New electricity interconnection with France

Spain-France interconnection.

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In 2008, Red Eléctrica and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE) signed an agreement for the construction of a new line via the eastern Pyrenees, which is scheduled to be commissioned in 2014. This axis will increase the electricity exchange capacity between Spain-France (increasing from 3 to 6% of the maximum consumption of the Spanish peninsula). This interconnection will reinforce the security of both electricity systems and will favour the integration of a greater volume of renewable energy, especially wind power energy coming from the Iberian system. In addition, it will guarantee the power supply not only in the province of Girona but also for the future high speed train.

This interconnection has been declared a project of European interest and has been allocated financing of 225 million euros within the framework of the European program EEPR (European Energy Program for Recovery). For Red Eléctrica, it is a complex and exceptional infrastructure that represents one of the major challenges of the company over the next few years. This line will represent the first interconnection with the European grid network to be commissioned in almost 30 years.

INELFE, the company responsible for the project

The company INELFE Open in new windows , was created in 2009 and is 50% owned by Red Eléctrica and 50% by Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE) and was set up in order to carry out this interconnection project. INELFE has carried out prior technical, environmental and financial studies and will finance the total costs associated to the construction of the line.

Spain-France interconnection capacity. Percentage of the maximum demand. Currently: 3%, With the new interconnection: 6%, Minimum established by the UE: 10%.

In 2010, the contracts for the construction of the line and the converter stations were awarded and in 2011, INELFE will begin the works once the administrative authorisations are obtained. In this regard, Red Eléctrica obtained the Environmental Impact Declaration (EID) of the project on 13 December 2010.

Main technical characteristics of the project:

A 400 KV line that will increase the exchange capacity from 1,400 to 2,800 megawatts.
The 65 kilometre line will be underground and for its route it will use existing infrastructures whenever possible.
The line will connect with two converter substations: Santa Llogaia (Spain) and Baixas (France), through La Junquera in the eastern Pyrenees. These stations are necessary as it is a direct current line.
A tunnel (8.5 kilometres in length and 3.5 metres in diameter) will house the cables in the section that crosses the Pyrenees, whereas the rest of the route is buried by means of a trench system. It will run parallel to the tunnel for the high speed train to reduce the impact on the environment.
The chosen technologies are innovative due to the length of the underground line and due to the technology of the cables and the converter stations necessary for handling these voltage and power levels.
The interconnection works through the Albéres Massif will begin in 2012 and will last approximately one year. Two tunnel boring machines will be used, that will start the works simultaneously from both sides of the border.

New electricity interconnection with France

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Spain-France interconnection.

INELFE, the company responsible for the project

Main technical characteristics of the project: