2013 Sees Reduction in Collector System Installation Performance

MANCHESTER, Conn., March 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- IMCORP, the exclusive provider of the Factory Grade^® test for power cable systems, has released the 2013 Annual Cable System Quality Rating for utility-scale renewable energy sites in the United States. Based on thousands of new cable systems assessed annually, IMCORP maintains the most comprehensive database of medium and high voltage cable installation performance data in the world.

In the US during 2013, 84% of cable systems installed at utility-scale renewable energy sites met the manufacturers' quality control standards on initial test (The Cable System Quality Rating, or CSQR). In 2012, the CSQR for the US renewable industry was 87%. In its history, 2013 was the first time that the CSQR declined for back to back years. This downward trend is concerning to any site owner, operator, insurer, or power purchaser.

The average utility-scale renewable site contains approximately 100 medium voltage cable segments. Therefore, without using the Factory Grade^® test to assess the condition of the cable system and then making pre-energization repairs , the average 2013 facility is at risk for 16 cable system failures prior to the end of the design life. This represents more than a 20% increase of at-risk cables at each facility over sites constructed in 2012. However, renewable energy sites utilizing the Factory Grade^® test have located, mitigated, and will avoid outages associated with these embedded defects.

IMCORP, an engineering services company, is the technology leader in underground power cable diagnostics. The company's patented technology has been field-proven through the testing of millions of feet of underground power cable all over the world. The Factory Grade^® test locates existing cable system defects and predicts future cable reliability. This performance-driven diagnostic solution provides the most effective and efficient way to determine the reliability of new or aged cable systems from 5kV to 500kV. IMCORP has been assisting clients around the world improve cable reliability for over 18 years, and has tested more than 69,000 spans totaling over 88 million feet.

IMCORP's technology improves the quality of life for everyone by enhancing the reliability of electric power delivered to them through underground power cables. Find out more at www.imcorp.com.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Alex Kniffin
860.873.8000
[email protected]

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SOURCE IMCORP