First submerged high-voltage cable in Greece to boost RES development

The completion of the project "will allow a balanced transmission system and increase the opportunities for renewable energy sources (RES) in the Peloponnese," Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE) president and CEO Manousos Manousakis said. It will also allow the full operation of generator 5 in Megalopolis, he noted, referring to the Public Power Corporation's facility that was operating on a test basis.

Alexis Alexiou, general manager of Hellenic Cables, said the company had introduced the innovation of submersion cables to Greece and manufactured the first 400kV cable in the country. "Our company now gains membership to a small club of a select few of manufacturers with the capacity to create and complete such projects," he noted. 

The underwater cable link between Rio and Antirrio serves as a connector in the West Corridor, linking the 400kV network of Megalopolis to the existing power grid of Acheloos River-Distomo, through Patras. The West Corridor, budgeted at a total of 150 million euros, will be completed by the end of the year.

Hellenic Cables SA-Fulgor SA consortium assumed the construction of the project.