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The Project 

The Savoy-Piedmont underground cable was designed to increase the electricity trading capacity between France and Italy, while boosting the security of energy supplies.

RTE proposed grouping this future high-voltage direct-current undergound interconnection between Sainte Hélène du Lac in Savoy and Piossasco in Piedmont (200 km) with existing infrastructure to minimize the environmental impact.

AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT

The Savoy-Piedmont project represents technological innovation in terms of its length, capacity (1,000 MW/320 kV) and integration with existing infrastructure.

Challenges

Project owner
RTE CNER SNILHP

Period
Design: 2009 – 2010
Contractor assistance: 2011 – on going

Challenge
The studies should reconcile two technical frameworks: high-capacity electricity interconnections and road infrastructures.
The design of this interconnection and construction methods should also take into account the constraints of motorway operations in a mountainous area.

The Assignment

setec was asked to manage the following aspects:

  • A feasibility study for the integration of the electricity cable in the A43 motorway right of way between Aiton and Frejus Tunnel (68.5 km); an inventory of technical solutions, especially for the walls, viaducts and tunnels; a multicriteria analysis of the technical solutions and an estimation of the related costs; the impact on motorway operations; and overall works scheduling
  • Design work on the products, materials and construction methods for the interconnection in the standard section and definition of innovative solutions with an analysis of the related costs and deadlines
  • A study of the type of civil engineering works and areas of expertise required for the Grande-Ile converter station and the electricity interconnection; and quantification of labor needs throughout the construction work

Contractor assistance
Drafting of the special civil engineering technical specifications, analysis of bids, and works verification and acceptance.