The infrastructure that will soon begin operating is part of the 2021-2026 Electricity Transmission Network Planning in accordance with promoting Europe's energy change. In addition, it has been declared a project of common interest for the European Union (PIC) to strengthen the electricity supply.

In this way, the Spain-Portugal North Interconnection will be the electrical highway that distributes and exchanges electricity between the two countries to strengthen the energy capacity of the region and include renewable energies in the network system.

With the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement (DIA) granted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, the project has the green light to increase connectivity and the energy model of Europe.

It is expected that this exchange will represent an estimated annual saving of 22 million euros to the electrical system, which will favor the reduction of CO2 emissions by 150 million tons per year.

• Basis of the Spain-Portugal electric highway project

The layout of the project has responded to the social, environmental and technical needs of the region and the analysis of the consultations of the administrations of both territories. In this way, the cross-border interconnection between the municipalities of Arbo (Pontevedra) and Monçäo (Viana do Castelo) is established.

The mission of this megastructure is to increase the electrical exchange capacity between countries by about 1,000 MW and achieve the objective of 4,200 MW from Spain to Portugal and 3,500 MW from Portugal to Spain.

The most important factor for the inclusion of renewable energies is that this electric highway will increase the integration of other more sustainable forms of energy collection by 239 GWh/year, favoring the growth of this more ecologically friendly sector.

The largest energy project in Galician territory has an investment of 55 million euros, which with the absorption of clean electricity into the network will prevent the loss of surpluses and the savings will be reflected in electricity bills.

• Current status of the cross-border project

The Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the electricity transport operator and infrastructure promoter, plans the construction of the electric highway that will be established with the Bearíz 400 kV and Fontefría 400/220 kV substations,

Additionally, two new 400 kV lines will be built, a 30 km long connection between the two substations, and the 21.7 km interconnection line between Fontefría and the border with Portugal, all on the Spanish side.

For its part, the Portuguese section will have an approximate length of 66 km, which will continue from the border crossing point to the Ponte de Lima substation. However, the project on the Portuguese side is still awaiting the corresponding approvals.

The increase in electricity production from renewable sources has been increasing in recent years, more in Spain than in Portugal, but it is expected that with the interconnection of the electric highway the figures will continue to rise.

The agreement between the authorities of both governments and the confirmation of the General Directorate of Quality and Environmental Assessment confirm the strengthening of the common energy muscle of Spain and Portugal with this electric highway that will integrate clean energies to advance towards the transition of a decarbonized model and more affordable electricity bills.