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Prysmian submarine link boosts Capri power system efficiency and reliability

Prysmian Group recently completed a new submarine cable connection between the isle of Capri and Sorrento, in the Italian mainland. This project involves the turn-key installation of an HVAC 150 kV power cable link between power stations located in Sorrento, off the coast near Naples, and Capri’s Gasto Ecological Island. The cable follows a 16 km submarine route and 3 km over land.

“Until just a few years ago, Capri was powered by a small, old polluting substation.” explains Giovanni Leonardo Curtotti, Director Mediterranean Region Project Management within Project BU. “Furthermore, the risk of blackouts caused by high loads during the tourist season, was significant. Today, the new Capri-Sorrento link, with a connection to the Italian grid, enables a safer interconnection and the resulting link reduces the risk of blackout in case of high loads.”

Giovanni Leonardo Curtotti

Director Mediterranean Region Project Management within Project BU

The contract was awarded by Terna Rete Italia S.p.A., a company fully owned by Italian Transmission System Operator Terna S.p.A few years ago.

The agreement covers submarine cable laying, using Prysmian’s ‘Cable Enterprise’ vessel, and supplying all related network components and performing the required specialist civil engineering works related to the installation of the cables. The scope of the work includes trench excavation and Horizontal Directional Drilling.

Giovanni continues: In Sorrento, the landfall of the submarine cable is on the famous historical Marina Grande beach. In Capri, the cable emerges on land close the touristic port of Marina Grande.

The limited space available, constraints imposed by the touristic areas, and environmental aspects to be taken into account, constituted the real challenge of the project. From a technical point of view, the Horizontal Directional Drilling activities were very challenging and required skilled and experienced workers. In Capri, the main challenge was the great depth of the exit point, at 35 meters below the water surface. This was necessary in order to completely pass through a vast stretch of Posidonia, a protected Mediterranean Sea area, without affecting it. In Sorrento, the narrow available space presented considerable issues.

The use of qualified team of experts and the good relationships established with all stakeholders involved were key success factors in overcoming the challenges in this project. The Capri-Sorrento cables have been manufactured at the Arco Felice plant (Naples), a Prysmian Group centre of technological and manufacturing excellence.”

Prysmian has delivered this strategic and prestigious project leveraging not only on its experience and cutting-edge technology but also on the important direct involvement of local resources through the cable factory near Naples.