The Project enables integrating new hydroelectric plants of the Portuguese National Dam Plan located in the Northern region of Portugal (around 1,150 MW, of which close to 900 MW with pumping capacity).

These new energy sources will increase flows in the region, which will have to be routed to the coastal area and to the south, towards the areas of greatest consumption. Part of these additional flows will interfere and accumulate with the already existing flows that flow through the current interconnections with Spain in the north, namely on the 400 kV Alto Lindoso – Riba d’Ave – Recarei axis, promoting additional reinforcement needs in a coordinated manner.

Given this accumulation of flows in the interconnection axis located in Minho, this project is also relevant for the interconnection capacity target of 3,000 MW between Portugal and Spain, while ensuring the integration of high levels of penetration of renewable energies, safeguarding the system’s security.

Integration of RES in Northern Portugal: New 400 kV double overhead line Vieira do Minho – Ribeira de Pena – Feira, in conjunction with the new Ribeira de Pena substation; new 400 kV double overhead line Pedralva – Sobrado (only one circuit installed).

The Project is especially relevant for the implementation of the EU’s energy policy goals (sustainability, security of supply, and market and competition integration), namely:

• Feasibility of integrating new RES.
• Attainment of economic and environmental benefits from reduced RES generation costs and from market competition.
• Reduction of CO2 emissions, contributing to better sustainability of the European electricity system.
• Attainment of complementarities between different renewable resource generation technologies (namely hydro and wind power).
• Attainment of complementarities between the Portuguese and Spanish electricity systems.
• Avoidance of reductions in interconnection capacity and, as a consequence, of lower levels of competition between players.

Public Consultations

The Project was subject to public consultation conducted by the Portuguese Energy Services Regulatory Entity as part of the procedure for drawing up the Transmission Network Development and Investment Plan.

In the environmental impact assessment (“EIA”) procedure, the Project was subject to public consultation in a phase prior to the preparation of the environmental conformity report of the execution project, and also submitted to public consultation, this time with the execution project, by the EIA authority, as well as within the licencing procedure through the publication of an edict promoted by the licencing entity.

EIA procedure: 

• The Portuguese National Transmission Network’s 400 kV axis between Carrapatelo, Fridão, Ribeira de Pena, and Vila Pouca de Aguiar – including the Fridão and Ribeira de Pena substations. See EIA project here.

• The Portuguese National Transmission Network’s 400 kV axis between Carrapatelo, Fridão, Ribeira de Pena, and Vila Pouca de Aguiar – Revamp of Sections 4, 5, 6, and 10 and of the locations for the Ribeira de Pena Substation (Preliminary Study). See EIA project here.

• 400/60 kV Ribeira de Pena substation. Environmental Compliance Detail of Execution project here.

• Carrapatelo – Vila Pouca de Aguiar line, at 220/400 kV, section between the Carrapatelo substation and the Ribeira de Pena substation. Environmental Compliance Detail of the Execution Project here.

• Carrapatelo – Vila Pouca de Aguiar line, at 220/400 kV, section between the Carrapatelo substation and the Ribeira de Pena substation. Environmental Compliance Detail of the Execution Project here.

• Feira – Ribeira de Pena line at 400 kV, section between the substation and the P49 support of the Carrapatelo – Estarreja 3 line, at 220 kV (400 kV). EIA project here.

• Ribeira de Pena – Vieira do Minho 1/2 double line, at 400 kV. EIA project here.

Voltage Level: 400 kV