Italian electricity transmission operator Terna and its Greek counterpart ADMIE have signed an agreement to construct a new undersea electricity interconnector between the two countries. The project, valued at nearly 2 billion euros, is intended to strengthen the energy link between Italy and Greece and improve the resilience of the European electricity network.
The decision comes in the wake of a significant blackout that recently affected Spain and Portugal, prompting renewed attention across Europe to the importance of diversifying energy routes and ensuring reliable power supply.
The new high-voltage connection, named GRITA 2, will have a transmission capacity of up to 1,000 megawatts. It will span approximately 300 kilometers, with around 240 kilometers of the cable laid under the sea, reaching depths of up to 1,000 meters.
Terna highlighted that the interconnector will contribute to the EU’s decarbonization targets by enabling the integration of renewable energy sources and by positioning both Italy and Greece as key electricity hubs in the Mediterranean region.
The GRITA 2 interconnector will originate from Italy’s Puglia region and will operate in parallel with the existing Italy-Greece link, which has been in service since 2002 and has a capacity of 500 megawatts. The new infrastructure will increase both the capacity and stability of cross-border electricity flows, supporting regional energy security and market integration.
