Positive
Project advancing - milestone achieved
Medium Impact
Significant progress or notable issue
DELAYED +9mo (Apr 2026): Inelfe’s current schedule for the Biscay Gulf/Bay of Biscay project shows converter station works in both Gatika (Spain) and Cubnezais (France) running from Q4 2023 through Q4 2028. Redeia and RTE communications (via Inelfe, Red Eléctrica and CINEA/EIB) reiterate that the interconnection is due to enter service in 2028, with civil works on the Cubnezais buildings completing in 2025 and electrical equipment installation continuing until mid‑2027, followed by testing from mid‑2027 onwards. This makes commissioning of the HVDC converter stations at the very start of 2028 unrealistic, as work on the stations is scheduled to continue through late 2028. Adjusting onshore station commissioning to Q4 2028 to match the converter-station works window and the 2028 in‑service target. --- The onshore HVDC converter stations at Gatika in Spain and Cubnezais in France for the Bay of Biscay interconnection are planned to be delivered and commissioned in 2028. Hitachi Energy and Vinci, contracted by Inelfe to design and build four 400 kV HVDC converter stations, will complete construction and commissioning to enable the 400 km subsea and underground link to raise France–Spain interconnection capacity to about 5,000 MW.