Italy - Greece HVDC link

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The HVDC link is the first transmission project being implemented within the European Unions Trans-European Network (TEN) initiative.

The Italian power utility ENEL and PPC in Greece are the owners of this HVDC link interconnecting their electric power networks.

The HVDC system has a power rating of 500 MW at a DC voltage of 400 kV. The converter stations are situated in Galatina in the region of Puglia in the south east of Italy and Arachthos in the north western Greek region Epirus.

Galatina station, Italy

Arachthos station, Greece

The two stations are interconnected by a transmission system consisting of 40 km of land cable in Italy, a 160 km long sea cable crossing the Adriatic sea and a 110 km long overhead line on the Greek side. Extensions will also be made in the AC systems connecting to the DC stations.

The Italy-Greece HVDC link is the first energy project being implemented within the European Unions Trans-European Network (TEN) initiative, aimed at developing cross-boarder infrastructure systems for a single European market. The project is being financed in part through European Commission grants and loans from the European Investment Bank. This link enables Italy and Greece to use their installed power generation capacity more efficiently.

Main data
Commissioning year:	2001
Power rating:	500 MW
No. of poles:	1
AC voltage:	400 kV (both ends)
DC voltage:	400 kV
Length of DC submarine cables:	160 km
Length of DC underground cables:	43 km
Length of DC overhead line:	110 km
Main reason for choosing HVDC:	Length of sea crossing