Protecting Cables and Wires in Renewable Energy Installations

As we reflect on 2025 and look towards 2026 and beyond, clean and affordable renewable energy continues to grow at an exponential pace. Both solar and wind energy lead the renewable energy power generation growth curve. U.S. power generation capacity for solar projects is projected to grow 35 percent in 2025, and 18 percent in 2026. Solar market segments (utility-scale and commercial) are rapidly growing, with residential is somewhat lagging due to high interest rates and economic uncertainty. Experts have also predicted a 12-15 percent growth in wind power generation in 2025, possibly increasing to 17-19 percent in 2026. It is anticipated that all renewable energy sources will account for approximately 27 to 29 percent of total U.S. electricity generation this year. Furthermore, solar and wind remain the fastest-growing renewable energy types in the U.S. Renewable energy market. Key elements of any of these systems will include wires and cables that connect the control panels and enclosures to the operating areas in the system equipment. Protecting these wires and cables from damage, as well as wear and tear, is imperative to maintain the integrity and full functionality of the equipment.   

Several reasons for the continued growth trend in this market are prominent. The factors to consider include the following:

• Increased energy consumption in all market sectors
• Increasing capacity to keep pace with increased consumption
• Reduced project costs coupled with technological advancements
• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions initiatives
• Jobs creation for renewable energy particularly in solar
• Decreased fossil fuel needs and usage

The population’s energy demand continues to rise with no foreseeable slowdown. Federal, state, and local governments encourage and/or incentivize the transition to greater use of renewable energy. Tax credits, loans, and grants are available for qualified projects. These benefits help to ease the costs of infrastructure expansion to address the increasing demand for energy solutions. Many states have already initiated requirements stating that within a 20 to 30-year timeframe, 100 percent of electricity must come from “clean energy sources.”

In utility-scale, commercial, and residential construction, builders and installers should consider many factors in the design process to ensure the smooth implementation of the build plans so that projects progress in a timely and cost-effective manner. Factors include year-round weather conditions and climate fluctuations, temperature extremes, workforce stability, and local and regional economic conditions. As we continue to see and experience advancements in the construction and installation of energy equipment, there are the previously mentioned factors that such equipment will encounter during its useful life.

An ideal solution to address the critical requirements of these installations is to use a high-performance cable protection system. Since there are a wide array of active and passive components in a system, why comprise an entire system installation by NOT protecting the components? Furthermore, wire and cable are critical components to all these systems, so protecting the components is of the utmost importance. To protect the wires and cables in a system, in addition to control panels and junction boxes, a high-performance cable protection system must be a major consideration. 

The solutions to consider include durable, lightweight, and cost-effective corrugated conduits, conduit fittings in straight, 90-degree, and 45-degree orientations. These products can be coupled with accessories such as clamps, couplers, Ys, Ts, and other items to provide a thorough and comprehensive solution. All products specified for the equipment must adhere to regulatory standards relevant to the industry. Other considerations include the requirements for UV protection, UL flammability and temperature ratings, and the appropriate level of ingress protection (IP) rating needed to address the application requirements. To maintain peak performance of the cable and wiring in the equipment, manufacturers and installers must consider the use of high-performance cable protection systems with each build. As renewable energy continues to grow with an emphasis on sustainability and zero carbon initiatives, systems must operate at peak performance. So why not protect the electrical integrity of the system to the utmost?

Mike Moran is Director of Technical Sales at AerosUSA, Inc, which was founded by veterans of the electrical cable protection industry with the mission to supply customers with high quality products and superior customer service from our knowledgeable and experienced staff. AerosUSA serves all industries, including the rail & transit, renewable energy, robotics & automation, general machine, marine & offshore, mining & heavy vehicles, HVAC, and hybrid vehicle industries.

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