The construction of the link begins today "Capri-Annunziata Tower” conceived as part of the Insula Project, the network of technologically sophisticated submarine cables created with the aim of strengthening the network that connects Italy to its islands.
The project has been entrusted to Terna, the company that manages electricity transmission in Italy, and involves the construction of a 150 kV alternating current cable power line, 31 km long (30 submarines + 1 terrestrial), and the construction, at the Gasto Ecological Island in Capri, of an innovative electrical substation conceived with criteria of low environmental impact and sustainable design.
The work is of historical importance. For the first time, the Blue Island will be connected to the continent by a power line, which will ensure continuity and quality of the electricity service, minimizing the risk of blackouts in the summer, when tourism, and therefore consumption, increases.
With the entry into service of the new connection, Terna estimates savings of at least 17 million euros a year on electricity, to the benefit of businesses and citizens. Furthermore, the necessary investment, over 100 million euros, will give work to 40 companies and represents the will and commitment of the company in a difficult moment for the Italian economy.
The Insula project, value estimated at 2,3 billion euros, so far involves 5 macro-works, which concern as many Italian regions:
Il Connection between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula (Sa.Pe.I.) and between Sardinia, Corsica and the Italian peninsula (Sa.Co.I. 3)
The first, fully operational since 2012, has been called the "Electric bridge of records". With its 435 km it is in fact the longest submarine connection in the Mediterranean and the deepest in the world with a depth of 1.640 metres. The Sa.Pe.I., for the construction of which Terna has invested 750 million euros, will bring savings to the electricity system of 70 million euros a year, thanks to the removal of the "bottlenecks" between the Sardinia area and the rest of the electricity market. Furthermore, from an environmental point of view, more than 500 tonnes of CO2 will be saved per year in the atmosphere due to the greater use of renewable energy.
The Sa.Co.I. 3 is destined to make Sardinia a strategic energy hub, focused on production from renewable sources. For this reason, Terna is planning to enhance the interconnection between Sardinia, Corsica and the Italian peninsula with the aim of guaranteeing greater exploitation of the new production capacity for approximately 500 MW. The project, for which Terna will invest over 600 million euros, involves the replacement and upgrading of existing submarine cables and the reconstruction of the current conversion stations.
The Interconnection of the Campania islands with the mainland
In addition to the connection between Torre Annunziata and Capri, there are plans to upgrade the 150 kV “Cuma-Lacco Ameno” power line and the “Cuma-Patria” (Ischia) connection. Overall, these interventions provide for an investment of around 150 million euros and could bring numerous environmental and economic benefits.
Il Connection between Sicily and Calabria (“Sorgente-Rizziconi”)
The work, currently under construction, will link Sicily and Calabria through a 105 km connection, of which 38 km in submarine cable, between Sorgente (Me) and Rizziconi (RC). It is the longest 380 kV alternating current submarine cable ever built in the world. Once completed, the power line, for which Terna will invest over 700 million euros, will improve the quality and safety of the Sicilian electricity grid, which is old and has little interconnection with the rest of the country. It will also allow numerous benefits also in environmental terms: for the construction of 82 km of new power lines in the provinces of Messina and Reggio Calabria, 67 km will be buried and 170 km of existing overhead lines will be demolished. Lastly, the new power line will allow for savings in CO2 emissions of around 670.000 tonnes a year. The project is co-financed by the EU under the European Energy Program for Recovery.
Il Connection "Elba Island-Tuscany"
A 132 kV submarine electric cable between Piombino and Porto Ferraio will connect the Island of Elba to the mainland. The power line, under authorization and for which Terna expects an investment of approximately 50 million euros, will be approximately 39 km long, of which 33 under water and 6 in underground cable. In addition to the construction of the submarine connection, Terna's project provides for an upgrading of the existing 132 kV “S.Giuseppe-Porto Ferraio” power line, work on which is already underway.
The I.interconnection of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon
The work, already authorized and for which Terna expects to invest a total of 33 million euros, involves two interventions:
the 132 kV connection between the mainland and Murano (“Cavallino-Sacca Serenella”), 14 km long, 10 of which of sub-lagoon cable, which will complete the 132 kV network in the Venetian lagoon area, improving the safety of the service electricity both for the city of Venice and for the areas of the high Adriatic coast of Jesolo;
the laying underground of the 132 kV “Fusina2-Sacca Fisola” overhead line for a total of 6 km, 5 of which under the lagoon. This intervention will allow for the demolition of 7 km of overhead lines affecting the body of water of the Venetian lagoon and will allow easier transit of ships.
Both interventions involve the use of cutting-edge technologies and equipment to lay cables in the shallow waters of the lagoon.
