150 kV submarine cable link across the Gulf of Evia will facilitate the development of wind power projects

Nexans, the worldwide leader in the cable industry, has been awarded a Euros 64 million turnkey contract by Greece’s PPC (Public Power Corporation) – the country’s largest electrical power utility – to design, manufacture and install the new high-voltage AC (Alternate Current) power link between Evia and the region of Attika on the mainland.

The project will facilitate the development of wind farm projects totaling around 400 MW on Evia, the second largest of the Greek islands, by enabling the power they produce to be exported directly into PPC’s national power transmission grid.

The 150 kV link will interconnect the Nea Makri substation on the coast of Attika with the Polypotamos substation on Evia. Nexans will manufacture, supply and install three subsea cable circuits that will take a 21 km route across the Gulf of Evia in waters reaching a maximum depth of 85 metres.

Nexans is also supplying the underground power cables (27 km) to provide the land connections at each end of the submarine cables together with associated accessories such as transition joints and outdoor terminations.

“The Nea Makri- Polypotamos contract further reinforces Nexans’ position as a trusted partner for utility customers in the construction of the high-voltage subsea interconnection projects that are vital to the continued penetration of wind power as part of the global energy mix”, says Yvon Raak, Nexans Senior Corporate Executive Vice President.

“The key factors in winning this contract were our wealth of experience in many similar projects, combined with our capability to provide a complete in-house service from design and manufacture of the subsea and underground cables to installation and commissioning.”

Submarine cables

The 150 kV submarine cables will be manufactured in Nexans’ specialized submarine cable facility in Halden, Norway. They will feature XLPE insulation and comprise three power cores with a copper cross-section of 630 mm2. Three cable circuits will be installed across the Gulf of Evia to provide two circuits in normal use with one spare to ensure continuity of operation. Each circuit will have a nominal capacity of 200 MVA.

Installation is planned to be carried out by Nexans’ own cable ship, the C/S Nexans Skagerrak. The cables will be buried approximately 1 meter below the seabed. The project is scheduled for completion within 36 months.

Underground cables

The 150 kV underground cables will be a single core design for installation in three circuits, each circuit comprising three individual cables, over a 2.75 km route on the Attika side and a 330 metre route on the Evia side. They will be manufactured by Nexans in France.

www.nexans.com