Power authority wants Crete interconnection ready by 2021

The board at RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has told IPTO, the power grid operator, to swiften procedures for Crete’s interconnection with the mainland grid so that the project may be completed within 2021.

The request was made at a RAE board meeting during which the authority approved IPTO’s ten-year transmission grid development program covering 2017-2026.

RAE approved IPTO’s schedule for the first stage of the Crete interconnection but asked the operator to launch a deep-sea survey for environmental approval of the project this year, sooner than planned, so that the second stage, to further boost the interconnection’s capacity, may be completed no later than 2021.

IPTO was also requested to explore the prospects of a wider regional interconnection to link the Greek, Cypriot and Israeli grids, which promises to maximize benefits for consumers.

RAE also asked IPTO to swiften procedures for the project’s third stage, concerning interconnection of the Cyclades.