The cables are “wound” along the technical interconnection tunnel

The cables through which the electricity will travel between France and Spain are already “winding” along the interconnection tunnel that links both countries. The installation was completed at the end of October and entailed a very meticulous and precise process. To unwind the cables and place them in the supports inside the tunnel, the technique of “snaking” was employed. This is a sinusoidal motion, similar to a snake, which gives the cable a sufficient curvature to easily absorb the expansion caused by the current flow.

Meanwhile, the company HVDC continues with the commissioning of the exterior platforms located at the tunnel entrance. The works are due to be completed in May 2015 and the interconnection is expected to be operational by then.

The interconnection works commenced in 2011 and have been carried out by Inelfe, a joint venture comprising Réseau de Transport d´Electricité (RTE) and Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the companies responsible for electricity transmission in France and Spain, respectively. The interconnection will make it possible to double the electricity exchange between both countries.