Great Sea Interconnector

Great Sea Interconnector
Map of Great Sea Interconnector
Location
Founded2010
HeadquartersNicosia, Cyprus
ServicesElectrical grid
Electric power transmission
Country Cyprus
 Greece
 Israel
FromIsrael Hadera, Israel
Passes throughCyprus Kofinou, Cyprus
ToGreece Korakias, Crete, Greece
Ownership information
OwnerEuroAsia Interconnector Ltd.
Key peopleChairman: Christopher Pissarides
CEONasos Ktorides
Project directorGeorge Killas
OperatorEuroAsia Interconnector Ltd.
Construction information
ExpectedCyprus—Greece 2028/29[1]
Cyprus—Israel 2028/29[1]
Construction cost€2.5 billion (Stage 1)
Technical information
TypeSubmarine power cable
Type of currentHVDC
Total length1,208 km (751 mi)
Power rating2,000 MW (1,000 MW in phase 1)
DC voltage±500 kV[2]
No. of poles2[2]

The Great Sea Interconnector,[3] formerly known as the EuroAsia Interconnector[4] is a planned HVDC interconnector between the Greek, Cypriot, and Israeli power grids via the world's longest submarine power cable, with a length of 310 kilometres (190 mi) from Israel to Cyprus and 898 kilometres (558 mi) from Cyprus to Greece for a total of 1,208 kilometres (751 mi).[5][2]

Connecting Kofinou, Cyprus to Hadera, Israel and Korakias, Crete, Greece, the EuroAsia Interconnector is a major Project of Common Interest (PCI) of the European Union and a priority Electricity Highway Interconnector Project[6][7][8][9][10][11] as an energy highway bridging Asia and Europe.

On 12 May 2017, the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met the State Grid Corporation of China Chairman Shu Yinbiao in Beijing, and CEO of EuroAsia Interconnector Nasos Ktorides supported the timely implementation of the EuroAsia Interconnector.[12] On December 12, 2017 transmission system operator Elia announced the conclusion of a strategic alliance agreement for the development and implementation of the 2,000 MW interconnector.[13]

On 8 March 2021, Cyprus, Greece and Israel signed an initial agreement to build the world's largest and deepest submarine power cable that will connect the three Mediterranean countries' power grids.[14]

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited Cyprus on 8 July 2021 and officially presented EU approval for the Cyprus plan to spend €1.2 billion under the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan.[15][16][17] EuroAsia Interconnector got €100 million funding from EU Recovery and Resilience Plan.[18] [19] [20][21]

On 26 January 2022, the European Commission approved €657 million under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for EuroAsia Interconnector.[22]

The inauguration ceremony on the start of the construction works of Interconnector held on October 14, 2022, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.[23]

  1. ^ a b https://euroasia-interconnector.com/at-glance/project-timeline/ [bare URL]
  2. ^ a b c "EuroAsia Interconnector Project and Progress" (PDF). euroasia-interconnector.com.
  3. ^ "Cyprus mulls joining Great Sea Interconnector | eKathimerini.com". www.ekathimerini.com. 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  4. ^ "EuroAsia Interconnector". euroasia-interconnector.com.
  5. ^ Kambas, Michele (2012-01-23). "Cyprus group plans Greece-Israel electricity link". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 2012-03-09. A Cyprus-based group including Greece's state-controlled power utility PPC said on Monday it planned to lay the world's longest subsea power cable linking Europe and Asia.
  6. ^ "EU Projects by country". ec.europa.eu.
  7. ^ "Funding for PCIs". Energy - European Commission. April 5, 2017.
  8. ^ Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1391/2013 of 14 October 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure as regards the Union list of projects of common interest
  9. ^ Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/89 of 18 November 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 347/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the Union list of projects of common interest
  10. ^ "Third list of PCI" (PDF). ec.europa.eu.
  11. ^ "Press corner". European Commission - European Commission.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference TRI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference ELI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Israel, Cyprus and Greece agree to link power grids via subsea cable". ekathimerini.com. 8 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Statement by President von der Leyen on Cyprus' recovery and resilience plan". ec.europa.eu.
  16. ^ "EU Commission approves Cyprus' €1.2 bln Covid recovery plan". Cyprus Mail. 8 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Von der Leyen hails Cyprus pandemic relief plan". Financial Mirror. 8 July 2021.
  18. ^ Ελευθερία Παϊζάνου. "Εγκρίνεται την Πέμπτη το Εθνικό Σχέδιο Ανάκαμψης". Phileleftheros/.
  19. ^ Stockwatch (July 2021). "Ζητούν €20 εκ. για Σχέδιο Ανάκαμψης 172 μέτρων".
  20. ^ European Commission. "Analysis of the recovery and resilience plan of Cyprus" (PDF). ec.europa.eu.
  21. ^ Council of the European Union. "ANNEX to the Council Implementing Decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Cyprus". eur-lex.europa.eu.
  22. ^ EU invests over € 1 billion in energy infrastructure in support of the Green Deal ec.europa.eu
  23. ^ Ktisti, Sarah (2022-10-14). "Supercharged: The EuroAsia Interconnector and Israel's Pursuit of Energy Interdependence". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2022-10-16.