REN renews the 220kV Valdigem - Recarei twin line

Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN) has completed the renewal of the 65-kilometre long 220 kV Valdigem Recarei 1, Valdigem Urrô and Recarei Urrô line.

Costing EUR 5 million, the goal of the investment was to enhance to transmission capacity of the Douro route. The project involved the replacement of 11 very high voltage posts and improvements in another 134 very high voltage posts, in order to accommodate two guard cables instead of one cable, thus affording greater protection against atmospheric discharges. REN also replaced the insulator chains and the clamping devices of the cables. 

REN Investment Manager Albino Marques explained that “this kind of work is essential to allow the safe and unrestricted flow of hydro and wind generated electricity from the Douro and Trás-os-Montes region to the Porto region, and also to improve the performance of the older lines, bringing them up to date with today’s quality requirements.”