EuroAsia Interconnector announced it has awarded Nexans a €1.43-billion contract for the construction and installation of High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Cable Systems linking Cyprus and Greece.
The deal represents a milestone in the implementation of the project, which aims to establish an essential energy link between Europe and Asia, providing up to 2,000 MW of energy at its second stage of implementation. Notably, the interconnector aims to become the largest submarine electricity interconnector ever built, capable of supplying electricity to over 3 million homes, the company said.
“The Nexans submarine cable contract, valued at €1.43 billion, sets multiple world records including the longest and deepest HVDC cables ever laid, each with a length of 900 km that will be supplied and installed by Nexans Aurora and Nexans Skagerrak submarine cable laying vessels, and run across the Mediterranean seabed at depths down to 3,000 meters,” EuroAsia said.
The EuroAsia Interconnector, with its 525kV HVDC cable, will become the longest and deepest interconnector in the world, boasting a bi-pole length of 2×900 km, and running beneath the Mediterranean sea floor at depths exceeding 3,000 meters. To achieve this groundbreaking feat, Nexans will manufacture the subsea HVDC Mass Impregnated cables at its facilities in Halden (Norway) and Futtsu (Japan).
At Stage One of the project, the EuroAsia Interconnector will facilitate the exchange of 1,000 MW of electricity between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece with Europe. However, at Stage Two, this capacity will increase to 2,000 MW, equivalent to powering 3 million households.
The project aims to bring an end to the energy isolation of Cyprus and Israel, ensuring a secure energy supply and forging a vital energy highway between Europe and Asia. The completion of Pole One is expected in 2028, with Pole Two following in 2029.
“We are proud that after 12 years of hard work the world’s longest and deepest subsea HVDC electricity interconnector built by Nexans will put Cyprus on the world energy map, while also ending the energy isolation of Cyprus, the last non-interconnected EU member state, and Israel. The EuroAsia Interconnector Israel-Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnector is a leading European project of common interest PCI 3.10 that ends the energy isolation of Cyprus and Israel, creates security of supply, significantly reduces the CO2 emissions, and serves the “Green Deal” of the European Commission,” said Nasos Ktorides, CEO of EuroAsia Interconnector.
Christopher Guérin, CEO of Nexans, said “this record-breaking project demonstrates our capacity to innovate and push the limits of electrical transmission and distribution to meet an ever growing global need. This is a crucial step on the path to a carbon-free economy. Nexans’ global electrification strategy is playing a key role in the world’s journey to a net zero future and we are excited that we have been selected to bring the development of the EuroAsia Interconnector to life.”
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