INTERCONNECTION WITH THE SPANISH More information

ELECTRICITY A STRATEGIC AND INTEGRATING

INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IBIZA
Find out about our environmental
PENINSULA: BENEFITS FOR THE BALEARIC commitment.
LINK
ISLANDS’ ELECTRICITY SYSTEM AND FORMENTERA
majorca
1 Reduce generation costs
In its first year of operation the Spanish peninsula-Balearic Islands’
link has represented significant cost savings. Because in the peninsular
-ibiza The Majorca-Ibiza submarine electricity
system there is a more diverse and economic electricity generation interconnection is one of the most important
structure, the supply of energy from the interconnection represents an investments made by Red Eléctrica from the point of
overall annual savings for the system of 50 million euros. view of security of supply and the structuring of the

2
territory as it connects the two existing electricity
Improve the security of the electricity supply sub-systems in the Balearic Islands and connects
The interconnection is a guarantee for the quality and security
of the electricity supply in the Islands. The average contribution Safe and sustainable energy them to the Iberian and the Europe electricity
market. This new link strengthens the electricity
of the Majorca-Peninsula link has been almost 30% of the global
consumption of the insular system, at times reaching 40%. for the Balearic Islands interconnection process between the Spanish
peninsula and the Balearic Islands, which began with
3 Reduce CO2 emissions
The contribution of the Majorca-Peninsula interconnection has also
the Rómulo project.

been very positive in environmental terms. The annual reduction

of CO2 emissions from electricity generation has been estimated at
285,000 tonnes.

4 Improve energy efficiency

The interconnection with the Peninsula, in addition to reducing the
The main objective of this
second phase of the Rómulo
The electrical integration
of the Balearic Islands
need to construct new power stations in the Balearic Islands, also project is to finish with with the Spanish
allows for increased competition in the islands’ generation market, the current ‘isolation’ of peninsula is essential
thereby improving energy efficiency.
the electricity system of to ensure the reliability
Ibiza, in addition to saving of the supply in the
costs for the system and archipelago, as well as
promoting competition in in any other point of the
energy generation. peninsula.

Depósito Legal: M-30780-2013

Edition: October 2013
225 million
The two ships specialised in laying submarine cable: the Norwegian ship, the Skagerrak (left) and the Italian ship, the Giulio Verne.
euros investment for
the interconnection
P.º del Conde de los Gaitanes, 177 with Ibiza
28109 Alcobendas (Madrid)
www.ree.es
MAJORCA−IBIZA ELECTRICITY THE PROTECTION OF FLORA, Specific environmental measures of the interconnection GENERAL
INTERCONNECTION: A PIONEERING FAUNA AND PATROMONY ARE >> The environmental requirements of the works demand the prior
location and inventory of noble pen shell specimens. Once their PROJECT DATA
INTERCONNECTION AND A TECHNOLOGICAL KEY ASPECTS IN ALL PROJECT PHASES presence is confirmed in the coastal areas of the route, they are
removed and transferred to sites with similar hydrodynamic
CHALLENGE OF THE HIGHEST ORDER characteristics. Current system Submarine section:
alternating 118 km
>> An action protocol has been established in the case where ceta-
The second phase of the Rómulo project Red Eléctrica maintains a strict ceans (marine mammals) are sighted and that are strictly followed
Land section:
has been carried out via a tri-polar A RECORD-BEATING commitment towards the protection USE OF NON-INVASIVE by the cable-laying crews. These measures are also extended to Number of circuits 3 km (Santa Ponça. Majorca)
SUBMARINE TECHNIQUES TRI-POLAR LINK 5 km (TORRENT. Ibiza)
double link which is 126 km in length. of flora and fauna when their the land works so as to protect species such as the Spur-thighed
INFRASTRUCTURE The route of the interconnection has
The electricity connection between The Majorca-Ibiza submarine facilities cross protected areas or been designed so as to pass through tortoise should they be sighted or located. (2 CABLES OF 126 km EACH) The entire section
Majorca and Ibiza is carried out using double-link is world’s longest in areas of interest. areas with sparse vegetation and, Circuit 1: without splicing will be buried
if needed, those where there is less >> In areas close to the shore, controlled microtunneling works are
alternating current at a voltage of alternating current and the deepest
canopy cover of Posidonia seagrass
Circuit 2: with two splicing
of its kind to run along the sea bed carried out in order to house the cables with the aim of minimising
132 kV and 2 x 100 MW of power. at depths of up to 800 metres. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE RÓMULO PROJECT meadows. To do this, in the submarine
the impact on Posidonia seagrass and the beaches, and that once
Submarine cables
incorporates rigorous planning of preven-
route, the burying of cables and its
protection system is carried out in the works have finished, the areas are restored. Nominal voltage TWO cableS
THE PROJECT INCLUDES A LAND SECTION of 3 km in tive and corrective measures to protect both a special way so as to ensure the 132 kV (WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL FIBRE)
Majorca, to the Santa Ponça substation and 5 km in flora and fauna and archaeological patrimony, conservation of this plant species that >> As part of the oceanographic campaign carried out prior to the Diameter: 18-21 cm
Ibiza, to the Torrent substation. The route was select- in order to minimise the effects of the new is protected throughout Europe. drafting of the project, a study was performed of the cultural patri- Power Weight: 61-92 kg per metre
ed so that the cable leaving Majorca runs in parallel infrastructure on the environment in which it mony that confirmed the absence of any archaeological or pale-
ontological remains along the subsea route. However, monitoring
2 x 100 MW
with the previous link with the Spanish peninsula, and is located. The Company also establishes envi-
works are carried out for the land works at either end of the cable
Maximum depth
at its entrance on Ibiza it shares the route with the ronmental improvement actions which enhance
future Ibiza -Formentera link, thereby reducing the biodiversity in the areas through which the and these are supervised by an archaeologist. Length of the link 800 Metres
impact of the route on the territory. infrastructure runs. 2 x 126 km
The interconnection consists
The laying of the submarine 3 The cable-laying ships are 4 of two tri-polar cables with The laying of the cable
1 cables is carried out using the 2 These ships are equipped
with dynamic positioning
equipped with propulsion units integrated optical fibre. One 5 from Ibiza to Majorca is done
only two ships in the world that allow them to remain of the cables will be laid with in three separate phases.
equipment to accurately follow stationary during the positioning two splices whilst the other is
specialised in this type of task. the established route when of the cables, as maximum installed in a single length with
laying the cables. precision is required in this task. no intermediate splicing.

Torrent Santa Ponça

IBIZA MaJorca

Filler elements Metallic screen

BURYING OF THE CABLES, Conductor PROTECTION

AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND OF THE CABLES
TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGE XLPE “Dry” As a protective measure,
insulation the cables are buried below
In rocky areas or where there is little or no
sand, a trenching technique is use that uses the seabed throughout the
an underwater excavator with rotating blades Armour Optical fibre
entire route.
for opening a trench. The extracted material
is introduced into geoboxes and, when the
work is completed, the trench is covered Outer jacket
with biodegradable sacks, with the aim of (polypropylene fibre)
improving the recolonisation process of
Near the coast, and as a protective measure for the For the correct positioning of the In sandy sea beds a technique known as jetting
Posidonia seagrass. cables, a microtunneling system is used, running at cables on the seabed, continuous was employed using a submarine vehicle that
a depth of between 4 and 5 metres below the seabed. monitoring is performed by a Maximum buries the cables under the seabed using
On the coast of Ibiza this microtunnel is about remote controlled vehicle. depth: 800 m. pressurised water jets.
700 metres long, the maximum possible according
to the type of link.
INTERCONNECTION WITH THE SPANISH More information
ELECTRICITY A STRATEGIC AND INTEGRATING
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IBIZA
Find out about our environmental
PENINSULA: BENEFITS FOR THE BALEARIC commitment.
LINK
ISLANDS’ ELECTRICITY SYSTEM AND FORMENTERA
majorca
1 Reduce generation costs
In its first year of operation the Spanish peninsula-Balearic Islands’
link has represented significant cost savings. Because in the peninsular
-ibiza The Majorca-Ibiza submarine electricity
system there is a more diverse and economic electricity generation interconnection is one of the most important
structure, the supply of energy from the interconnection represents an investments made by Red Eléctrica from the point of
overall annual savings for the system of 50 million euros. view of security of supply and the structuring of the

2
territory as it connects the two existing electricity
Improve the security of the electricity supply sub-systems in the Balearic Islands and connects
The interconnection is a guarantee for the quality and security
of the electricity supply in the Islands. The average contribution Safe and sustainable energy them to the Iberian and the Europe electricity
market. This new link strengthens the electricity
of the Majorca-Peninsula link has been almost 30% of the global
consumption of the insular system, at times reaching 40%. for the Balearic Islands interconnection process between the Spanish
peninsula and the Balearic Islands, which began with
3 Reduce CO2 emissions
The contribution of the Majorca-Peninsula interconnection has also
the Rómulo project.

been very positive in environmental terms. The annual reduction

of CO2 emissions from electricity generation has been estimated at
285,000 tonnes.

4 Improve energy efficiency

The interconnection with the Peninsula, in addition to reducing the
The main objective of this
second phase of the Rómulo
The electrical integration
of the Balearic Islands
need to construct new power stations in the Balearic Islands, also project is to finish with with the Spanish
allows for increased competition in the islands’ generation market, the current ‘isolation’ of peninsula is essential
thereby improving energy efficiency.
the electricity system of to ensure the reliability
Ibiza, in addition to saving of the supply in the
costs for the system and archipelago, as well as
promoting competition in in any other point of the
energy generation. peninsula.

Depósito Legal: M-30780-2013

Edition: October 2013
225 million
The two ships specialised in laying submarine cable: the Norwegian ship, the Skagerrak (left) and the Italian ship, the Giulio Verne.
euros investment for
the interconnection
P.º del Conde de los Gaitanes, 177 with Ibiza
28109 Alcobendas (Madrid)
www.ree.es