Spanish peninsula-Balearic Islands Interconnection
Rómulo project
Spain's first submarine interconnection in direct current for the transmission of electricity and the second in the world in which the cables run at a maximum depth of 1,485 metres.
The electricity interconnection between the Spanish peninsula and the Balearic Islands is a project which is key to ensuring and improving the reliability of the electricity supply of the Balearic system given its unique nature, having 2 small subsystems and being isolated, from an electricity standpoint. This project will additionally allow the integration of the Balearic Islands' electricity system into the Iberian electricity market, therefore establishing a competitive generation market on the Islands.
The Rómulo Project represents the largest investment ever made by Red Eléctrica in one single project (420 million euros) and its development has represented a milestone, of world reference, due to its unique nature and technical complexity, which has demonstrated the remarkable technological capacity of Red Eléctrica.
Main technical characteristics of the project:
- High voltage submarine connection of ±250 kV, comprising of three cables (one return conductor) of 237 km in length. This has been carried out with direct current technology given the distances involved and the power capacity necessary for this link.
- It runs at a maximum depth of 1,485 metres. At present, this depth is only surpassed by the connection between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula which runs at 1,600 metres.
- The laying of the cable was carried out by the only two ships specialised in these tasks: the Norwegian ship, the Skagerrak and the Italian ship, the Giulio Verne.
- The underwater laying of the cables was carried out by means of a remotely controlled vehicle to guarantee their correct positioning on the seabed.
- Near to the coast, the laying of the cable was carried out by means of floats, auxiliary vessels and divers and in deeper areas (up to 1,000 metres) special submarine vehicles were used for the excavation of trenches by means of high pressure water jets and burying of the cables, so as to prevent possible damage derived from trawling and anchorages.
- In depths shallower than 60 metres, the submarine cables are protected below the seabed in a trench one metre deep.
- Construction of two converter stations: Morvedre 400 kV, in Sagunto (Valencia), and Santa Ponsa 220 kV, in Calviá (Majorca). Both stations are necessary to transform the alternating current voltage that flows through the transmission grid into direct current. Given the great length of the cable this allows the transmission of electricity, under optimal conditions, via the submarine cable thus reducing energy losses.
- Construction of underground sections of just over 3 km in length at each end to connect with the converter stations.
- Installation of fibre optic cables, alongside the electricity cables, to guarantee communications at both ends.
- Maximum respect for the environment:
- archaeological sites and fish farms have been avoided and close attention was paid to reducing the impact on protected flora and fauna, as well as the effect on fishing and the tourism sector.
- the route of the cables and its protection system were specially selected to protect and therefore guarantee the conservation of the Posidonia oceanic meadows, a species of flora endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and that is protected at European level.
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