Electricity interconnection between the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia via high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines, with a single line transmission capacity of up to 1 GW
Improve energy efficiency and power supply stability, and promote the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid
Siemens Energy will provide Italy with high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology to build up to 970 km of HVDC transmission lines between the Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia, enabling flexible electricity interconnection between Italian islands and further benefiting Italy from renewable energy development. Siemens Energy and FATA, a subsidiary of Italy’s Danieli Group, have won an order for four converter stations in the Tyrrhenian Link project of Italian power grid operator Terna. High voltage direct current (HVDC) technology can deliver renewable energy more efficiently, improve the stability of the grid, and help drive the closure of existing coal-fired power plants in Sicily and Sardinia to reduce carbon emissions. The order value of Siemens Energy in this project is about 1 billion euros. Strengthening the power grid is as important as developing renewable energy. Italy has excellent renewable energy generation conditions. Through this project, the regions concerned will maximize
their economic benefits and contribute to a more sustainable and stable electricity supply in Italy. Tim Holt, a member of the executive committee of Siemens Energy AG, said that in order to meet the EU’s “Fit for 55” package target by 2030, Italy needs to add 70 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity to meet the requirement that renewables account for at least 65% of total electricity consumption. Interconnecting the power grids of the Italian peninsula and its largest islands will help deliver green energy flexibly to power-consuming areas. The Tyrrhenian submarine cable project is Siemens Energy’s first HVDC power transmission project in Italy. Siemens Energy plans to build four converter stations at the end of the two lines of the project, the eastern line will connect the Campania region of the Italian peninsula and Sicily, and the western line will connect Sicily and Sardinia. The converter station converts the alternating current fed into direct current, and then transmits it through the submarine cable. A converter station at the other end converts the power back into alternating current to feed it into the regional grid. A single line has a DC voltage class of 500 kV and a transmission capacity of 1 GW, thus ensuring that green power can be transmitted over long distances. Siemens Energy’s plants in Europe will provide the main equipment for the project’s four converter stations, including converter technology, transformers and switchgear. The consortium partners FATA and Impresa Manca Costruzioni Generali S.p.A., an Italian construction company. Together with Pizzulo Costruzioni s.r.l., civil works, installation of equipment, construction of auxiliary facilities and preparation for installation and commissioning were undertaken. The converter station is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.