Greece Announces Tender for Dodecanese HVDC Project

Greece has announced plans for a new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power interconnection. The project, set to be completed by late 2027, will link the mainland to the distant Dodecanese islands.

The Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) has initiated a tender for a 1 GW HVDC system, comprising two parallel 500 MW underwater cables stretching 380 kilometers, along with two conversion stations. The total budget is approximately €1.42 billion. The primary connection will run from Corinth to the island of Kos, with future expansions planned to encompass other nearby islands such as Karpathos, Rhodes, and Patmos.

The project aims to achieve multiple objectives. It will reduce carbon emissions in the region and ensure stable power supply to remote islands. Additionally, the project will enable increased integration of renewable energy sources and decrease reliance on costly diesel-powered units. IPTO's Chairman and CEO emphasized the project's potential to fully utilize both onshore and offshore renewable energy resources across dozens of islands.

The Corinth-Kos connection is part of a larger initiative to connect all major Aegean islands to the mainland grid by 2030. This comprehensive plan is expected to result in substantial cost savings for electricity consumers, with projections indicating a €3.6 billion reduction between 2029 and 2053.Additionally, IPTO is involved in other significant projects. These include completing an HVDC link between Attica and Crete and participating in the Great Sea Interconnector project, connecting Crete to Cyprus and Israel. The company is also upgrading existing connections to neighboring countries and developing a new link to Slovenia and Germany via the Adriatic Sea.As Greece continues to push forward with these innovative energy projects, it positions itself as a leader in sustainable power infrastructure development in the Mediterranean region.