Isola d’Elba - Toscana / Continente
Island LinkOperationalIT132 kV37 km2023
Also known as:Elettrodotto 132 kV Elba–Continente, Colmata–Piombino 132 kV, Portoferraio–Piombino 132 kV, Collegamento elettrico in cavo sottomarino Elba-Continente, EL-219, Decreto interministeriale n.239/EL-219/333/2021, Terna 309-P (Elba–Continente)
Status:Operational
Project Company:Terna S.p.A.
Type:island link
Website:www.arera.it
Isola d’Elba–Toscana/Continente (Elba–Continente 132 kV) is a domestic HVAC island-link subsea and underground cable system that connects the electrical system of Isola d’Elba to mainland Tuscany. The link comprises a 132 kV submarine/land elettrodotto with an overall route length of approximately 37 km, of which about 34 km are underwater...
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (7)
Sept 2023Cable Installation Complete
In September 2023, Terna completed laying the 132 kV submarine power cable between the island of Elba and Piombino (LI), a new interconnection approximately 37 km long, including 34 km undersea and 3 km of fully underground cable. The installation was carried out to high environmental sustainability standards, including the repositioning of around 53,000 cuttings of Posidonia oceanica seagrass in the Gulf of Follonica to protect the local marine habitat.
Apr 2023Commercial Operations Full Power
The 132 kV Elba–Continente submarine cable interconnector between the Isola d’Elba (SE Colmata/Portoferraio) and Piombino in the province of Livorno entered into operational service in April 2023, following Terna’s approximately €90 million investment. The 37 km link, including 34 km offshore and 3 km of fully buried onshore cable installed using techniques such as horizontal directional drilling to minimise environmental impact, was commissioned to enhance the security and reliability of the island’s electricity supply and forms part of Italy’s strategic transmission infrastructure.
2023Cable Supplier Selected
Terna Rete Italia’s new 132 kV three‑core XLPE HVAC submarine and land cable link between Elba Island and the Italian mainland at Piombino, supplied and installed by Prysmian under a €68 million contract, was scheduled to be delivered and commissioned by 2023, at which point the connection would double the island’s energy supply and improve security of supply during peak tourist seasons.[1][20]
23 Nov 2021Cable Supplier Selected
On 23 November 2021, Terna Rete Italia S.p.A., the Italian TSO, awarded Prysmian Group a contract worth about €68 million to design, supply, install and commission a new 132 kV three‑core XLPE HVAC submarine and land cable system between Elba Island and the Italian mainland at Piombino, comprising approximately 34 km of subsea cable and 3 km of onshore cable, with manufacturing to take place at Prysmian’s Arco Felice (Naples) and Pignataro plants and laying by the vessel Leonardo da Vinci.
30 Apr 2021Planning Consent Awarded
Authority: Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica · Licence: Decreto Interministeriale n. 239/EL-219/333/2021 – autorizzazione alla costruzione ed esercizio di un nuovo collegamento in cavo sottomarino tra l’Isola d’Elba e il Continente (“Portoferraio - Colmata”) e delle opere accessorie
On 30 April 2021, the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Energy Security issued Interministerial Decree No. 239/EL-219/333/2021, granting Terna S.p.A. authorisation to construct and operate a new submarine power cable link between Isola d’Elba and the mainland (“Portoferraio - Colmata”) and associated works in the Province of Livorno. The decree approves the project, including the defined terrestrial and marine routes between the Colmata substation in Piombino and the Portoferraio substation on Elba, and provides the unified planning and building consent necessary for implementation.
6 Oct 2015Eia Submitted
Authority: MASE · Licence: Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale (VIA) – procedura integrata VIA-Valutazione di incidenza
Terna Rete Italia S.p.A. submitted an application for a Valutazione di Impatto Ambientale (VIA), as part of an integrated VIA–Valutazione di incidenza procedure, for the new 132 kV AC submarine cable interconnection between the island of Elba (Portoferraio primary substation) and the Italian mainland (Colmata 132 kV primary substation) on 6 October 2015.
Date TBDCable Installation Start
Prysmian Group has started cable installation for the Elba–Piombino interconnector, the new 132 kV HVAC subsea power link between the island of Elba and the Italian mainland, using its cable‑laying vessel Leonardo da Vinci. The project involves laying approximately 34 km of submarine cable and 3 km of onshore cable and is expected to double Elba’s energy supply by providing a more secure and sustainable connection to the mainland grid.