Power
Biscay Gulf power interconnector reaches 70 per cent completion
The 3.1 billion euro infrastructure project linking Spain and France has achieved a major milestone as cable installation progresses.
Key points
- The Biscay Gulf interconnector aims to raise power exchange capacity between Spain and France from 2.8 gigawatts to 5 gigawatts.
- Transmission operators Red Eléctrica and RTE are delivering the project through the Inelfe joint venture.
- European Union bodies and the European Investment Bank are supporting the financing of the development.
What happened
According to Offshore Energy reporting, the extensive Biscay Gulf electricity link connecting Spain and France has advanced to the 70 per cent completion stage. The infrastructure initiative is designed to elevate power exchange capacity between the two nations from 2.8 gigawatts to 5 gigawatts. Spanish transmission system operator Red Eléctrica initiated underground cable installation works for the electrical interconnection. This phase involves high-voltage direct current cables spanning 13 kilometres, stretching from the Gatika converter facility toward the coastal area of Lemoiz to interface with submarine lines.
In addition, Red Eléctrica finished the second phase of subsea cable laying covering a 50-kilometre stretch with the assistance of a specialized cable-laying vessel. This follows the completion of the initial 65-kilometre section off the Biscayan coast earlier in the year. Consequently, all underwater lines across the Biscay portion of the project are now positioned. Further installation work will proceed near Gipuzkoa through the winter months, with operations in French waters scheduled to continue until summer.
Construction activity on the Gatika converter station is also moving forward. Civil engineering tasks have concluded, allowing electromechanical assembly to take place. Red Eléctrica and its French counterpart RTE are managing the venture via their Inelfe joint venture. The European Union classifies the undertaking as a Project of Common Interest, receiving financial backing from the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency alongside support from the European Investment Bank.
Why it matters
For energy planners and infrastructure investors, large-scale cross-border transmission projects demonstrate the capital intensity and regulatory coordination required to integrate regional power grids. Cross-border interconnections enhance grid stability, allow better absorption of variable renewable generation, and optimize wholesale electricity pricing across interconnected markets. While Spain and France operate within mature, universal electrification frameworks with complete electricity access, developing nations face distinct infrastructure challenges.
In regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, capital allocation frequently prioritizes foundational grid expansion and generation capacity to address persistent energy deficits, rather than high-voltage continental interconnectors. Nonetheless, studying European transmission financing models provides useful reference points for regional power pooling initiatives across the African continent, where integrated transmission corridors are increasingly viewed as essential for long-term energy security and market efficiency.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Grids decide whether generation becomes power that homes and businesses can rely on. Generation mix, transmission and distribution losses, and tariffs together shape reliability and the case for investment.
100.0% of people in France had electricity in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
