The Regional Government of Catalonia has granted Red Eléctrica, a subsidiary of Redeia responsible for electricity transmission and the operation of the national electricity system, the administrative authorisation that allows the construction of the 220 kV electricity axis between Lleida and Barcelona, which is considered the most important electricity infrastructure in recent years in Catalonia.

This axis will improve the security and supply capacity by means of a double circuit that interconnects the following substations located throughout the route of the line: Magraners and Juneda, in the province of Lleida; L'Espluga and Montblanc, in the province of Tarragona, and finally Penedès and Begues, in the province of Barcelona. The overall length of the route of the line considered in this project is 118 km long and will improve the supply quality and contribute to driving the energy transition in 30 municipalities.

The new line will replace almost the entirety of an old existing line and not only improves the route and reduces the environmental impact of the project, but also increases the transmission capacity. The project, which is the result of consensus with all the municipalities involved, has been allocated an investment of €63.35 million and is scheduled to commence construction work during the first half of this year and is expected to be commissioned by 2025.

The new line runs through the following municipalities: Lleida, Torregrossa, Juneda, Les Borges Blanques, La Floresta, Arbeca, Els Omellons, Vinaixa i Tarrés, in the province of Lleida; Vimbodí i Poblet, L'Espluga de Francolí, Montblanc, Barberà de la Conca, Cabra del Camp, El Pla de Santa Maria, Pont d'Armentera, Aiguamúrcia and El Montmell, in the province of Tarragona, and Torrelles de Foix, Sant Martí Sarroca, Vilobí del Penedès, Pacs del Penedès, Les Cabanyes, Vilafranca del Penedès, Olèrdola, Sant Cugat Sesgarrigues, Avinyonet del Penedès, Olesa de Bonesvalls, Vallirana and Begues, in the province of Barcelona.

This project reduces the number of existing towers by 25% compared to the old line and contemplates its dismantling and complete environmental restoration of those areas that do not coincide with the new axis, which has distances itself even further away from municipalities and isolated nuclei.