Italy’s Terna awards €90m contract for interconnector project

Italian transmission system operator Terna has selected Prysmian for the construction of a new 132 kV undersea power line.

The €90 million ($102.2 million) grid modernisation and expansion project will double the connection system between Elba and mainland Italy.

A 32 kV high-voltage alternating current cable will be installed along a 34 km undersea section and a 3 km underground section to connect the Island of Elba, and Colmata, in the Municipality of Piombino.

With Elba experiencing energy spikes in summer, the new network will strengthen the efficiency, sustainability, and quality of the electricity system on the island of Elba and in the Piombino area.

The project means more electricity and renewable energy capacity can be transported to meet demand on the islands.

Prysmian says it will conduct remote-controlled drilling techniques for cable landings, a process that will ensure the pipeline installation is fast and has minimal impact on marine habitats and coastal areas.

The power line is expected to be operational in 2023 and is part of a €515 million ($585.1 million) investment planned by Terna in Tuscany through 2025.

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The project falls under efforts by Terna to enhance its operations to consumers and to accelerate the energy transition.

The transmission system operator is also investing in energy storage to ensure flexibility to expand renewables capacity and ensure system reliability.

Energy storage companies Enel X and Fluence will develop two systems with a total capacity of 40MW which Terna will use to provide Fast Reserve grid services.

With Italy retiring its thermal energy generation but still struggling with renewables fluctuations in stabilising the grid, such services will help the country to meet its climate goals and support broader EU 2030 climate targets. 

Fluence will provide its edge-based control platform to enable Enel X’s batteries to respond quickly to changes within Terna’s network.

Panagiotis Stamoulis, Market Director, Southern Europe for Fluence. “As Italy and other countries in Southern Europe adopt innovative technologies to reach their decarbonization targets, energy storage systems with advanced software controls will play an increasingly significant role in enabling that transition while maintaining reliable and resilient electric grids.”

Terna Energy Solutions S.r.l. will be exhibiting at Enlit Europe in Milan. Meet the team at Stand 16.B80 to learn more about how they are driving the energy transition.