Electricity

Greece tests Peloponnese-Crete link – world’s longest undersea AC cable

Greece tests Peloponnese Crete link world's longest undersea AC cable

Photo: Admie

Published

December 25, 2020

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

December 25, 2020

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

The world’s longest alternating current cable system is functional, as the first power interconnection between Crete and mainland Greece was successfully tested. The link with the Peloponnese peninsula is 174 kilometers long, of which 132 kilometers are on the seabed.

Independent Power Transmission Operator, also known as Admie or IPTO, said the 24-hour test drive of its submarine interconnector between Peloponnese and Crete, the biggest island in Greece, was successful. Italy’s Prysmian laid 132 kilometers of the link under the Sea of Crete. The remainder of the 174 kilometers runs underground on both sides, making it the longest high voltage alternating current (HVAC) cable system in the world.

It is the longest undersea triplex cable interconnection with cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, while it has the biggest depth on the planet as well, as much as 1,000 meters, the state-controlled firm said. There are only a handful of longer direct current submarine cables in the world.

European, Greek government funds included in Peloponnese-Crete interconnector project

A second cable, to the west from the first one, is expected to be installed in the first quarter. The overall 150 kV project is worth EUR 356 million. It can cover as much as 34% of the power demand in Crete. Admie secured a twenty-year loan of EUR 178 million from the European Investment Bank in May of last year, while the interconnection is also backed with government funds.

The cable’s capacity will match a third of demand in Crete

The cable connects Megalopolis in central Peloponnese with Heraclion, the biggest city on the island. The subsea portion goes from Chania in Crete to Neapoli Voion.

Cablel and Fulgor laid the underground part and Terna built the substation in the Peloponnese and upgraded the Chania unit. The project spans eight cities.

Greece’s biggest island to be connected to Cyprus

Admie’s Chairman and CEO Manos Manousakis said it is now certain that the “energy blockade of Crete” would be lifted and that the system was switched on two years after the first contracts were signed. The interconnector will help the development of renewables in Greece’s largest island.

Of note, Admie is working on a EUR 1 billion project for an even longer cable, between Crete and the Attica peninsula, via its Ariadne Interconnection subsidiary. It is scheduled to come online in 2023 and boost the capacity to supply the island entirely. Crete is currently dependent on fossil fuel for its electricity.

The EuroAsia Interconnector should link Israel with Europe via Cyprus and Crete.

Admie’s investment plan for the next ten years is worth EUR 4.4 billion. The transmission system operator has just picked Mytilineos for the reconstruction of the Koumoundourou high-voltage center. The project is worth EUR 46 million. The transmission hub will be connected both with Megalopolis and the future Crete-Attica line.

Comments (0)

Be the first one to comment on this article.

Enter Your Comment
Please wait... Please fill in the required fields. There seems to be an error, please refresh the page and try again. Your comment has been sent.

Related Articles

axpo petrol ppa slovenia

Axpo, Petrol ink first physical PPA in Slovenia

10 October 2024 - It is the first PPA in the country for the physical delivery of electricity – to one of Petrol’s end customers

eles siemens energy memorandum Adnan Chaudhry mervar presern slovenia

ELES, Siemens Energy enter strategic partnership to develop digital technologies for electricity grids

09 October 2024 - Slovenia’s operator of the combined transmission and distribution network ELES has signed an MoU with Siemens Energy

TotalEnergies PPA Saint-Gobain France five year power purchase agreement

TotalEnergies to supply Saint-Gobain under five-year solar, wind PPA

09 October 2024 - TotalEnergies will supply renewable electricity to Saint-Gobain in France under a five-year power purchase agreement

Bulgarian mattress factory covers consumption 100 solar batteries

Bulgarian mattress factory covers its consumption 100% with solar, batteries

09 October 2024 - A photovoltaic system of 5.6 MW with a battery capacity of 15 MWh will meet the entire electricity needs of the TED mattress factory