TECNALIA participates in the commissioning tests of the new interconnection between Majorca and Menorca

TECNALIA actively participated in the commissioning tests of the new interconnection link between the islands of Majorca and Menorca, at the Balearic Islands. Three Resonant Test Systems of 260 kV, 80 A were necessary to perform the high voltage tests.

NEXANS, a multinational company, was the main contractor, taking on the responsibility for the supply of cables and accessories, as well as the laying and assembly of the underground and submarine sections. It provided a test unit that was connected in parallel with TECNALIA's unit at the island of Menorca. A third system was supplied by LCOE and was placed as a passive load in the other end, in Majorca.

The electrical interconnection between both islands was deemed essential to reinforce the security of the electrical system at the Balearic islands and RED ELÉCTRICA was granted the travel documents and permissions that were necessary during the State of Alarm decreed due to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Spanish Centre for the Protection of Infrastructures and Cyber-security (CNPIC). Menorca has been isolated from the Balearic electrical system for over two and a half years.

The link is formed by a three phase 132 kV AC cable link. The layout includes 41 km of submarine cable and 13 km of underground cable at both islands, with a maximum transmission power of 100 megawatts.