SAPEI

{{Short description|Undersea power transmission line from the Italian mainland to Sardinia}}

{{Infobox power transmission line

| name = SAPEI

| photo = File:SAPEI Latina - Sala valvole.jpg

| caption = SAPEI's HVDC converters in Latina

| map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=4}}

| map_caption = Location of SAPEI

| country = Italy

| province =

| coordinates = {{Coord|40|50|29|N|8|18|21|E|type:landmark|name=SAPEI - Fiume Santo Static Inverter Plant}}
{{Coord|41|25|47|N|12|48|25|E|type:landmark|name=SAPEI - Latina Static Inverter Plant}}

| direction =

| start = Fiume Santo

| through = Tyrrhenian Sea

| finish = Latina

| par =

| owner =

| operator = Terna

| cable_manufacturer = Prysmian

| cable_installer =

| cable_layer =

| substation_manufacturer = ABB

| substation_installer =

| contractors =

| construction =

| est = 2010

| decom =

| type = submarine cables

| current_type = HVDC

| length = 435

| capacity = 1000 MW

| AC_voltage = 400 kV

| DC_voltage = 500 kV

| poles_no = 2

}}

SAPEI, is a high-voltage direct current power transmission system that connects Sardinia with the Italian mainland. The submarine cable from Fiume Santo to Latina runs at {{convert|1600|m}} below sea level in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the deepest submarine power cable in the world.[http://www.terna.it/default.aspx?tabid=2228 TERNA - The record cable SAPEI is the trail-blazer for the development of the Italian electricity grid] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004161414/http://www.terna.it/default.aspx?tabid=2228 |date=2011-10-04 }} The cable is owned and operated by Terna.

History

The project was launched in 2006. Scientific surveys and studies of the sea floor began soon after. The first submarine cable as also onshore cables was laid in 2008 and the first voltage tests were conducted. In 2009, the converter stations in Latina and Fiume Santo entered into operation. Laying of the second submarine cable was scheduled for the end of 2010. The submarine cable-laying activity was being carried out by the Cable Lay Vessel (CLV) Giulio Verne owned and operated by Prysmian Group. The cable was inaugurated on 17 March 2011.

{{cite web

|url = http://affaritaliani.libero.it/economia/terna170311.html

|title = SA.PE.I./ L'elettrodotto da record che unisce l'Italia

|trans-title = SA.PE.I. / The record electric line unites Italy

|language = Italian

|publisher = Affari Italiani

|date = 2011-03-17

|accessdate = 2011-03-18

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110320034815/http://affaritaliani.libero.it/economia/terna170311.html

|archivedate = 2011-03-20

}}

Description

The system consists of a {{convert|420|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} submarine cable and {{convert|15|km|mi|0|adj=on}} land cables. It has two poles, having a total capacity of 1,000 MW at 500 kV of voltage. The diameter of the submarine cable is {{convert|120|mm|in|frac=8}}. It is connected to the alternating current grids through converter stations in Fiume Santo and Latina at 400 kV of voltage. The substation in Latina extends over a surface area of {{convert|35000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}, the one in Fiume Santo of {{convert|48000|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}. The cable was manufactured by Prysmian and converter stations were manufactured by ABB.

{{cite web

| url = http://www.abb.com/industries/ap/db0003db004333/1835edd885389f04c125774a0044432d.aspx

| title = SAPEI HVDC link

| publisher = ABB

| accessdate = 2010-12-24}}

{{cite news

| url = http://tdworld.com/projects_in_progress/business_in_tech/prysmian-sicily-italy-cable-1209/index.html

| title = Prysmian Awarded Contract for Submarine Cable Between Sicily and Italian Mainland

| work = Transmission & Distribution World

| publisher = Penton Media, Inc.

| date = 2009-12-21

| accessdate = 2010-12-24}}