Cable Enterprise arrives for groundbreaking project
The vessel Cable Enterprise has docked at the port of Granadilla to finalize preparations for laying a submarine power cable that will connect Tenerife and La Gomera. Red Eléctrica, a company of the Redeia group responsible for operating and maintaining the Spanish electricity system, is completing the final work to begin installation before the end of the month, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the end of this year.
A world record in engineering
This project involves the world’s deepest three-core alternating current (AC) cable. It forms part of a double-circuit 66-kilovolt (kV) underground-submarine line, with a transport capacity of 50 megavolt-amperes (MVA) per circuit. The infrastructure includes a submarine section approximately 36 kilometers long, reaching a maximum depth of 1,145 meters, plus two terrestrial sections on La Gomera and Tenerife.
Pioneering technology at sea
For this complex operation, Red Eléctrica is utilizing one of the world’s most advanced cable-laying vessels. The Cable Enterprise belongs to the fleet of Prysmian, a global leader in cable manufacturing, supply, and design. Engineered to remain stable and autonomous in adverse weather conditions, the ship can perform simultaneous cable laying and burial operations and can support loads of up to 180 tonnes.
A milestone for the Canary Islands’ energy future
During a visit to the ship, Mariano H. Zapata, Minister for Ecological Transition and Energy of the Government of the Canary Islands, described the works as “a milestone on a global scale and for the energy planning of the Archipelago.” He stated that this cutting-edge installation “is part of the ministry’s energy strategy, which seeks to guarantee supply across the islands through different measures, such as interconnection.” He emphasized that this will allow the Canaries “to continue advancing towards a greater penetration of renewable energies and our decarbonization objectives.”
Minister Zapata highlighted that this strategic project, “which has the highest guarantees of environmental care,” is the result of joint work between the involved administrations and companies, and “the drive of the Government of the Canary Islands and this ministry to develop this installation as soon as possible, providing greater energy security to La Gomera.” He explained that “the laying of this cable joins the work being carried out at the El Palmar substation (in San Sebastián de La Gomera) and the Chío substation (in Guía de Isora), infrastructures that will complete this interconnection.”
Overcoming a major technological challenge
Ainara Irigoyen, Redeia’s delegate in the Canary Islands, affirmed that the submarine electrical interconnection between the two islands “represents a huge advance in the energy transition, as it will provide higher quality and guaranteed energy supply, as well as greater efficiency and decarbonization for the electrical systems of Tenerife and La Gomera.” Irigoyen noted that this submarine cable is a significant technological challenge due to the 36-kilometer distance and the extreme depth, which reaches 1,145 meters below sea level.
Collaboration for a connected archipelago
The visit to the Cable Enterprise was also attended by the Second Vice President and Minister of the Presidency of the Tenerife Cabildo, José Miguel Ruano. For him, this collaboration “reinforces the joint commitment between islands to modernize and enhance electrical connectivity, something that especially benefits the island of La Gomera by guaranteeing its electricity supply.” Ruano added that the Island Corporation “remains committed, in collaboration with other entities, to reinforcing energy generation on Tenerife with the emergency measures already underway, aiming for a robust system that meets the needs of the citizens.”
Representing the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Port Authority, its deputy director, Airam Díaz, highlighted that “it is a primary function of our ports to support the diversification of services in our community and their positive impact on the Canarian economy.” From this perspective, “hosting this vessel in the port of Granadilla is essential to consolidating this dock as a logistical and technical support base for these types of operations in a strategic field like energy.” The delegation of authorities was completed by the Mayor of Guía de Isora, Ana Dorta; the acting Mayor of Granadilla de Abona, Marcos Antonio Rodríguez Santana; and the project director, Pablo García Celaá.
Powering a sustainable future
This new submarine connection will empower La Gomera to generate and integrate a volume of renewable energy that exceeds the island’s total energy demand. This will significantly reduce dependence on the El Palmar thermal power plant and improve the quality of the power supply. Furthermore, the Tenerife system will be able to incorporate La Gomera’s surplus renewable generation, reducing the need for fossil fuels and contributing to a major cut in greenhouse gas emissions for the entire region.
