On 1 April Prysmian Group and independent power transmission operator IPTO successfully completed the submarine interconnection between the island of Crete and the Peloponnese peninsula, a record-breaking project in terms of length, depth and innovative HVAC cable technology.
Prysmian Group designed, supplied, and installed an HVAC cable system composed of 135 km of 150 kV three-core cables with XLPE insulation and double-wire armouring. This is a record-breaking project – Prysmian Group installed its innovative cable-system technology, based on a synthetic armour 30% lighter than steel, at a water depth of approximately 1000 metres for the first time.
The project has a total value of €125 million and was awarded to Prysmian Group in 2018 by IPTO, which operates the transmission system for Greece’s power grid. The first interconnection of Crete to the mainland of Greece is expected to go online over the next few months.
“The interconnection of Crete to the mainland has been a long-term aspiration for the Greek people” commented Manos Manoukis BoD chairman and CEO IPTO.
“The technology of high strength synthetic fibres – used for first time in this project- secures low weight and good mechanical performance, ideal for the high-depth Greek seas. The innovative technology used in Crete-Peloponnese project paths the way for reliable and resilient subsea interconnections in the challenging Aegean sea.”
