Regulatory News
Successful completion of the record-breaking Crete Interconnection
Brussels, 24 May 2021
Cenergy Holdings announces that the 178 km-long submarine and underground electrical interconnection between Crete and Peloponnese, one of the most demanding projects ever completed worldwide, undertaken by Hellenic Cables, its cables segment, and assigned by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) was successfully electrified. Its successful completion marks the first step for Crete’s transition to clean energy.
The project, aiming at the replacement of Crete’s conventional polluting power plants, includes the turnkey design, supply and installation of a 150kV composite submarine and underground cable system for the interconnection of Crete, Greece’s larger island, with the mainland power supply grid. This first subsea interconnection of Crete to the mainland is also the longest cable HVAC interconnection worldwide (approx. 178Km) and the deepest one. The laying of the submarine cables was at water depths up to 1000m.
During the implementation of the project, Hellenic Cables has embedded significant innovations both in the design of the cable itself as well as for its laying, through advanced and state-of-the-art installation developed especially for this project. In addition to the record water depth of 1000m, Hellenic Cables successfully addressed the challenges posed by the highly diversified submarine environment and seabed conditions, comprising of high and steep seabed slopes, sharp rocky outcrops and pockmarks at multiple locations. Moreover, three different types of cable protection systems were custom-designed in terms of water depth, geomorphology and geohazards along the length of 135km.
The successful completion of the project highlights Hellenic Cables’ commitment to deliver top quality and long-lasting cable solutions and reaffirms its ability to successfully respond to the most demanding and challenging projects.
About IPTO
The Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) is responsible for the operation, monitoring, maintenance and development of the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System, aiming to ensure safe and undisrupted power supply in Greece, as well as the smooth operation of the balancing market and the cross-border trade. The Operator’s Ten-Year Network Development Plan envisages the electrical interconnection of almost all Greek islands in the High Voltage System by 2029, the strengthening and modernization of the System’s backbone in mainland Greece and the expansion of cross-border interconnections aiming at the sustainable development of the national power grid and Greece’s transition towards a cleaner energy mix.
About Cenergy Holdings
Cenergy Holdings is a Belgian holding company listed on both Euronext Brussels and Athens Stock Exchange, investing in leading industrial companies, focusing on the growing global demand of energy transfer, renewables and data transmission. The Cenergy Holdings portfolio consists of Corinth Pipeworks and Hellenic Cables, companies positioned at the forefront of their respective high growth sectors. Corinth Pipeworks is a world leader in steel pipe manufacturing for the oil and gas sector and major producer of steel hollow sections for the construction sector. Hellenic Cables is one of the largest cable producers in Europe, manufacturing power and telecom cables as well as submarine cables for the aforementioned sectors. For more information about our company, please visit our website at www.cenergyholdings.com.