The interconnection of Crete with the Peloponnese constitutes the first phase of the interconnection of Crete with the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System (HETS)
The project consists of the construction of 150 kV AC 2x200 MVA interconnection between the island of Crete and peninsula Peloponnese.
The project includes two new submarine cables with the length of 135 km each, upgrades of the existing and construction of new transmission lines, underground cables and substations in the Peloponnese and Crete, static synchronous compensator on Crete. The landing points of the submarine cables are in the Kissamos Bay (Crete) and the Malea peninsula (Peloponnese).
The System of Crete is characterized by:
- Very high variable production cost due to the use of oil at the local production Stations, which is reflected as a steep charge for consumers in their Utilities bills (more than €300 million a year).
- High annual increase rate for the Island’s load. It should be noted that local Stations marginally manage to cover the load during the summer months.
- Great difficulty, or even inability, to find spaces and obtain the licensing for reinforcing local Stations or developing new ones.
- The constantly increasing interest in the utilisation of the rich local RES potential, penetration of which into the island’s power production mix is limited due to technical constraints (mainly major stability issues which a high penetration of RES may cause in an autonomous electricity system such as Crete’s).
- Low supply reliability level, particularly in cases of faults in the production system.
These characteristics render the interconnection of Crete with HETS a necessary project as regards the feasibility of its implementation.
- Reliable and stable operation of the Cretan grid, with significant benefits for tourism and the general economic activity.
- Reduction of environmental burden on Crete due to the gradual reduction of thermoelectrical power plant generation.
- Reduction of energy production cost.
- Reduction of Utilities bills for all consumers.
- Development of Wind, Solar and other RES potential of Crete.
- Reduction of necessity for Reserve Units.
- Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduction of the country’s dependency on oil.
