Aug 26, 2026
Denmark-based cable maker and installer NKT has achieved the initial cable pull-ins at Lemoniz in northern Spain, calling it a key construction step for a multi-billion-euro link that will raise power trading capacity between Spain and France to 5 GW from 2.8 GW.
NKT said the cables for the Biscay Gulf interconnector were pulled ashore from its vessel NKT Victoria via a drilled path exceeding 1,000 meters. This approach is meant to limit environmental impact at the landing site.
The link, developed by INELFE—a joint venture of Spain’s Red Electrica and France’s RTE—with backing from the European Investment Bank and the EU via CINEA, will mark the first subsea power connection between the two nations.
Spanning roughly 400 kilometers from Gatika in Spain’s Basque Country to Cubnezais in southwest France, the route includes about 300 kilometers under the Bay of Biscay. The system will feature two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines, each rated at 1,000 MW (1 GW).
Work started in 2023 and continues on both sides of the border. INELFE’s plan has offshore cable laying running through Q3 2027, with testing set to begin in mid-2027. The interconnector is slated to go live in 2028.
When operational, it will lift cross-border electricity exchange from 2,800 MW (2.8 GW) to 5,000 MW (5 GW), reinforcing the Iberian Peninsula’s ties to Europe’s broader power grid. The added capacity is seen boosting grid reliability and flexibility, easing congestion at the border, and supporting more renewable energy use.
The European Investment Bank has pledged up to EUR1.6 billion, while the total project cost is estimated at around EUR3.1 billion. NKT noted the initiative will fortify links between the Iberian Peninsula and the rest of Europe, aiding energy security, grid stability, and cross-border renewables integration.
1. INTRODUCTION
Report Scope and Analytical Framing
Report DescriptionResearch Methodology and the Analytical FrameworkData-Driven Decisions for Your BusinessGlossary and Product-Specific Terms2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Concise View of Market Direction
Key FindingsMarket TrendsStrategic ImplicationsKey Risks and Watchpoints3. DOMESTIC MARKET SIZE AND DEVELOPMENT PATH
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Market Size: Historical Data (2012-2025) and Forecast (2026-2035)Growth Outlook and Market Development Path to 2035Growth Driver DecompositionScenario Framework and Sensitivities4. CATEGORY SCOPE, DEFINITIONS AND BOUNDARIES
Commercial and Technical Scope
What Is Included and How the Market Is DefinedMarket Inclusion CriteriaProduct / Category DefinitionExclusions and BoundariesDistinction From Adjacent Products and Substitute Categories5. CATEGORY STRUCTURE, SEGMENTATION AND PRODUCT MATRIX
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
By Product Type / ConfigurationBy Application / End UseBy Customer / Buyer TypeBy Channel / Business Model / Technology PlatformSegment Attractiveness MatrixProduct Matrix and Segment Growth Logic6. DOMESTIC DEMAND, CUSTOMER AND BUYER ARCHITECTURE
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Consumption / Demand: Historical Data (2012-2025) and Forecast (2026-2035)Demand by End-Use and Buyer GroupDemand by Customer / Consumer SegmentPurchase Criteria, Switching Logic and Adoption BarriersReplacement, Replenishment and Installed-Base DynamicsFuture Demand Outlook7. DOMESTIC PRODUCTION, SUPPLY AND VALUE CHAIN
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Production in the CountryDomestic Manufacturing FootprintCapacity, Bottlenecks and Supply RisksValue Chain Logic and Margin PoolsDistribution and Route-to-Market Structure8. IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND SOURCING STRUCTURE
Trade Flows and External Dependence
ExportsImportsTrade BalanceImport DependenceSourcing Risks and Resilience9. PRICING, PROMOTION AND COMMERCIAL MODEL
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Domestic Price Levels and CorridorsPricing by Segment / Specification / ChannelCost Drivers and Margin LogicPromotion, Discounting and Procurement PatternsRevenue Quality and Commercial Levers10. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE AND PORTFOLIO POWER
Who Wins and Why
Market Structure and ConcentrationCompetitive ArchetypesSegment-by-Segment Competitive IntensityPortfolio Breadth and Product PositioningCapability MatrixStrategic Moves, Partnerships and Expansion Signals11. DOMESTIC MARKET STRUCTURE AND CHANNEL LOGIC
How the Domestic Market Works
Core Demand CentersLocal Production and Distribution RolesChannel StructureBuyer and Procurement ArchitectureRegional Imbalances Within the Country12. GROWTH PLAYBOOK AND MARKET ENTRY
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where to PlayHow to WinDistributor / Partner / Direct Entry OptionsCapability ThresholdsEntry Risks and Mitigation13. WHERE TO PLAY NEXT: MOST ATTRACTIVE GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Most Attractive Product NichesMost Attractive Customer SegmentsWhite Spaces and Unsaturated OpportunitiesHigh-Margin and Underpenetrated PocketsMost Promising Product Adjacencies14. PROFILES OF MAJOR COMPANIES
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
Leading Manufacturers and SuppliersProduction Footprint and CapacitiesProduct Portfolio and Segment FocusPricing Positioning and Indicative Price LogicChannel / Distribution StrengthStrategic Archetypes15. METHODOLOGY, SOURCES AND DISCLAIMER
How the Report Was Built
Modeling LogicSource RegisterPublications, Regulatory and Industry ReferencesAnalytical NotesDisclaimer