Nexans powers Up Crete: HVDC subsea cable connects island to Greece’s mainland grid
11 June 2025
2 min
Scenic coastal view with rocky terrain and large ship in clear blue waters

The Attica–Crete interconnector, Greece’s largest electricity transmission project, officially entered into operation on May 24, 2025. This landmark achievement marks the first-ever full integration of Crete into the Greek national power grid through a 500 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection.

Nexans, a global leader in  cable systems, delivered one 500 MW HVDC subsea cable system, forming half of the bipole interconnection between the Attica region on mainland Greece and the Heraklion area on Crete. The project was commissioned by the Greek Transmission System Operator (IPTO/ADMIE) and developed by its subsidiary, Ariadne Interconnection.

Nexans’ scope of work included:

  • Design, manufacture, subsea installation and Site Acceptance Testing completed in 2023
  • Capjet jetting and protection operations performed along the seabed, reaching depths of 800m

On May 21, 2025, IPTO announced that the converter stations were successfully energized and began injecting reactive power into the electrical systems of both Attica and Crete. The interconnector was fully commissioned on May 24, with trial operations continuing through the summer months.

 

We’re proud to contribute to this milestone for Greece’s electricity system. This project showcases the strength of our collaboration with IPTO and Ariadne Interconnection, and the expertise of our teams across design, manufacture, installation, protection, and testing.

David Rasmuss

Senior Project Manager, Nexans Power Transmission

Large red ship navigating a clear blue sea with small boats nearby under a cloudy sky.
A large red ship at sea with a long cable and orange buoys in the water.
Large red ship sailing in clear blue waters near rocky shore with small boats in the background
Red ship in calm waters surrounded by rocky coastline under a blue sky.
Coastal view with rocky cliffs and a large red ship in clear blue waters.

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