Japan Electric Wire Industry Launches CO2 Cut Solution

Japanese Electric Wire & Cable Makers’ Association (JCMA) estimates thinner building wires need wider conductor size-up to reduce CO2 emission based on the probative calculation. JCMA launched a conductor size-up project for building wires (triplex-type XLPE cable) in 2008 to reduce electric resistance, conduction loss and CO2 emission. The association calculated best conductor sizes to balance cost and environmental effect by converting CO2 emission volume to Life Cycle Cost (LCC). JCMA aims to set Japanese standards for conductor size-up of building wires toward 2010.

According to the test calculation, thin-size cables with 8-22 square millimeters copper cross section require 2-3 conductor size-up, mid-size cables with 38-100 square mm copper cross section need 1-2 size up and large-size cables with above 150 square mm copper cross section need 0-1 size up.

The association recommends the size up to optimize the performance including initial cost and running cost. The association includes CO2 cost in running cost based on emission trading price in Europe.