Roma – Terna has successfully completed the laying of the first submarine cable of the eastern branch of the Tyrrhenian Link, the infrastructure that will revolutionise the Italian energy system, connecting Campania and Sicily through 490 km of submarine cable laid at record depths.
The project, financed with 500 million euros by the REPowerEU programme, represents one of the most ambitious electricity interconnections in the world and will be operational from 2026.
(h3)The project numbers
490 km of cable laid in two months between Termini Imerese (PA) and Battipaglia (SA)
Maximum depth: 1.560 meters (with a record of 2.150 meters during testing)
Total investment: 3,7 billion euros
Capacity: 1.000 MW per route
Overall completion expected in 2028
The stages of construction
First section (260 km): completed in March 2025
Second section (230 km): completed in April 2025
Next steps: Sicily-Sardinia connection (west branch) and activation of converter stations in Eboli (Campania) and Termini Imerese (Sicily)
An unprecedented technological challenge
“We have set new world standards,” said Raul Gil of Prysmian, the project’s technology partner. The Leonardo da Vinci cable-laying vessel, one of the most advanced in the world, allowed work in extreme conditions, exceeding 2.000 meters of depth.
Energy and environmental impact
The Tyrrhenian Link will be crucial for:
✔ Reduce emissions by promoting the integration of renewable energy
✔ Strengthen the stability of the national and European electricity grid
✔ Improve energy exchanges between Southern Italy and the islands
To limit the environmental impact, the ground connections will be buried:
15 km of underground cable in Campania (Torre Tuscia Magazzeno)
10 km in Sicily (Fiumetorto)
The statements
“A strategic infrastructure for the energy transition,” underlined Giuseppina Di Foggia, CEO of Terna. “Thanks to this connection, Italy takes a decisive step towards decarbonization.”
Article published on May 8, 2025 - 14:20 pm
It is an important step forward for the Italian energy system, but there are many details that have not been clarified. Will this submarine cable really be effective? There is no information on how the project will be managed in the long term.