Red Eléctrica (Redeia) has started laying the first submarine circuit that will link the Ceuta electricity system with that of the mainland. The project consists of a 58 km cable that starts from the coast of La Línea de la Concepción and will reach the coast of Ceuta in the first weeks of September.
The operation is technically complex, as it involves working at depths of up to 900 meters and protecting both the cable and marine biodiversity.
Operation for the laying of the submarine cable
The Prysmian company’s Giulio Verne, one of the few vessels in the world capable of installing cables at great depths, is used for this operation. The installation is complemented by sustainable techniques, such as horizontal directional drilling in the land-sea transition, which avoids affecting beaches or bathing areas.
In addition, the overland sections of the project are being buried up to the new Algeciras substation. Algeciras 132 kV substation 132 kV substation, annexed to the existing 220 kV substation, minimizing the visual impact.
Ship Giulio Verne. Source: Prysmian
energy integration of Ceuta
The connection will allow Ceuta to be integrated into the peninsular electricity system, guaranteeing a stable and comparable supply to that of the rest of the country. It will also reduce its dependence on local generation based on fossil fuels. fossil fuel-based generationIt will also reduce its dependence on local generation based on fossil fuels, favoring the entry of renewable energies. This translates into less polluting emissions and improved air quality in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The link ensures energy stability in Ceuta and will contribute to the efficiency of the national electricity system by substituting high-cost energy with that coming from the peninsula. Likewise, the improvements in the Algeciras substation will help to meet the growing demand in the Campo de Gibraltar and the Bay of Algeciras, reinforcing the economic competitiveness of the region.
Source and photo: Red Eléctrica
