The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide €1.9bn for the construction of the 1 GW Tyrrhenian power link, connecting Sicily with Sardinia and the Campania region (southern Italy). The funding, which will represent around 50% of the total cost of the interconnection, will be allotted in tranches of €500m, the first of which was granted on 8 November 2022.
According to the Italian transmission system operator (TSO) Terna, the 970 km-long, direct current double submarine link is expected to require an investment of €3.7bn and become fully operational in 2028. The east section linking the Italian mainland to Sicily, which will be built first, will have its first cable operational by 2025. Around 250 companies will be involved in the implementation of the project.
Earlier in November 2022, Terna and its French counterpart RTE started commissioning the 1.2 GW second link of the power interconnection between Chambéry (France), and Turin (Italy).