The Biscay Gulf electrical interconnection consists of the construction of a 2 000 MW HVDC link. This link is composed of 2 (two) circuits rated 1 000 MW each at DC operating voltage of 400 kV, comprised of 4 power cables, 2 converter stations located close to 400 kV Cubnezais substation (France) and Gatica substation (Spain). The length of the route is estimated to be approx. 375 km long starting in Spanish Pais Vasco region (near Bilbao), with underground cable of about 15 km, a submarine section around 280 km long, and an underground cable on the French side of about 80 km long to an ending point in Nouvelle Aquitaine (Gironde department, near Bordeaux).

The “Biscay Gulf Electrical Interconnection FR-ES” is a joint project developed by INELFE on behalf of Réseau Transport d’Electricité (RTE) and Red Electica de Espagna (REE) respectively transmission system operators in France and Spain.

The project is supported by the European Union’s Connecting Europe facility (CEF).

2 (two) HVDC Voltage Sourced Converter (VSC) converter stations (one in France and one in Spain), each composed of 2 (two) terminals in a symmetrical monopole configuration (for both HVDC circuits) with a capacity of 1 000 MW each at the receiving end at operating DC voltage of 400 kV.

The scope includes the design (including detail design), engineering, procurement, manufacture, supply, transportation, installation, construction (including all civil works), testing, commissioning, spares provision, operational handover, warranty and maintenance of the converter stations.

Provision of a replica will be mandatory for the French side and will be included in the scope (and optional should it be required by INELFE for the Spanish side).

Provision of maintenance service alongside the obligation to rectify defects for a mandatory initial period after take over to align with the warranty period under the EPCI contract and manufacture, supply and delivery of replenishment spares for spares used during such period and may further include provision for delivery of spares for an extended period (beyond the warranty period) — all as further detailed in the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents.

Option to provide for an extended maintenance service and/or provision of further spares beyond the warranty period/original period stated in the contract at the sole discretion of INELFE.

Further detail of the scope of the contract may be provided notably in the ITT documents.

See section VI.3) for more details about the procurement process.

The contracting entity will be INELFE in its name and on behalf of REE and RTE as a central purchasing body.