Nexans installs record-breaking 2,150-metre deep power cable in Italy

French group Nexans has begun installing a high-voltage submarine cable between Sardinia and Sicily, reaching an unprecedented depth of 2,150 metres as part of a project led by Italian grid operator Terna.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

French cable manufacturer Nexans has announced the start of installation works for a high-voltage submarine power cable as part of Italy’s Tyrrhenian Link project. The operation, conducted on behalf of Italian grid operator Terna, reaches a record depth of over 2,150 metres between southern Sardinia and the Sicilian locality of Fiumetorto.

The Tyrrhenian Link project aims to connect Sardinia, Sicily and the Campania region via an alternating current submarine “electric corridor”. The segment currently being installed represents the western phase of this system, whose technical complexity lies largely in the exceptional depth at which the cables are being deployed.

An investment of €3.7bn for Terna

According to information provided by Nexans, the overall project represents a total investment of €3.7bn ($3.95bn) by Terna. This amount also covers the construction of a second segment linking Sicily and Campania. Installation of the first two cables on this eastern portion was completed in May.

The cable is designed to transport large volumes of electricity between the islands and mainland Italy to reinforce the national grid’s stability. Nexans claims that this deep-sea deployment pushes the current boundaries of submarine power transmission.

A strategic project for Italy

The Tyrrhenian Link is considered a strategic infrastructure project by the Italian government, as it aims to secure energy flows between regions while optimising existing generation capacities. Terna, as owner and operator of Italy’s high-voltage grid, oversees all phases of execution.

Nexans, one of the world’s leading cable manufacturers, is supplying the equipment and specialised laying vessels needed for the installation in the Tyrrhenian seabed.

Technical challenges under control

Subsea operations at such depths involve major technical constraints related to pressure, seabed stability and cable positioning accuracy. According to the company, the vessels used are equipped with advanced guidance and monitoring systems to ensure connection reliability.

“This project is a world-first in terms of depth for a high-voltage cable,” stated Nexans. No specific timeline has yet been disclosed for the completion of the western phase of the Tyrrhenian Link.

Jordan can export electricity if three conditions align: fuel availability for its power plants, measurable system surplus, and a functional transit framework via Syria to Lebanon with clear metering and settlement rules.
The Egyptian government and UAE-based K&K have signed an agreement to finalise studies for an electricity interconnection project linking Egypt to Europe via Italy.
AEP Transmission will finance the upgrade of high-voltage lines across five states through a federal loan, aiming to meet a sharp rise in industrial electricity demand.
Israeli company Prisma Photonics has raised $30mn in a funding round led by Protego Ventures to develop its artificial intelligence-based detection system for power grids and critical infrastructure.
A report estimates $2.3 billion in avoidable economic losses by 2040 if Southeast Asia strengthens its electricity infrastructure through smart grids.
The New Providence power grid modernisation project is progressing 28% faster than expected, with Bahamas Grid Company reporting measurable gains in service quality and network reliability.
The Seine-Maritime prefecture denies Aquind access to public maritime domain, halting a €1.4bn ($1.47bn) Franco-British power interconnection project.
A €12mn technical grant will support STEG in supervising ELMED, the first submarine power cable between Tunisia and Italy, a strategic project co-developed with Italy’s TERNA and valued at €921mn.
The blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula in April originated from a series of unprecedented surges. The European report points to a sequence of technical failures but does not yet identify a primary cause.
The 600MW submarine interconnection between Tunisia and Italy enters its construction phase, marking a logistical and financial milestone for the Euro-Mediterranean electricity market.
Ukrenergo plans to raise electricity transmission tariffs by 20% in 2026 to cover technical costs and obligations tied to international loans.
The ASEAN Power Grid enters a strategic phase with renewed support from regional and international institutions to structure electricity trade among member states and secure the necessary investments.
The three countries will hold a meeting in October to unlock interconnector projects, following a major blackout that exposed the fragility of the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity integration.
Up to 55% of Europe’s electricity system remains vulnerable due to weak interconnection capacity, increasing the risk of widespread outages in several countries, according to a new report.
The European Commission allocates EUR76.3mn ($80.63mn) to three projects aiming to strengthen energy interconnections between Member States, focusing on onshore and offshore wind power and decarbonised district heating.
The SuedLink underground cable project, estimated at €10bn ($10.66bn), enters an active phase with the launch of two additional sections in Hesse and Lower Saxony.
French group Vinci, through its subsidiary Cobra IS, will electrify 870 kilometres of rail tracks across the Baltic States as part of the Rail Baltica project, in a deal worth €885mn ($944mn).
The United States is funding a new high-voltage line to integrate Moldova into the European electricity market, following the cutoff of supplies from the separatist Transnistria region.
Danish manufacturer NKT has been chosen to supply a 525 kV high-voltage cable system for the Eastern Green Link 3 project connecting Scotland and England’s power grids.
British International Investment partners with Odyssey Energy Solutions to finance the expansion of interconnected mini-grids in Nigeria, under the World Bank-backed DARES programme.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.