Siemens brings renewables-based power to Mallorca - Power link through the Mediterranean provides annual power supply for 2.5 million tourists

Erlangen, Germany, 2011-Sep-21

Siemens has delivered high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) technology that allowed Red Eléctrica de España (REE) to link Mallorca with the Spanish mainland via an electricity highway laid in the Mediterranian. In the future a significant proportion of the vacation island's power demand will thus be met using wind, solar and hydroelectric power which is produced on the mainland. At the same time supply security to the island will be enhanced. "This project is representative of a trend in Europe: Power grids are distinctively coming closer together. With our HVDC technology renewables-based power can be transmitted over long distances with low losses. HVDC links will become the backbone of power grids and the German energy system turnaround. They will help to increase the share of renewables in the European electricity mix," said Michael Suess, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Energy. "HVDC is a rapid-growth segment. In the last 40 years links with a total capacity of only 100 gigawatts were installed, 40 percent by us. In this decade alone we're anticipating invitations to tender for new HVDC links worldwide for a further 250 gigawatts," added Suess.