Proceed at full speed the authorization process of the Tyrrhenian Link, Terna's 3,7 billion submarine power line which will connect Sicily, Sardinia and Campania. After the definitive go-ahead from the Ministry of Ecological Transition to East section, the one that connects Sicily and Campania, the Mite has formally started the authorization procedure of the West section, the branch of about 480 km that will connect Sicily and Sardinia..
The western leg of the Tyrrhenian Link
“The initiation of the authorization procedure for the western section marks a decisive progress towards the opening of construction sites of one of the main infrastructural works in the country, fundamental for the development and security of the national electricity system. The infrastructure that will connect Sicily to Sardinia will mark an important milestone in the laying of submarine power connections", comments Terna in a note, underlining that, for the first time in the world, exceeded 2000 meters of depth, with peaks up to 2150 meters below sea level.
The company that manages the national electricity grid had presented the request for authorization to build and operate the work in April, after the closure of the public consultation phase during which the company held a dialogue with the citizens and all Sardinian and Sicilian administrations involved.
"With the start of the authorization process for the western section of the Tyrrhenian Link, which follows the authorization of the East section by the MiTE in record time, we have given a further acceleration to the path that will lead to the construction of a fundamental work for our country's electricity system,” he said Stefano Donnarumma, CEO of Terna. "It is important to proceed expeditiously so that the new infrastructure is soon at the service of the national electricity system, so as to favor the development of renewable sources which today represent the real alternative to Russian gas".
From Selargius to Termini Imerese
Based on the evidence that emerged during the six "Terna Incontra" meetings organized with the institutions and local communities of Termini Imerese (in the province of Palermo) and Maracalagonis, Quartucciu, Quartu S. Elena, Selargius, Settimo San Pietro and Sinnai (in the of Cagliari), Terna has identified the most suitable places to host the future conversion stations and the route of the underground cables which from the land landing of the submarine cable will reach the same stations.
With regard to the of Sardinia, the submarine cable will land at Earth Bad, while the underground cables will mainly run along already existing roads for about 30 km, leaving the environment and landscape unaltered, up to selargius, where the converter station will be built in areas adjacent to the existing electricity station.
In Sicilia, however, submarine cables will land at twisted river. From here the underground cables will run for 7 km along the existing road up to Termini Imerese, in Contrada Caracoli, where the conversion station will be built near the current electricity station.
"Anyone, and in particular the subjects interested in the work, will be able to view the project and possibly submit written observations to the Ministry of Ecological Transition within 30 days of the date of publication of the start of the procedure", Terna announced.
The Tyrrhenian Link will be fully operational in 2028, but the first cable - the one relating to the East Branch - will be operational as early as the end of 2025.
