A new interconnector
between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura inaugurated by Red Eléctrica in 2022
runs between the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Red Eléctrica
invested €236 million in this link, made up of 14.5 km of subsea cable
protected
by ECOncrete’s bio-enhancing concrete technology, a tailor-made ecological
concrete solution to protect the infrastructure along its underwater trench.
This is a project aimed at promoting the integration of this type of infrastructure
in the environment and its positive impact on the environment.
According
to Red Eléctrica,
findings collected on camera by professional divers are remarkable: Marine
life is thriving along the route and the cable protection has merged with
the natural marine habitat, to the extent that the installation is in most
parts invisible to the naked eye. Various species of fish, algae,
sponges, crustaceans, molluscs and sea urchins have already adopted the
structure as their habitat, presenting a clear ecological uplift in compression
to standard systems.
Red
Eléctrica worked with ECOncrete to develop and deploy a bespoke ecological
concrete solutionfor protecting the cable along its sub-sea
trench. ECOncrete designed and delivered this bio-enhancing concrete system to
address Red Eléctrica's challenge to cap the cable trench in the rocky
seabed between the islands. This required a technology capable of not only
protecting the cable but also the local marine ecosystem and its biodiversity,
an action that is in line with the policy of positive impact on the environment
carried out by Red Eléctrica in the development of all its infrastructures.
ECOncrete
CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Ido Sella, said: “This project demonstrates the
ability to bridge sustainability and development with responsible and accountable
construction. As a marine biologist, seeing these findings made me more
optimistic about the shift in the priorities in industry and its recognition
of marine ecosystems’ importance. ECOncrete's technology allows coastal
and offshore infrastructure to support biodiversity and other ecosystem
services, and all of us at ECOncrete and Red Eléctrica are thrilled with
the results.”
Red
Eléctrica Manager of Licences and Environmental Management Area, Luis Velasco,
highlighted the double benefit provided by the infrastructure developed
by the Company: “This new sub-sea cable has not only allowed us to expand
the quantity of renewable energy on the islands, as part of the road to
net zero, but has also enhanced the marine environment around the islands
too. A real win-win.”
Red
Eléctrica has invested 36 million euros in this 14.5 km sub-sea cable,
running at a maximum depth of 80 metres, and two land-based underground
cable sections of 1.8 km on Lanzarote and 645 metres on Fuerteventura.
The cable reinforces an existing one at 66 kV, increasing the robustness
and flexibility of the electrical system on both islands.
The new interconnection reinforces an existing one, commissioned in 2005,
which transports electricity at 66 kV in alternating current. The
new link aims to increase the redundancy and robustness of the electrical
system on both islands.
Red Eléctrica has made a significant in reinforcing the transmission
network to integrate the new renewable energy in the islands. In 2022
alone, 6 new MW of photovoltaic power have been put into service, which,
added to the existing renewable power, make a total of 123 MW installed
(98 MW of wind power and 25 photovoltaics). In addition, the renewable
power installed in the system has practically doubled since January 2019.
Since 2011, Red Eléctrica has invested around €268 million in the development
of new networks as well as renovation, improvement and maintenance works
on transmission network assets in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Among
other facilities, the construction of 7 new substations has been carried
out, among which the new substations of Playa Blanca, Tías or Callejones
in Lanzarote and their connections to the network stand out, as well as
this new submarine link between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura.