Greece’s EUR 1.48 billion Corinth-Kos electricity interconnection has entered construction after ADMIE, the country’s transmission operator, signed a cable contract with Hellenic Cables. The project is designed to connect the islands to the mainland grid and reduce their reliance on isolated oil-fired power plants.
The contract covers the supply and installation of submarine and underground cables for a 1,000 MW high-voltage direct current link operating at 320 kV. The project will involve nearly 1,300 kilometers of cable infrastructure.
Seabed surveys are expected to begin shortly to finalize the underwater route and prepare for installation works.
Dodecanese grid expansion
Kos will be the first major landing point in the wider Dodecanese interconnection program. Further links are planned for Rhodes and Karpathos, while 13 smaller islands are due to join the interconnected Greek system.
The mainland connection will give the islands access to Greece’s wider generation mix, including renewable output, and improve security of supply. ADMIE expects the project to support additional renewable development across the islands and lower public service obligation costs linked to supplying non-interconnected systems.
The Dodecanese program combines grid modernization, the displacement of fuel-fired generation and expanded capacity to host renewable energy. It is described as one of Greece’s largest island-grid investments and a test of how transmission investment can reshape regional power flows and lower the cost of island electricity supply.
