Solar Cable Manufacturer

Tratos manufactures specialised cable systems for photovoltaic installations, engineered to withstand the demanding electrical characteristics, exposure to the environmental and operational requirements of solar power generation. Our solar cable portfolio spans DC panel interconnection, AC inverter connection, and medium-voltage grid integration for installations from residential rooftops to utility-scale solar farms.

With over 20 years of solar cable manufacturing experience and production powered by our own hydroelectric, combined heat and power and solar plants, Tratos delivers proven reliability in major European installations, including the Surbo photovoltaic field in Ciminna, Palermo—one of Europe’s largest solar facilities.

Solar Cable Systems: Application-Based Selection

Solar installations require different cable types depending on system voltage, current, installation environment, and connection point. Tratos provides a complete range of cable solutions across three critical system segments:

DC Side: Solar Panel to Inverter

Photovoltaic panels generate direct current (DC) that must be transmitted to inverters for conversion to AC. DC solar cables operate in harsh outdoor environments with exposure to UV radiation, temperature extremes (-40°C to +120°C), moisture, environmental pollution and mechanical stress from wind loading and thermal expansion.

Critical DC Cable Requirements:

Tratos DC Solar Cable Solutions:

Our TRATOSDEDALUS® product line addresses these requirements with our H1Z2Z2-K IMQ-certified cables complying with BS EN 50618. Tratos can also manufacture cables in accordance with  IEC 62930 and UL 4703 standards. Available in single-core and multi-core configurations with tinned copper conductors (4mm² to 240mm²) and cross-linked LSZH insulation.

AC Side: Inverter to Distribution System

After DC-to-AC conversion at the inverter, standard low-voltage power cables transmit solar-generated electricity to building distribution boards (residential/commercial) or collector substations (utility-scale farms).

AC Cable Selection Criteria:

Tratos supplies XLPE-insulated cables with PVC, MDPE, or LSZH sheath options based upon IEC 60502, BS 6622, BS 5467, BS 6724 and BS7870, available in copper or aluminium conductors depending on cable run length and cost optimisation requirements.

Medium Voltage: Grid Connection

AC

Utility-scale solar farms require medium-voltage cables (11kV, 33kV) to connect collector substations to distribution network operator (DNO) connection points. These cables handle multi-megawatt power export and must meet DNO technical specifications for cable selection, construction, testing and installation.

MV Grid Connection Cables:

All MV cables feature XLPE insulation, steel wire armour (SWA) BS6622 or have a metallic copper screen (BS7878) that makes them suitable for direct burial and are available manufactured to the DNO’s own specifications, which includes cable selection, construction, testing and installation.

Cable Construction Options

Conductor Materials: Copper vs Aluminium

Copper Conductors:

• Higher conductivity (smaller cable size for equivalent current)
• Better flexibility for rooftop installations with tight bending radii
• Tinned copper prevents corrosion in outdoor environments
• Optimal for: DC panel cables, short AC runs (<100m), residential systems

Aluminum Conductors:

• Lower material cost (~60% vs. copper)
• Lighter weight (easier aerial installation, reduced structural support)
• Requires larger cross-section (1.5x-2x) for equivalent current capacity
• Optimal for: Long AC runs (>100m), utility-scale ground arrays, MV grid connections

Armour & Mechanical Protection

Sheath Materials

Standards & Certifications

Tratos solar cables are designed and manufactured to comply with international photovoltaic cable standards, and our H1Z2Z2-K Tratosdaedalus cables have been independently certified by recognised testing bodies such as IMQ. Our MV cables are accepted and supplied to several DNOs and IDNOs.

Key Solar Cable Standards

View BS EN 50618 Standard Details →

Installation Environment Considerations

UV & Weathering Resistance

Solar cables experience continuous UV exposure, temperature cycling (both daily and seasonal), with moisture from rain, condensation, and humidity. Tratos cables undergo accelerated ageing tests including (ISO 4892-2 Xenon test and ozone resistance per CEI EN 50396) to validate 25+ year outdoor life expectancy.

Temperature Performance

Fire Safety

For installations where cables route through occupied buildings or terminate in inverter rooms, halogen-free low-smoke cables meet the most popular fire safety requirements:

• Flame propagation: Self-extinguishing per EN 60332-1-2
• Smoke density: >70% light transmission (low smoke emission)
• Toxicity: Halogen-free (no corrosive HCl gas), toxicity index <3
• Complies with Construction Products Regulation (CPR) Euroclass ratings

Custom Cable Solutions

Beyond standard catalogue products, Tratos engineers can custom design solar cables for specialised project requirements including:    

• Hybrid Cables: Combined power + fibre optic for installations with integrated monitoring systems
• Extended Voltage Ratings: Custom insulation thickness for >2.0 kV DC large-scale solar farms
• Special Conductor Sizes: Intermediate cross-sections optimising for specific current loads
• Project-Specific Colours: Custom sheath colours for phased construction or multi-owner solar parks
• Extreme Climate Designs: Enhanced UV stabilisation or low-temperature compounds for desert or arctic installations

As the actual manufacturer our technical team provides complete project support for our cables, from inception to grave, design consultation, cable selection, current rating and voltage drop calculations, recommendations on installation and testing methods. We can supply data packages to assist with DNO submission documentation for grid-connected projects.

Why Choose Tratos Solar Cables

Total control of Manufacture: As the actual manufacturer of the cables that we supply Tratos has total control of cable design, material selection and compound manufacture, cable construction and testing . 

Sustainable Manufacturing: Since 1980, Tratos has manufactured cables using clean hydroelectric power from our own generation plant and now supplemented by solar power from our own solar installations. All solar cables are part of our Tratos Green product line, delivering reduced carbon footprint through renewable manufacturing energy and halogen-free, recyclable materials. 

Proven Performance: Installed in Europe’s largest solar facilities including the Surbo photovoltaic field (Ciminna, Palermo), demonstrating utility-scale reliability across residential, commercial, and industrial applications spanning two decades.

Quality Certifications:

• ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management)
• ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management)
• ISO 50001:2018 (Energy Management Systems)
• EMAS (EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme)

Technical Support: Engineering consultation for cable selection, sizing calculations, standards compliance verification, and same-day quotations with short lead-time manufacturing runs.