Greece and Italy plan procurement for GRITA 2 interconnector

The transmission system operators in Greece and Italy, ADMIE and Terna, are advancing preparations for the GRITA 2 electricity interconnector. Designed with a capacity of 1 GW, the project will establish a second high-voltage direct current subsea cable link between both nations across the Ionian Sea.

Procurement activity is set to begin before the end of 2027, when the joint operators plan to issue competitive tenders for major subsea cable packages and high-voltage converter stations. Terna and ADMIE anticipate awarding EPC contracts in 2028, maintaining a project timeline that targets full commercial commissioning in 2033.

For transmission engineers and HVDC asset managers, this development highlights the growing demand for specialized converter transformers and high-voltage direct current switchgear. A project of 1 GW capacity requires high-specification converter stations capable of handling power transfers between AC power systems. Securing supply chain slots for high-voltage direct current transformers and converter switchgear remains a long-lead challenge across Europe and the Mediterranean region.

The expansion of cross-border transmission capacity will also affect local grid control and reactive power balance. High-capacity interconnections introduce dynamic power flows that demand modern monitoring systems, tap changers with reliable voltage control, and comprehensive dissolved gas analysis regimes on converter transformers.

What this means for asset owners in the Balkans and the Black Sea region: Transmission utilities in Greece and nearby interconnected grids must prepare substations for high dynamic power flows ahead of the 2033 commissioning date. Substation managers will need to evaluate transformer thermal margins, upgrade switchgear ratings, and schedule long-lead procurement windows well before contract awards in 2028 to prevent local bottlenecks when the 1 GW interconnector comes online.