UNSW-China Partnership Moves into Manufacture of Graphene Cables

The cable technology was invented by a UNSW research team led by materials scientist Professor Sean Li.

November 1, 2018

Large-scale manufacturing of next-generation graphene power cables, which promise to cut electricity costs and improve grid transmission, will be rolled out under the second phase of a major collaboration between UNSW Sydney and Hangzhou ­Cables.

The agreement, which will move the project into the second stage of development, was formalized at a ceremony to mark UNSW’s Torch Innovation Week, a showcase of Australian and Chinese partnerships.

The joint venture between UNSW Sydney and Hangzhou ­Cables received an additional $3 million funding boost that will transfer laboratory research results into the industrial production of a graphene cable pilot line located in Hangzhou.

An initial 10-metre prototype of the cable technology, developed at the Kensington campus over the past two years, showed that graphene, a form of carbon, can be used to stop electricity leakage that happens with conventional power cable and grids, which could deliver significant savings in electricity and emissions.