Crete - Peloponnese
Island LinkOperationalGR280 MW150 kV174 km2021
Also known as:Crete–Peloponnese Interconnection, Interconnection of Crete with the Peloponnese, Crete–Peloponnese 150 kV interconnection, Κρήτη–Πελοπόννησος διασύνδεση, Μικρή διασύνδεση Κρήτης, Μικρή διασύνδεση Κρήτης–Πελοποννήσου, First phase of Crete interconnection, Phase I Crete–HETS interconnection
Status:Operational
Capacity:280 MW
Project Company:IPTO S.A. (Independent Power Transmission Operator)
Type:island link
Expected Life:40 years
Website:www.admie.gr
The Crete–Peloponnese interconnection (Phase I) is the first electrical link connecting the island of Crete to mainland Greece. Implemented as a 150 kV alternating-current (AC) transmission link, the project comprises two three-core submarine XLPE cables of roughly 135 km each together with approximately 42 km of underground onshore cable, forming...
Supply Chain (7)
Project Timeline (15)
1 Nov 2021Commercial Operations Full Power
The Crete–Peloponnese "small interconnection" entered commercial operation on 1 November 2021, with its launch coordinated with the start of Crete’s hybrid market participation model, marking the commercial go‑live of the first AC power link between Crete and mainland Greece following completion and trial operation of the 150 kV, 2×200 MVA interconnector.
6 Oct 2021Procurement Other
CRP Subsea was awarded a contract by Hellenic Cables to supply motion stabilisers, bend restrictors with VIV strakes and Tri‑Strakes Combi VIV suppression strakes to protect sections of the west submarine cable for the Crete–Peloponnese electricity interconnection, with these ancillary protection products delivered and successfully installed offshore in the project’s deep‑water, challenging seabed environment.
20 May 2021Capital Support Awarded
On 20 May 2021, Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy and IPTO announced that the Crete–Peloponnese 150 kV AC interconnection, with a total project cost of €380 million, had been completed and was co-financed by Greece and the European Union, along with loans from the European Investment Bank, confirming that the project’s capital funding package was in place.
20 May 2021Cable Installation Complete
On 20 May 2021, Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy and IPTO announced that construction of the Crete–Peloponnese 150 kV AC interconnection had been completed, following successful test electrification of all sea and land sections between Chania (Crete) and Neapoli, Lakonia. The record‑breaking 174 km AC link, with transmission capacity of 2×200 MVA, was ready to enter trial operation to cover about one‑third of Crete’s electricity demand and enable the phased replacement of older, more polluting local power plants.
May 2021System Testing
In mid‑May 2021, immediately before the formal completion announcement, IPTO and the Ministry of Environment and Energy completed test electrification of all parts of the Crete–Peloponnese interconnection, including both the submarine and onshore sections, confirming the integrity of the 150 kV AC link between Chania and Neapoli ahead of trial operation.
1 Apr 2021Cable Installation Complete
On 1 April 2021 Prysmian Group and IPTO announced the successful completion of the submarine HVAC interconnection between Crete and the Peloponnese, comprising about 135 km of 150 kV three‑core XLPE cables installed at water depths of up to approximately 1,000 m, marking completion of Prysmian’s design, supply and installation scope for the project.
2021System Testing
According to IPTO Holding’s 2022 corporate presentation, the 150 kV AC Crete–Peloponnese interconnection (2×200 MVA, two 132 km XLPE submarine cables plus underground sections) was commissioned in the first half of 2021, completing testing and commissioning activities required to bring the link into operational service.
22 Dec 2020System Testing
IPTO carried out a successful 24‑hour test energization of the 150 kV AC Crete–Peloponnese submarine interconnector on 22–23 December 2020, using WAMSTER STERPMU‑Rp devices installed at the Chania (Crete) and Sklavouna (Peloponnese) substations for remote monitoring of the cable that links Crete with the Greek mainland system.
Dec 2020Procurement Other
WAMSTER supplied and installed two STERPMU‑Rp monitoring devices at IPTO’s Chania (Crete) and Sklavouna (Peloponnese) substations to provide wireless synchrophasor‑based monitoring for test electrification of the Crete–Peloponnese submarine cable, and following a two‑week evaluation period the devices were selected for permanent monitoring of the interconnector.
29 Jun 2020Procurement Other
Jan De Nul Group secured an installation and protection contract, in partnership with Hellenic Cables subsidiary Fulgor, for a 135.7 km submarine power cable on the Crete–Peloponnese interconnection, with Fulgor producing the cable and Jan De Nul using its cable‑laying vessel Isaac Newton to install the cable in water depths of up to about 980 metres and perform pre‑ and post‑lay protection works.