The initial phase of the submarine cable laying for the eastern section of the Tyrrhenian Link, one of the most significant power infrastructure projects in Italy, has commenced in Fiumetorto, within the municipality of Termini Imerese (PA). This interconnection will link Sicily and Campania.

The project, which also includes the western section between Sicily and Sardinia, represents a total investment of approximately €3.7 billion by Terna, the company led by Giuseppina Di Foggia. The infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the decarbonization strategy outlined in the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), enhancing transmission capacity and supporting the energy transition. Moreover, it will contribute to improving the security, adequacy, and flexibility of the national transmission grid.

The Tyrrhenian Link will consist of two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine power lines operating at 500 kV, with a total cable length of 970 km and a transmission capacity of 1,000 MW per section. It will also reach a record installation depth of 2,150 meters below sea level.

Demonstrating a strategic partnership between two leading Italian companies, the production and laying of the submarine cable along the Termini Imerese (PA) – Battipaglia (SA) route will be carried out using the Leonardo da Vinci vessel and has been entrusted to Prysmian, a global leader in energy and telecommunications cable systems. Prysmian was awarded the framework contract in 2021 for the design, supply, installation, and testing of over 1,500 km of cables, which will be manufactured at the Prysmian facility in Arco Felice (NA). For Prysmian and the entire industry, this is a record-breaking installation: for the first time, an HVDC cable will be laid at a depth of 2,150 meters, setting new industry benchmarks.

The eastern section of the project, which has secured €500 million in funding under the REPowerEU plan approved by the European Council in December 2023, received authorization from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security at the end of 2022.

In Campania, the project includes the construction of a converter station in Eboli (SA), which will be connected to the landing site at Torre Tuscia Magazzeno via an approximately 15 km underground cable route designed to minimize environmental and landscape impact. Similarly, in Sicily, the converter station will be built in Termini Imerese, in the Caracoli area, and will be connected to the Fiumetorto landing site through an approximately 10 km underground cable path. Additionally, a new 380 kV section will be installed within the existing Caracoli station.

The entire project is scheduled to be fully operational by 2028, with the first pole of the eastern section entering service in 2026.

The Tyrrhenian Link is also a cutting-edge project in terms of sustainability. In August 2024, Terna launched an experimental transplantation initiative for Cymodocea nodosa – a protected seagrass species essential to the marine ecosystem – at the Fiumetorto landing site. This initiative aims to restore approximately 20,000 plant cuttings across a 1,200 m² seabed area while also helping to protect the coastline from erosion.

Finally, in February 2024, Terna signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the final tranche of financing, amounting to €1.9 billion, to support the construction and commissioning of the interconnection.

Thanks to its transmission capacity, the Tyrrhenian Link represents a decisive step forward for the future of both the Italian and European electricity grids.