Sicame Group is one of the key players in the electrical equipment business worldwide. It has been able to adapt and develop to support the continuous evolution of electricity infrastructure in France and around the world, and become the largest independent entity in its sector.
A true player in the energy transition, it offers its customers new products and services to improve energy efficiency, deal with environmental risks and support the development of electric vehicle and solar power plant markets.
70 years of worldwide success
600 M€ 2024 turnover
3,600 employees
Our fields of activity
Sicame Group is specialised in products and services related to transmission and distribution of electrical energy, renewables, electro-mobility, safety equipment and industrial applications.
5 continents
26 countries
50 companies around the world
Products distributed in 157 countries
Today Sicame Group is gathering all its know-how and 65 years of experience in one unique and innovative solution for solar farms connection using suspended DC Bus cable architecture...
With the collaborative work of our R&D teams, Sicame Group offers a global solution from the wiring of photovoltaic panels to the grid connection.
In addition to offering excellent value for money with superior quality, our solution will allow to make significant savings on every construction site design from 1MWp to unlimited GWp.
An innovative approach to improve productivity and efficiency
Achieve higher profitability, reliability and sustainability.
A plug-and-play string connection system that links PV strings to inverters efficiently—delivering CAPEX savings by significantly reducing materials and installation time. The solution uses reliable, easy-to-install connectors that minimize human error, lower O&M costs, and reduce trenching and excavation, thereby preserving land and accelerating project deployment.
Driven by innovation, Strengthened by partnership and
built on decades
of experience
With decades of leadership in the global low-voltage overhead distribution accessories market and pioneering expertise in sealed accessory technology for compact bundled insulated cables, we are now bringing this proven, fieldtested innovation to solar farm cabling systems.
• No trenching
• Easy to install
• Visual control
• Safe solution
• Energy savings
• Higher productivity
• Cost savings
Trunk Bus, Sicame Solar Solution
Ensure superior performance
Time saving
DC Trunk Bus system uses prefabricated Insulation Piercing Connectors with prewired string cables.. This eliminates the need for onsite cutting, stripping, crimping, and terminating multiple cables. Installers simply plug string outputs directly into the trunk — dramatically reducing manual work.
Cost saving
Fewer long home-run bus cables replace extensive string cable runs dramatically reducing cables cost. The trunk bus acts as a distributed combining method, which requires fewer and smaller switching boxes that replace the traditional combiner boxes.
Losses saving
In a DC Trunk Bus system, each string only needs a short tap connection to the trunk, the total cable length (total copper resistance) is significantly reduced. This reduction leads directly to lower electrical losses (I2R). Furthermore, DC Trunk Bus system is a larger cross-section cable with lower resistance per meter. The combination of shorter total wiring and larger more efficient conductors, reduces losses and minimizes voltage drop. As a result, the inverter receives a higher DC input voltage, which slightly improves its conversion efficiency and overall system energy yield.
No Trench
DC Trunk Bus System is an overhead solution, meaning that less trenches, conduits, or cable trays are required. Fewer individual lines are running overhead, installation is simpler and materials are cheaper.
UV Resistant
Sicame’s IPC is designed for long-term outdoor exposure aligned with UL and IEC standards requirements for photovoltaic applications. Specifically, UL 94 – V-0 Flammability Rating, UL F1 Rating – Outdoor Suitability and RTI –Relative Thermal Index ( ≥115°C).
No cable stripping
The DC Trunk Bus System uses Insulation Piercing Connectors (IPC), that allows a secure electrical and mechanical connection between two insulated conductors without stripping their insulation. The IPC uses conductive blades that pierce through the insulation layer when the connector is tightened. These blades make direct contact with the conductor, ensuring a lowresistance and reliable electrical connection.
Watertightness
IPC watertightness is achieved through integrated sealing and rubber gaskets that prevent water ingress at the conductor interface and cable entry points, ensuring stable electrical contact and insulation performance under outdoor PV operating conditions Rated IP68 withstanding 6 or 8 kV flashover in water.
Reliability
The combination of less number of terminations, more consistent quality due to factory assembly, and maintenance simplification leads a more reliable system than the traditional home-run layout if it’s designed and installed correctly — using high-quality connectors.
Sicame solar solutions
A complete connection solution for your PV plants
Services
• Solar Farms | Arc Flash
• Electrical safety management
BOS design support
DC
Bus advantages
In addition to bringing you a complete and innovative product offering for DC bus connection, Sicame provides expert assistance in your electrical design construction.
Our dedicated team is at your disposal to assist you in the development of all stages of your project, from design to implementation of your electrical
Sicame support
• Calculation of cable lengths
• Calculation of technical losses
• Calculation of complete bill of materials
• Evaluation implementation and product costsfrom DC routing to inverter
connection. We have developed an in-house configurator to offer you a customized study of your project to help you assess costs & benefits and select optimized solutions.
We will also guide you for on-site installation deployment of your solar farms.
Cable savings with Sicame IPC system versus string cabling
DC Bus Solution -34% cabling length
Taditional cabling layout
Sicame harness cabling and IPC module layout
A complete DC connection solution for your solar plants
IPC solar harness
Sicame IPC Harness is a customized solution according to project specs allowing connection of strings to the main DC bus cable quickly and easily.
• Cost saving
• Easy and fast to install
• Minimal tooling
DC Isolation box
• No trenching
• No skilled labor
• UV stabilized
DCIB is the box that safely disconnects DC circuits from the main system, protecting both equipment and personnel during maintenance or emergencies. It provides a convenient way to isolate DC power, including reliable switches, surge arrester, connection terminals and fuses or an optional monitoring solution
• Customizable according to project requirements
• Strong mechanical resistance
• UV and corrosion resistance
• Watertightness
Anchoring & suspension
Cable management system reduce amount of trenches and overcomes risk of cable insulation failure due to stagnant water in conduit (when underground).
DC Bus monitoring
Monitoring system - SMM30
Sicame SMM30 allows the monitoring of strings to optimize solar farm energy production. Simply fixed on existing cabling system, it measures the string current. Available for 2 or 3 simultaneous strings monitoring, autonomous power supply with solar cell and easy
• Smart sensors to assess strings
• DCIB activity and fault detection
• Easy to install, no specific tooling
• Maintenance free
• Cost saving
• Easy and fast to install
• Minimal tooling
• No trenching
• UV stabilized
Isolation box monitoring
Device installed in the DC Isolation Box to receive the data from SMM30, meassure the voltage, position of the switch, status of the surge arrester and temperature inside the box.
• Wireless standardized communication protocol
• Alert configuration & reporting
• Retrofit compatible
Our complementary offer Technologies
String Combiner Box and monitoring for conventional plants
String Combiner Box with strong mechanical shock resistance (IK10) IP66 protection degree, high resistance to heat, high dielectric strength and monitoring module in option.
• Customizable according to project requirements
• Watertightness, UV resistance
• Strong mechanical resistance
• Monitoring PCB to measure string currents, control main switch, arrestes status and up to 2 external temperatures
• Easy to install, no specific tooling
HV overhead substation & MV underground accessories for distribution network
Wide range of medium volatge accessories and high voltage connectors for substations
• Cold shrink technology
• Easiest and quickest assembly
• Extremely reliable
• Product customization for individualized needs
• Limits misassembling risks
Arc Flash assesment
Hazards specific to Solar farm
The main issue specific to Solar Farms that we identified was with the Solar Panels themselves as they generate electricity. The good news is that Solar Farms are modular and so it is easier to produce isolation and safe working procedures, than for more typical industrial or commercial electrical distribution systems.
“Test before touch” or “Test for dead” processes are very important, and you should ensure that the correct type of test equipment is used. Voltage indicators should be tested immediately before and after use with a proprietary proving unit. There are also a lot of power inverters and other enclosures out in the field that should be shrouded to IP2X to minimize electric shock risk during fault finding activities.
As the Solar Farm gets older, it is importantto make sure that the IP2X protection is maintained by auditing and inspection especially during and after maintenance activities.
Arc Flash Studies
Calculating the arc flash hazard for each piece of equipment on a Solar Farm should cost significantly less that carrying out an arc flash study on a typical industrial or commercial electrical distribution system. The reason for this is that Solar Farms tend to be very modular in their construction, which means detailed modelling of one of the modules can be quickly and cheaply replicated many times for the rest of the network.
This obviously reduces the overall cost of the arc flash study for a Solar Farm versus other types of electrical networks.
Any Arc Flash Study being carried out would be subject to regional legislation and compliance requirements.
Safety equipment
Complete range of comprehensive electrical PPE and accessories to ensure safe installation & maintenance on PV plants.
Solar farm monitoring
Our solution includes innovative current sensors, specially designed for DC-BUS solar cabling, suitable for both retrofit projects and new installations.
Advantages of the solution:
• Quick and easy installation and removal
• No special tools required
• No wire stripping or additional materials
• Autonomous, maintenance-free power supply
• Savings in terms of labour and maintenance time
• Real-time fault detection
Optimise the performance of your new or existing solar power plants with the solar farm monitoring solution.
Attached directly to the wiring, it measures the magnetic field to convert data into current (I, A), while monitoring the voltage of the solar harness, the position of the DC switch, the temperature and the status of the
Thanks to partially or fully wireless communication, the information is transmitted to a server and integrated into any real-time control and data acquisition system. As an option, you can benefit from a cloud-based supervision platform for simplified monitoring.
The Sicame monitoring solution includes the following components:
• Design and sizing assistance service
• Commissioning
• Business portal platform
• Training in the use of the Business portal
• Connection of additional products
More than just a group, our social commitments, missions and values
Innovation by everyone, everywhere
We are developing a culture of curiosity, challenging the status quo and anticipating what’s to come, which allows us to collectively offer new solutions to our customers, both internally and externally.
Social responsibility
We believe that our company’s sustainable development can be built on the fine balance between economic performance and respect for the Group’s human dimension.
Customer relationships
Our size and flexibility have enabled the Group to foster close and long-term relationships with our customers, whether geographically, culturally or technically.
Passion for entrepreneurship
We are creating an environment that allows all employees to act as entrepreneurs within the Group.
Team spirit
Focusing on our shared ambition, we have fostered a close partnership within and between our teams, based on transparency, trust and the full respect of individual and group identities.
Taking collective action to promote social responsibility
The Endowment Fund contributes to various social initiatives every year, working alongside foundations and associations to promote action for the common good around the world
Working to promote a responsible and philanthropic approach in 3 key
Focus on Renovation of a school in India
areas
Working actively for better health
Reducing social inequality
Working towards greater inclusion
school Inauguration
The Sicame Endowment Fund, with the subsidiary Sicame India, confirms its commitment to education and local community well-being, by renovating a school located in the village of Sirunkundram, next to the plant. The fund has undertaken a refurbishment of the school: the existing buildings have been completely renovated and two new classrooms have been built, one of which is equipped with smart education technology. A fine initiative reflecting the values of Sicame Group and its commitment to social responsibility.
Paris 2024 Paralympic Games
Gold medal for Emeline Pierre!
Hélios Latchoumanaya, Émeline Pierre and Valentin Bertrand, 3 athletes supported by the Endowment Fund, took part in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Émeline won 2 medals in para-swimming, one gold in the 100 m freestyle, beating the reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder, and the other bronze in the 100 m backstroke. Congratulations to our athletes on their achievements, and the Endowment Fund is behind them for their next competitions!
