Advantages

Disadvantages

Aluminum has a more than three times smaller specific weight compared to copper [3] .

The lighter weight of aluminum cable reduces the tensile force placed on wire and poles.

Aluminum is relatively inexpensive

The greater availability of raw aluminum. Global bauxite as the world’s main source of aluminum is estimated at 55 - 75 billion tons, while world copper resources are estimated at 2.1 billion tons [4] .

Aluminum’s lower conductivity results in a lower current carrying capacity (CCC) and increased voltage drop, compared to a copper cable of the same size

The larger diameter of aluminum strands with a density of 2703 kg/m³ at 20˚C results in less flexible cables than copper which is denser (8890 kg/m³ at 20˚C) and is available in very low cross-sections.

Aluminum has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than copper that increases the risks of sag and destructive forces in joints