(AGENPARL) – lun 04 settembre 2023 TERNA: THE ELBA-MAINLAND CONNECTION HAS COME INTO
OPERATION
€90 million invested in the undersea cable that connects Portoferraio and Piombino, in the Livorno
province
The project complies with the highest sustainability standards to safeguard the area’s marine
ecosystem
Rome, 4 September 2023 – Terna’s 132 kV undersea cable linking the island of Elba with Piombino
(Livorno) has come into operation. The project, which is of fundamental importance for the entire
Italian electricity system, confirms the strategic role that the company led by Giuseppina Di Foggia
plays in the country’s energy transition process.
The power line boasts a total length of approximately 37 km, 34 of which undersea and 3 completely
underground. It is an essential infrastructure which doubles the connection lines between the Italian
electricity system and the grid on the island of Elba.
“The new connection between the island of Elba and Tuscany is important for multiple reasons. First
of all, thanks to Terna’s €90 million investment, it significantly improves the safety and reliability of
the island’s electricity grid. The project was also developed in compliance with the highest
sustainability standards: the connection is, in fact, invisible and advanced laying techniques were
used to safeguard the important local marine biodiversity,” commented Giuseppina Di Foggia, Terna
Chief Executive Officer and General Manager.
The undersea cable was laid by the Leonardo Da Vinci ship, operated by the Prysmian Group, at a
maximum depth of around 70 metres below sea level, starting from the island landing site at
Portoferraio and continuing towards the continental coast of Piombino.
The company that manages Italy’s electricity transmission grid safeguarded the local marine habitat.
In the months before the start of cable-laying activities, in fact, around 53,000 plants of Posidonia
seagrass – an aquatic plant typical of the Mediterranean Sea that plays a strategic role in the entire
marine ecosystem – were planted in the Gulf of Follonica covering 1650 m² in total.
Furthermore, the cable landing sites were made using the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
technique, which makes it possible to install a pipe while limiting interference with aquatic plants and
cancelling out the impact of the works on the shoreline, while also ensuring the electrical connection
is mechanically protected as needed.