A second Greek-Bulgarian power grid interconnection, promising to boost transboundary trade and bolster supply security, is scheduled to be completed before summer.

The project, whose Bulgarian section has already been completed, will connect a 200-MVA capacity transmission line running a 151-km distance from Nea Santa in northeastern Greece to Bulgaria’s Maritsa area. The majority of the project’s distance, approximately 121 km, lies within Bulgarian territory.

The interconnection project promises to boost transmission potential at the Greek-Bulgarian border to 1400 MW in a direction from Greece to Bulgaria and 1700 MW from Bulgaria to Greece.

Furthermore, the project will facilitate further RES development in Greece’s north and also enable two Greek power station projects currently being developed to export their production with greater ease.

Construction company GEK-TERNA and energy group Motor Oil have joined forces to develop an 877-MW power station in Komotini, northeastern Greece, while power utility PPC and gas company DEPA Commercial have teamed up for an 840-MW power station in Alexandroupoli, also in the northeast.