The Power Transmission and Distribution Group of Siemens has won a contract from Spanish network operator Red Electrica de Espana to connect the Balearic Islands to the Spanish mainland's power network.
Starting in May 2011, the project will ensure that the tourist island’s peak energy demand, especially during the main vacation period, can be covered by electricity imports based on environmentally friendly technology and without having to construct new power plants. The order for Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD) is valued at roughly E100 million.
Pamela Knapp, member of the group executive management at Siemens PTD, said: Winning a third order of this kind in Europe within half a year clearly shows the high level of acceptance of our technology among power network operators.
Creating a link between Morvedre located near Valencia on the mainland and St Ponsa near Palma de Mallorca will reduce emissions of climate-damaging CO2 by 1.2 megatones. This is how much of the gas would be produced otherwise, for example, by the construction of a new petroleum-fired 400MW power plant on Majorca.
The new link engineered by PTD is based on high-voltage direct current transmission (HVDC) technology, which is also being used to transmit power between Holland and Britain as well as in the Storebaelt HVDC link between the Danish islands of Fuen and Zealand.