en.Wedoany.com Reported - Red Eléctrica will begin transporting seven high-voltage power transformers in July. These units will be shipped from the Port of Bilbao to the converter station under construction in Gatika, Biscay, for the Bay of Biscay electrical interconnection project with France. This transport is part of the infrastructure construction linking the Iberian Peninsula and the French power system via 400 kV lines.
Hitachi Energy, as the contractor, is responsible for transporting the transformers by ship to the right bank of the Bilbao River. The equipment will then be transferred to road transport and delivered to the Gatika converter station.
Each transformer weighs 315 tons, with a length of 10 meters, a width of 4.7 meters, and a height of 5 meters. The transport requires special operations, and the land route will be carried out individually using multi-axle special transport vehicles.
Special Transport for Electrical Interconnection
Red Eléctrica has coordinated the transport plan with the relevant road authorities, planning to conduct it during periods of lower traffic flow to minimize impact on traffic.
The interconnection line will connect Gatika with Cubnezais, near Bordeaux, France, via two 400 kV cables. The entire route will be laid underground and on the seabed to minimize environmental impact.
Given the length of the line, the infrastructure uses High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology to reduce transmission energy losses. The converter stations at both ends are key components of the system, used to connect to the AC power grid.
Converter Stations and Exchange Capacity Enhancement
The transformers installed at these converter stations facilitate the conversion between direct current and alternating current, enabling safe and efficient integration of electricity into the transmission grid.
This project will nearly double the exchange capacity between the two power systems, increasing it from 2,800 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts. This aligns with EU interconnection targets, aiming to strengthen supply quality, improve the efficiency of the Iberian and French systems, and promote further integration of renewable energy.
This initiative has been included in the current planning and is designated as a Project of Common Interest by the European Commission. The project has received economic and financial support from the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and the European Investment Bank. It is being developed by Inelfe, a joint venture between Red Eléctrica and its French counterpart, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE).
