Tunisia-Italy Power Link Gains Financing for 600 MW Feed
The 224 km undersea cable aims to strengthen grid resilience and enable long-term renewable energy trade across the Mediterranean.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Data Centers
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The European Investment Bank is financing a 600 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) power link connecting Tunisia and Italy. This infrastructure project, which recently received a EUR 307.6 million grant from the European Union, establishes an undersea connection across the Strait of Sicily.
Why it matters
The interconnection aims to increase regional grid resilience and facilitate long-term cross-border trade of renewable energy between North Africa and Europe. By creating a direct power bridge, it supports the integration of renewable sources into the wider Mediterranean electricity market.
The link utilizes a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system operating at 500 kV DC. The infrastructure spans 224 km in total, with 200 km consisting of a submarine cable connecting the Cap Bon peninsula to Sicily.
The players
European Investment Bank
The lending institution of the European Union that provides financing for large-scale infrastructure and energy projects.
European Union
A political and economic union that provides funding and strategic designation for transnational energy infrastructure via the Connecting Europe Facility.
The details
The project uses an HVDC submarine cable implemented as a monopole with sea return. This configuration transmits high-voltage electricity through a single conductor while utilizing the sea as the return path for the current. The system is designed to stabilize the Tunisian power grid and enable bidirectional electricity exchange with the European network.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: Article publication date.
The Tech Race
This project is officially designated as a Project of Common Interest, placing it within the EU framework for prioritizing critical energy infrastructure. It aligns with broader regional efforts to create integrated, cross-continental energy markets that can move renewable power across borders.
This project establishes the backbone for future cross-border renewable electricity trade between North Africa and Europe. For users in these regions, it promises a more resilient power grid and an eventual increase in the availability of renewable energy imports.
The takeaway
The link represents a significant commitment to Mediterranean power integration through high-capacity undersea electrical infrastructure. Observers should track future updates on the cable installation schedule to gauge when this 600 MW capacity becomes fully active.
Further reading
Learn more about the infrastructure supporting energy-intensive systems in our Data Centers section.
More information
Review the full project parameters via the European Investment Bank project details.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EIB.
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