The ABCs of EBA: The Role of Ethylene Butyl Acrylate in the Energy Transition

In an era of striving for carbon neutrality, the spotlight is on energy-efficient cables.

Electrification, the process of replacing carbon-emitting technologies with electric alternatives, has been identified as one of the most crucial strategies for reducing emissions. Fueled in part by the growth of renewable energy infrastructure, such as solar and wind power, the planet’s electricity consumption continues to increase worldwide.

Alongside the rise of green energy technology, there is also a surging demand for high-voltage power cables used in energy transmission and distribution. Semiconductive materials, such as ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA), are key to manufacturing these power cables. As a result, the production of these materials is becoming an important factor in the global green energy transition.

In response to this rising demand, companies like Hanwha Solutions are localizing production and increasing the global supply of critical materials like EBA. Keep reading to understand the basics of power cables, the role of EBA in making them work, and how Hanwha is helping power progress for the energy transition.

Ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) is a flexible semiconductive material created by combining ethylene and butyl acrylate molecules. A semiconductive material, or “semiconductor,” gets its name from its specific electrical properties: conducting electricity more than an insulator, such as glass, but less than a pure conductor, such as copper. Most of us are familiar with the semiconductor chips that power our electronic devices, such as computers, smartphones, and even cars. But in fact, semiconductive materials are also a key part of powering those same devices thanks to their critical role in power cables.

All power cables consist of layers, including a conductor, an insulating layer, and a semiconductive layer. High-voltage cables, however, have additional layers to control the electric field around the conductor. Without these layers, the cable would fail within minutes due to electrical stress. Within a power cable, the semiconductive layer helps ensure smooth and uniform power flow, prevent cable breaks, and minimize electrical losses.

While there are different types of semiconductive materials, EBA in particular shines with a range of useful traits: it is compatible with various materials, can withstand high heat, moisture, and damage, and is especially effective for insulating high-voltage direct-current power cables. Due to its reliable and versatile properties, EBA makes up at least 60 percent of the semiconductor layer in high-voltage power cables.

Thanks to this ability to effectively insulate high-voltage power cables, semiconductive materials like EBA are experiencing an increase in demand worldwide. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources and infrastructure, high-voltage cables play a vital role in maximizing the efficiency, capacity, and stability of energy transmissions. Now more than ever, global entities are tuned into the availability of these high-voltage cables, which are essential to delivering renewable energy where it is needed most.