Historic milestone for the Greek electricity transmission grid with the first electricity transmission from Crete to Attica.
So, you’re thinking about installing a cable from Crete to Attica? That’s a pretty big deal, honestly. It’s not just about plugging something in and hoping for the best.
First off, you’ve got to figure out exactly where you want that cable to go. Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people jump ahead and skip the planning part.
Take a good look at the route. Are there any obstacles? Rocky underwater canyons, deep sea or perhaps just a stubborn piece of seabed that refuses to co-operate?
Sometimes, even with all the planning, things don’t go as expected. Don’t panic—just take a breath and figure out the next step.
And hey, once it’s all done, give yourself a pat on the back. It’s not every day you connect Crete to Attica, right?
On 24 May 2025, the high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection between Attica and Crete finally fired up. It’s a big moment for the national electricity transmission system—honestly, it’s about time.
This project, built by Ariadne Interconnection (a subsidiary of ADMIE), now lets electricity flow from the mainland to Crete. The island’s been pretty isolated energy-wise, so this is a real change. Here’s a bit more background on the mainland-to-Crete transmission.
The interconnection’s got a capacity of 1 gigawatt (GW). There’s some seriously advanced tech involved, like voltage source converters (VSC) at the converter stations.
The underwater cable runs at 500 kV and dives down as far as 1,200 metres. That’s deeper than most people realize—one of the deepest submarine power cables out there.
This whole system is a strategic piece of infrastructure, meant to boost energy security and finally pull Crete into the national grid for good. The project comes with a hefty price tag—over 1.1 billion euros.
Funding came from a mix of public and private sources, with a lot of support from both sides. It’s part of a bigger energy plan for the country.
Several major players worked on the interconnection: Siemens, TERNA, Nexans, Prysmian, NKT, and Hellenic Cables. Construction wrapped up in just 4.5 years, which is fast compared to similar projects in Europe (those can drag on for more than seven years).
And yes, the team managed to pull it off despite a global pandemic and all those annoying supply chain hiccups. Not bad, considering the circumstances.
This isn’t Crete’s first connection to the mainland—there was a cable to the Peloponnese back in 2021, but that one used alternating current (AC) technology. Now, the HVDC link between Attica and Crete complements that earlier project.
With both cables in place, Crete’s finally out of electrical isolation. It’s starting to look like an energy hub for the region.
Right now, there’s a trial operation period happening over the summer. They’re testing system stability and performance, just to make sure everything holds up.
Once things are fully operational, the system should handle the transfer of hundreds of megawatts. That’ll support both local needs and the broader grid.
Key Details |
Specification |
|---|---|
Capacity |
1 GW |
Voltage |
500 kV HVDC cable |
Depth of cable laying |
Up to 1,200 metres |
Construction duration |
4.5 years |
Budget |
Over €1.1 billion |
Technology |
VSC converter stations |
Main contractors |
Siemens, TERNA, Nexans, Prysmian, NKT, Hellenic Cables |
Funding |
Shared public-private investment |
Greece’s energy security gets a real boost here, and the country can lean less on fossil fuels. The integration of renewables on Crete should get a lot easier.
There’s also a decent chance this brings new economic opportunities for local communities and industries. It might even help with those national environmental goals—though, let’s see how it all plays out.
