A major milestone for Greece’s energy map is on the horizon as the electrical interconnection of the Southern Cyclades enters its final stretch.
Last week, the power interconnection of Santorini was successfully completed, signaling the countdown toward the island’s full integration into the national high-voltage grid.
Through Damco Energy and in a joint venture with China’s Xian Electric Engineering, the Copelouzou Group spearheaded the construction of Santorini’s new High-Voltage Substation, playing a pivotal role in linking the island (Thira) directly to the mainland network.
With construction wrapped up and operational testing underway, a portion of Santorini’s power load is now supplied directly from the mainland transmission system. Full energization of the link is expected by early autumn.
The Culmination of Phase 4
The integration of Santorini forms part of the fourth and final phase of IPTO’s (ADMIE) ambitious Cyclades Interconnection Project. Under this phase, the islands of Milos, Folegandros, and Serifos will also be plugged into the grid in the coming months. Their integration is scheduled for completion within the year, permanently ending the electrical isolation of the entire archipelago.
Once fully operational, all Cycladic islands will benefit from a secure, stable, and clean power supply directly from the mainland grid, putting an end to chronic reliability issues and reliance on local diesel-fired power plants.
To pull off Phase 4, IPTO executed highly complex engineering tasks. Subsea cables were laid at maximum depths exceeding 500 meters, alongside the construction of four fully digitized, compact Gas-Insulated Substations (GIS)—one on each island—to bridge the underwater cables with local distribution networks.
In Santorini specifically, a Static Var Compensator (SVC) system was also installed. This advanced infrastructure is designed to maintain voltage stability and optimize grid operations across the Southern Cyclades.
Economic and Environmental Dividends
The completion of the interconnection dramatically boosts energy security across the Cyclades. This is critical during the peak summer months, when heavy tourist traffic sends electricity demand soaring.
Beyond reliability, the project unlocks intertwined environmental and economic benefits. Decommissioning the polluting, oil-fueled local power stations will yield drastic reductions in carbon emissions, safeguarding the Aegean’s fragile marine ecosystem. At the same time, it will significantly lower Public Service Obligation (PSO) charges on utility bills, translating into direct savings for consumers nationwide.
The project was engineered from the outset to minimize environmental and visual impact on the island landscapes. To protect Aegean aesthetics, substations were sited very close to the shoreline to eliminate the need for overhead transmission lines and pylons, while the architecture of the onshore facilities was designed to respect traditional Cycladic aesthetics.
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