Spain starts construction of power link to bring renewables to Ceuta

Spanish grid operator Red Electrica de Espana (REE) on Tuesday announced the start of construction of a 58-km (36 miles) long power link between Spain’s North African city of Ceuta and the mainland part of the country.

The project is vital for Ceuta’s transition away from fossil fuels on which the city currently depends on for electricity. The Peninsula-Ceuta interconnection is expected to integrate 473 MWh of additional renewable power per year, according to REE, which estimated the costs of the project to stand at around EUR 221 million (USD 238.5m).

Italian cabling solutions provider Prysmian SpA (BIT:PRY) was awarded the contract to manufacture, supply, and install the 132-kV double-circuit cable across the Strait of Gibraltar between Ceuta and the coast of Andalusia. The cable will run along the seabed at depths of up to 900 meters (2,953 ft). Construction has begun simultaneously at both ends of the connection.

The link will enable Ceuta to be integrated into the mainland grid where it can tap into renewables generated in the Spanish peninsula. The project is expected to create a more efficient power system in Ceuta. As mainland electricity replaces the city’s expensive thermal power, consumers will benefit from lower electricity bills, REE said.

Cables, substations and transformers for this project are expected to be commissioned in 2025.

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