15kV medium-voltage rating, XLPE insulation, 105°C temperature resistance, copper conductor, armored structure for mechanical protection

Application scenarios: Step-up station internal wiring, 13.2kV grid connection lines from the PV station to the national grid

Advantages over alternatives: Compared to standard 90°C medium-voltage cables, MV-105 XLPE insulation cable offers a higher temperature rating, making it more suitable for the heat generated by large current transmission in the step-up station. Its XLPE insulation has excellent electrical performance and aging resistance, ensuring long-term safe operation of the grid connection system. We supplied 1×150mm² and 1×240mm² sizes for main grid connection lines, meeting the project’s high-voltage power transmission requirements.

4. Auxiliary Cables

Control & communication cables: UL 1185 certified shielded cables, 600V rating, used for sensor, EMS, and monitoring signal transmission to ensure anti-EMI stability in the marine electromagnetic environment

Energy storage battery connection cables: UL 10269 certified, 1000V DC rating, 105°C temperature resistance, used for battery cluster to BMS/PCS connection, with tin-plated copper conductors to resist salt spray corrosion

Safety & Quality Assurance: UL-Certified

Reliability and safety are the top priorities for the Meanguera del Golfo project. All cables supplied by Dongguan GERITEL passed strictly  testing to ensure compliance with international standards:

Full UL certification: Each cable model holds valid UL certificates, ensuring that the products meet the highest safety standards in North America and are recognized globally, which is crucial for the project’s smooth grid connection.

Environmental resistance testing: All cables underwent salt spray testing (5000h), UV aging testing (1000h), and high-low temperature cycle testing (-40°C to 105°C), simulating the island’s extreme conditions to ensure long-term performance stability.

Material quality control: Conductors use high-purity oxygen-free copper or corrosion-resistant tin-plated copper; insulation and sheath materials are UV-stabilized XLPE and low-smoke halogen-free (LSZH) materials, which are non-toxic, flame-retardant, and environmentally friendly, reducing fire risks and harm to personnel.

Quality traceability system: Each batch of products is equipped with a unique serial number, with complete test reports and certificates, ensuring traceability from production to delivery.

Delivery & Execution

To ensure the project’s construction schedule, Dongguan GERITEL established a dedicated project team and implemented a full-process management system:

Rapid response to customization: The technical team collaborated with the client to optimize cable sizes and specifications based on the project’s design drawings, providing detailed technical parameters and installation guidelines within 7 days.

Efficient production & delivery: With a monthly production capacity of 50,000 km, the production team completed the order within 20 days. The products were transported to El Salvador via a dedicated shipping route, with all goods arriving on time, 10 days ahead of schedule.

On-site technical support: Engineers were sent to the project site to provide guidance on cable laying, connection, and commissioning, solving on-site problems such as marine environment adaptation and installation accuracy, ensuring smooth construction.

Logistics optimization: Customized packaging was used to prevent damage during transportation, with waterproof and moisture-proof measures to adapt to the marine climate, ensuring product quality upon arrival.

Project Results

After 6 months of construction, the Meanguera del Golfo Solar+Storage Project was successfully connected to the grid in late 2023 and has been operating stably since then. The cable system supplied by Dongguan GERITEL has played a key role:

Stable power supply: The cables withstood the island’s salt spray and UV radiation, with no insulation degradation or failures during operation, ensuring uninterrupted power supply to local communities. The project now provides 24/7 carbon-free electricity to the Gulf of Fonseca region, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting annual CO2 emissions by nearly 304 tons.

Compliance & safety: All cables passed the on-site acceptance inspection by El Salvador’s power grid company, meeting the strictest safety and environmental standards, and passed the annual inspection with excellent performance.

Cost-effectiveness: The long service life and low maintenance rate of the cables have reduced the project’s operational costs, providing long-term value for money.

The client highly praised Dongguan GERITEL’s professional capabilities and service quality, stating that “the UL-certified cables from GERITEL perfectly solved our challenges of extreme environment adaptability and safety compliance. Their one-stop solution, on-time delivery, and on-site support ensured the smooth completion of the project, making us confident to cooperate again in future renewable energy projects.”

Cooperation Value & Future Outlook

The success of the Meanguera del Golfo project has fully demonstrated Dongguan GERITEL’s strength in providing UL-certified power cable solutions for global renewable energy projects, especially in harsh marine environments. For our clients, this cooperation brings multiple values:

Risk reduction: Full UL certification and strict quality control ensure compliance with international standards, avoiding technical barriers and safety risks in cross-border projects.

Cost efficiency: A full-range cable supply system reduces procurement costs and management complexity, while long-term reliability lowers maintenance expenses.

Technical support: Professional technical teams provide customized solutions and on-site services, ensuring smooth project implementation and operation.

For El Salvador, the project has not only improved the local power supply reliability but also promoted the development of renewable energy, contributing to the country’s goal of carbon neutrality. For Dongguan GERITEL, this project has enhanced its brand influence in the Central American market, laying a solid foundation for further expansion in Latin America’s solar+storage industry.

Contact us

Dongguan GERITEL is your reliable partner for UL-certified power cables. We offer customized solutions and professional technical support.

Contact us today to discuss your project needs and ensure a reliable, safe, and cost-effective power cable solution!

Dongguan GERITEL Electrical Co., Ltd.Tel/WhatsApp/WeChat: +86 135 1078 4550 / +86 136 6257 9592Email: manager01@greaterwire.com