An investment of around €280 million to strengthen Central Italy’s electricity grid and support renewable energy integration

The project will feature Terna’s patented “5 Phases” pylons, a new generation of infrastructure for the energy transition 

The Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security has formally initiated the authorization process for Central Link, the project of Terna to rebuild the existing 220 kV electricity backbone between Umbria and Tuscany.

With a total investment of approximately €280 million planned by the company led by Giuseppina Di Foggia, the Central Link will be a key infrastructure project for Central Italy, designed to increase transmission capacity, enhance the grid’s robustness and flexibility, and facilitate the integration of renewable sources into the national electricity system.

A distinctive feature of the project will be the use of “5 Phases” pylons, a patented technology developed by Terna that represents a major step forward in the design of electrical infrastructure. These new pylons are lighter, more environmentally integrated, and capable of carrying more energy while reducing electric and magnetic fields, contributing to a more sustainable grid model.

This innovation is one of the building blocks of Terna’s technological and planning roadmap for the Hypergrid network.

Owing to its innovative features, the “5 Phases” pylon received an Industrial Invention Patent in April 2024 from the Italian Patent Office. The concept combines several elements into a single system: innovation, operational experience on transmission networks, the pursuit of environmentally and socially sustainable technical solutions, and industrial scalability.

Included in Terna’s 2025–2034 Development Plan, the project has been planned in line with energy scenarios that foresee a significant increase in wind and solar power generation by 2030.

This growth makes it essential to strengthen the infrastructure connecting the Central-Northern and Central-Southern market zones, particularly between Tuscany and Umbria, by upgrading the electricity system with advanced technological solutions. Existing grid assets will therefore need to become even more efficient to ensure secure and effective management of power flows.

The new line, which will largely follow the route of the existing transmission corridor, will connect the Villavalle (Terni) and Santa Barbara (Arezzo) substations.

It will include the reconstruction of the “Villavalle–Pietrafitta”, “Pietrafitta–Arezzo C” (between Pietrafitta and the new switching station), and “Arezzo C–Santa Barbara” (between Santa Barbara and the new switching station) connections, for a total of about 160 km of transmission lines.

Central Link and future projects built with “5 Phases” pylons will set a new technological standard for Italy’s national transmission grid, marking a concrete step toward a more efficient, digital, and sustainable electricity system.