Three submarine connections among the key projects approved by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security:  Elmed, Adriatic Link and Bolano-Annunziata

More than 560 km of submarine or underground cable lines for sustainable infrastructure across Italy

During 2024, the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and the relevant regional departments authorised 25 projects for the development of the national electricity grid, worth over € 2.3 billion in total. These projects reaffirm the pivotal role of Terna, led by Giuseppina Di Foggia, in Italy’s energy transition and highlight the effective collaboration with institutions.

The authorised works will deliver significant environmental, social, and economic benefits: more than 560 km of new submarine or underground lines will significantly reduce landscape and environmental impacts. Additionally, approximately 100 pylons will be removed, freeing up over hectares of land, with positive effects for local communities.

Three major submarine links stand out among the key projects approved by the MASE this year. Elmed, the energy bridge between Italy and Tunisia, developed by Terna in collaboration with STEG, the Tunisian grid operator. The 600 MW power line, approximately 220 km long, will be largely underwater and reach a depth of 800 metres in the Strait of Sicily. The project, co-financed with €307 million through the European Connecting Europe Facility programme, will strengthen energy security and integration between the two countries.

Another important project authorised in 2024 is the Adriatic Link, the submarine connection between Marche and Abruzzo, included in the PNIEC (Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan). This infrastructure will enhance the security and flexibility of the national electricity system, facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and optimise energy exchange in central Italy.

The authorisation of the Bolano-Annunziata power line, a 380 kV AC interconnection between Calabria and Sicily, will increase the transmission capacity between the island and the mainland to 2,000 MW, fostering the development of renewables in Southern Italy and improving the grid’s resilience.

The projects approved in 2024 also include an 8 km underground line connecting the two new power stations of Telese and Amorosi, supporting the Naples-Bari High-Speed/High-Capacity railway line. This project will enable the removal of 2 km of overhead lines near densely populated urban areas.

Also worth mentioning is the authorisation of two projects aimed at increasing the safety and efficiency of the high- and extra-high-voltage electricity grid, improving the quality of local service.

The first involves an approximately 10 km underground cable connecting the primary substations «Messina Nord» and «Messina Riviera“. This new infrastructure will enhance service quality in Messina, an area prone to severe weather events, by diversifying transmission technology and increasing operational flexibility.

The second is part of the plan to reorganise the electrical network in the Sorrento Peninsula and concerns the construction of two underground power lines of 3 km and 7 km respectively, in the municipalities of Solofra, Fisciano, Mercato San Severino, and Baronissi. This project will result in the removal of over 1 km of existing overhead lines, freeing up 2 hectares of land and enhancing the sustainability of the local network.

The authorisation of these projects marks a decisive step toward a more resilient, secure, and integrated electricity system, aligning with national decarbonisation and sustainability goals.