IPTO and the Operator of the Bulgarian Electricity Transmission System ESO EAD energized the new, international ultra-high voltage 400 kV electrical interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria. Energy transmission through the new Line commenced on Friday, June 30th, after the close cooperation of the competent personnel of the Transmission System Operators of the two countries for the start of the trial operation.
This is the second Transmission Line connecting the two countries, which significantly increases the margin for energy exchanges between the neighboring systems of Greece and Bulgaria, respectively upgrading the possibilities of cross-border trade and energy security in SE Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. In the following period, a permanent working group staffed by all Operators in the region, will determine the new, gradually increasing, available amounts of transmission capacity on the Greece-Bulgaria border and from the end of the summer season the new Line is expected to start contributing to the cross-border trade.
The total length of the international interconnection, which starts from Nea Santa EHVC in Rodopi and ends at Maritsa East Substation in Bulgaria amounts to 151 km, out of which approximately 30 km extend within the Greek Territory.
The second interconnection between Greece and Bulgaria, the domestic part of which cost 11.3 million euros, is a project of pan-European interest that was included since the beginning of its planning in the Ten-Year Development Program (TYNDP) of ENTSO-E as well as in the list of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) of the European Union.
