The subsea electric interconnection project for Santorini, Folegandros, Milos and Serifos is done, rounding up a wider investment in cables linking the Cyclades islands to the mainland grid via Attica, the peninsula where Athens is situated. Independent Power Transmission Operator, which is working on a string of major interconnections, has just completed a share capital increase of EUR 1 billion.
No more polluting oil- or diesel-fired generators nor energy isolation and insecurity – in terms of electricity, the most populated islands in the Cyclades archipelago will soon all be integrated with the mainland, alongside two smaller ones. State-controlled Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or, in Greek, Admie), completed the final, D phase of the strategic project, with EUR 825 million in combined budget. The company is currently testing the submarine links to Santorini, Folegandros, Milos and Serifos.
Since 2018, the islands of Paros, Mykonos, Syros and Naxos got direct interconnections, and the Evia-Andros and Andros-Tinos submarine cable connections have been upgraded.
The line goes to Lavrio near Athens, in the Attica peninsula.
Santorini island group project phase was biggest of all four
The fourth phase was worth EUR 385.7 million, most of the four. It involved 294 kilometers of undersea and underground 150 kV cables and four fully digital gas-insulated substations (GIS). IPTO received EUR 164.5 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0, part of the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
Through a direct loan agreement, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is participating with EUR 157 million. Another one, for EUR 108.44 million, is backed by RRF funds.
Tourist traffic straining obsolete electricity systems on isolated islands
IPTO laid the cables at depths of up to 500 meters. In the iconic Santorini island, it also installed an SVC – static VAR (Volt-Ampere-reactive) compensator. The system will regulate voltage and handle reactive power, optimizing the operation of the interconnected network in the southern Cyclades.
Greece’s transmission system operator, or TSO, also highlighted the importance of the last phase and pointed to high power demand in the summer months due to tourist traffic.
Ermoupoli in Syros is the administrative capital of the South Aegean Region. It is also the most populous Cyclades island, with 21,000 residents. Right behind it is Naxos, while 15,000 people live in Santorini, also known as Thira. Folegandros and Serifos are among the smallest communities in the group of 24 inhabited islands.
Non-interconnected islands pursuing energy autonomy another way
Where it is too expensive for IPTO to reach, Greece has other plans. The government is using massive EU and domestic funds for small island communities to get smart green energy systems.
One of the benchmarks is Agios Efstratios, or Ai Stratis. The energy-autonomous North Aegean island has a wind turbine, solar power unit, battery storage electric boilers and a district heating network.
The share of renewables in the distribution system at Ai Stratis is now reaching up to 98% every month.
Some Greek islands are facing chronic water shortages
Access to renewable electricity, including through undersea interconnectors, is suitable for powering desalination as well. Greece also has a strategic program for water supply, especially for thirsty islands. For instance, the government declared water emergency for Tinos in June. It has 8,500 residents.
On that note, the country’s renewable electricity generation within the first hour past midday on July 4, which was Saturday, reached 8.87 GWh. It covered 119% of hourly electricity demand. On the same day, renewables met 100% or more of electricity demand for six consecutive hours.
IPTO receives EUR 1 billion in capital to proceed with major projects
IPTO raised EUR 1 billion in share capital last month. The government contributed EUR 510 million, maintaining its 51% controlling stake in the operator. State Grid Corp. of China remained at 24% the same way, while private and institutional investors covered the rest.
The proceeds are especially important for installing interconnections of the Dodecanese and North Aegean islands, as well as the second interconnection between Greece and Italy.
In late June, the company selected Prysmian for one section of the Dodecanese and North Aegean. The deal is worth EUR 910 million. The cable manufacturer needs to design, manufacture and install a total of more than 900 kilometers of high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) lines underwater and on land.
IPTO has received technical bids for the Corinth-Kos interconnection and is reviewing them.
