New Spain-Portugal electricity interconnection inaugurated

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The interconnector, classified as a ‘project of common interest’, runs from Beariz to Fontefría in northwest Spain and across the border to Ponte de Lima and on to Vila Nova de Famalicão in northern Portugal.

With a total extent of 166km – 53km in Spain and 113km in Portugal – the 400kV AC double circuit line increases the cross-border electricity capacity to 4,200MW from Spain to Portugal and 3.500MW from Portugal to Spain.

As such it is marks a significant reinforcement of both systems and facilitates the integration of an estimated additional 281GWh per year of renewable capacity, with the consequent reduction of CO₂ emissions by 113,000t per year.

Rodrigo Costa, Chairman of Portuguese TSO REN, said the new interconnector – the tenth between the two countries – is extremely important for the Iberian Peninsula, as it has a very positive economic impact on both.

“The very high voltage electricity interconnectors between Portugal and Spain contribute to greater security for both systems and to the energy transition we aim to achieve in both countries."

“From the European impetus to joint work between governments, regional and local authorities and, above all, close dialogue with the local communities, it was a project built on listening, municipality by municipality, mountain range by mountain range and, quite literally, house by house."

An important aspect of the project highlighted by REN was the selection of the border crossing point – between Viana do Castelo in the municipality of Melgaço and Pontevedra in Arbo – which was chosen between the two TSOs based on sustainability, environmental, social and technical feasibility criteria, while ensuring compliance with the legislation of both countries.

Source: Wikipedia