The commissioning of the new 225 kV Rivière – Sanssac and Pratclaux – Trevas lines marked the completion of the “2 Loires” project launched in 2015.

Built in 1941, the 225 kV line between Le Puy-en-Velay, Yssingeaux area and Saint-Etienne served several urban and industrial centres in the Loire and Haute-Loire departments. It had reached its technical limits after 70 years, especially given the changes taking place in the region. The “2 Loires” project involved replacing the existing line with a new higher-capacity 225 kV double-circuit line and adjusting its route to reflect the region’s new needs.

To learn more, please see the report on this project in RTE’s magazine MAG RTE&Vous.

Of the new substations connected to the transmission network in 2018, the one in Saône, in the Doubs department, is a good illustration of RTE’s mission of strengthening the grid and supporting regional development. Three years of work preceded the commissioning of the new substation in September 2018. Improvements were made to the 63 kV and 225 kV lines connected to the substation as part of the project.

This substation stands out in that it is in the first one in the region to integrate from the start the “zéro-phyto” concept, meaning, among other things, that no phytosanitary products were used, the carbon impact of work was limited, the project was tracked by an environmentalist, and innovative mulching and plant coverings were used to reduce maintenance requirements.

In June of 2018, construction started on the converter stationConverter stations can convert DC to AC and thus enable its integration into the power system for the new France-England interconnection. This major project (IFA2) is being carried out in cooperation with UK transmission system operator National Grid. Work has begun on the underground line. With the civil engineering portion of the project completed, the cables are expected to be laid in 2019 so the line can go live in 2020.