Hitachi Energy wins order for first subsea electricity interconnection between France and Spain

HVDC link improves the security and quality of power in the region, advancing the integration of emission-free energy

Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it won an order from Electricity Interconnection France-Spain (Inelfe), the joint venture bringing together operators of the Spanish (Red Eléctrica) and French (RTE) electricity transmission networks, in charge of the construction and commissioning of all cross-border connections between both countries, to supply four high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations to interconnect France and Spain via a subsea cable across the Biscay Gulf.

The Biscay Gulf interconnection, labeled as project of common interest (PCI) at the European level, will consist of two HVDC links, with a converter station at each end of both systems. Combined, the links will efficiently supply a total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity at 400 kilovolts (kV) over 400 kilometers (km). Providing the equivalent of the power consumption of more than two million households¹, the links will improve the safety, stability, and quality of the electricity supply between the two countries. It will advance the integration of emission-free electricity and create a more efficient system to generate savings that benefit consumers and the rest of Europe.² Most of the link will be underwater, but a short section of the link cable route will return to land to avoid the deep Capbreton Canyon.

“Cross border, and often subsea, interconnections are vital to Europe’s increasingly interconnected grid,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director at Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “Through our pioneering HVDC technology, we enable Inelfe to accelerate the two countries’ sustainability goals, improving the safety, stability, and quality of electricity supply between France and Spain and the rest of Europe.”