EU money injects new life into electricity interconnection

Nine projects received funding, including  the vital France-Spain interconnection, which has been planned  for a long time. Despite the importance of this connection, which  will allow Spain to exchange more electricity with other European  countries and ensure interconnectivity between continental Europe and the  Iberian peninsula, the project has suffered continual  setbacks since its conception in the 1980s, said Paul  Wilczek, Regulatory Affairs Advisor for the European Wind Energy  Association (EWEA). This funding is a great boost  for the integration of wind power in Europe and  will improve the operation of Europe’s electricity markets and benefit  consumers, he added.    Funds will also be allocated to a link between Sweden and the Baltic  States, the Nordbalt line, as well as to reinforce an interconnection  between Finland and Estonia, Estlink-2, amongst other  transmission lines.    If we want to fully exploit the potential of renewable energies,  create a truly European power market, and keep electricity  prices low for consumers, we need to connect the whole  of Europe, Wilczek said. These projects are a good start  and the right way forward. Europe now needs to carry on  developing the interconnectivity of its electricity grids,  concluded Wilczek.   To download the European  Commission document please click here