Spain and France Plug In to Supercharge the Grid

A €1.6B subsea cable between Spain and France will nearly double power flow and boost Europe’s renewable network

3 Nov 2025

Europe is wiring itself for a cleaner future. The European Investment Bank has pledged €1.6 billion to the Bay of Biscay Interconnector, a 400-kilometer high-voltage direct current cable that will run beneath the sea between Spain and France. Due to go live in 2028, the project is set to transform how energy moves across the continent.

Once operational, the interconnector will nearly double the power exchange between the two nations, from 2.8 to 5 gigawatts. The system will funnel Spain’s abundant solar and wind power north while letting France’s nuclear energy flow south when demand rises. Engineers describe it as one of Europe’s most advanced grid connections, built to balance the region’s increasingly renewable mix and keep electricity affordable.

“This project is about resilience and connection,” said a senior official at Red Eléctrica, Spain’s grid operator, which is partnering with France’s RTE. “It links two major energy systems to ensure stability, affordability, and sustainability for millions.”

By covering nearly half the cost, the European Investment Bank is doing more than funding a cable. Its backing signals confidence in cross-border energy infrastructure as a cornerstone of Europe’s carbon-neutral ambitions, while reducing risk for private investors eyeing similar ventures.

The timing is crucial. With energy demand climbing and geopolitical pressures testing supply, Europe’s grid needs stronger arteries. The Bay of Biscay Interconnector will help stabilize prices, prevent shortages, and advance the EU’s 2030 target for member states to trade at least 15 percent of their electricity with neighbors.

There are still hurdles, from tight regulations to scarce installation vessels, but momentum is building. When it switches on in 2028, the undersea link will stand as a milestone in Europe’s clean-energy transformation, a quiet current of cooperation running beneath the Atlantic waves.