Red Eléctrica, a subsidiary of Redeia and responsible for Spain‘s national electricity system, has started laying a new submarine electricity link between Tenerife and La Gomera. The interconnection aims to enhance the security of electricity supply on La Gomera, support greater integration of renewable energy, and reduce overall generation costs by connecting the two islands’ electrical systems.
The work is being carried out by Prysmian‘s cable ship, Cable Enterprise, one of the company’s most advanced vessels for submarine cable installation. The project involves a 36-km, double-circuit, 66-kV underwater cable connecting two new substations: El Palmar in La Gomera and Chío in Tenerife. The first circuit will be laid from La Gomera to Punta Blanca (the Tenerife interconnection point), followed by the second circuit, with completion expected by early October and full operational readiness expected by the end of the year.
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This submarine interconnection, the world’s deepest 66-kV, three-pole AC link, operates at a maximum depth of 1,145 meters and has a transmission capacity of 50 MVA per circuit. The cable design includes reinforced, lightweight materials to withstand the challenging underwater environment.
Environmental protection is a key aspect of the project. Directional drilling was used to introduce the cable offshore through a micro tunnel, minimizing any impact on coastal biodiversity and volcanic soils. The interconnection’s route has also been carefully planned to reduce landscape impact and preserve local vegetation and wildlife.
The Tenerife-La Gomera link is part of Spain’s 2021–2026 Electricity Transmission Grid Development Plan, marking a significant step in modernizing the Canary Islands’ energy infrastructure and supporting sustainable energy development.
