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Italian TSO Terna has announced a €3.2 billion ($3.7 billion) investment allocation for the coming decade in the Puglia region, covering strategic projects such as a 240km-long interconnection with a landing point in Greece.
Terna’s 2025-2034 Electricity Grid Development Plan looks to develop infrastructure to increase electricity transport capacity and maximise the exchange of energy, says Terna in a release.
In the plan, Terna cites ‘Efficient Territorial Planning’ as a stand-out among the main features; a model for the coordinated and sustainable management of the growing number of connection requests.
The electricity grid in the region of Puglia has a primary transmission system consisting of two 380kV backbones between the electrical substations of Foggia and Galatina, with other 380kV power lines connecting the Puglia electricity grid to those of its neighbouring regions, as well as to the Greek grid via the connection known as Gr.Ita.
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Chief among the main projects planned for the region is the Adriatic Backbone, which will connect Foggia and Forlì, strengthening the Adriatic corridor for energy transport and enabling a substantial increase in exchange capacity.
The power line will use HVDC technology and will allow better integration of the renewable capacity expected in the coming years.
As part of plans for interconnection, Terna began the public consultation on Gr.Ita2 in October 2023, the results of which were presented to stakeholders in January 2024.
The connection will consist of two submarine cables approximately 240km long with a power output of up to 1,000MW between the landing point in Puglia (Melendugno) and the landing point in Greece (Thesprotia), and two 50km long direct current overland power lines connecting the Galatina station to the Melendugno landing point.
The work will allow safe management of the entire south of the nation, while facilitating efficient energy procurement by enabling new resources from electricity market coupling and maintaining the exchange of energy between the two countries, even when maintenance is being carried out.
With the Development Plan, the regional grid in Puglia becomes the second most invested, says the TSO.
Terna manages over 4,000km of high-voltage and extra-high-voltage power lines and 61 electrical substations in Puglia.
Alongside the interconnection, Terna’s Plan includes strategic projects aimed at increasing system security, transport capacity, and the integration of renewable sources.
