How does the ampacity of aluminium cables compare to copper counterparts?

Aluminium has approximately 61% of the conductivity of copper. To carry the same electrical load, an aluminium conductor must have a cross-sectional area roughly 1.6 times larger than a copper conductor. However, because aluminium is 70% lighter, the resulting cable is still significantly easier to handle and requires less structural support, making it the preferred choice for long-distance power distribution.