Invenergy’s Landmark Tealov Cardal Transmission Line Begins Operations in Uruguay
Expands Invenergy’s rapidly growing global transmission portfolio
Uruguayan state-owned power company, UTE, to operate the transmission line and associated infrastructure under a 30-year agreement
Supports reliable electricity operations in Uruguay, a world leader in the energy transition and wind power production
CHICAGO, IL (February 16, 2024) - Invenergy, the leading privately held developer, owner, and operator of sustainable energy solutions, today announced commercial operations have commenced on its landmark high-voltage Tealov Cardal transmission line in Uruguay, further demonstrating Invenergy’s deep expertise in infrastructure to serve growing clean power markets globally. Cardal is Invenergy’s third project in Uruguay. Invenergy currently owns the 65-megawatt La Jacinta Solar Farm and 70-megawatt Campo Palomas Wind Farm.
Cardal consists of a new 55-kilometer (34-mile), 500 kV high-voltage transmission line, a new 20-kilometer (12-mile), 150 kV transmission line, a new 500 kV substation, and accompanying infrastructure. The line connects to the Punta del Tigre substation and a 150 kV high-voltage line in Salto. Cardal also included enhancements to increase interconnection flows between the departments of Florida and San Jose.
“Electric transmission is essential to the energy transition. As Uruguay quickly decarbonizes its electricity matrix, Cardal will support resilience and reliability of the electric transmission grid,” said Bryan Schueler, Executive Vice President & Construction Business Leader at Invenergy. “The success of Cardal demonstrates Invenergy’s premier experience in major grid enhancement projects worldwide at a time when additional transmission is critical to support clean power growth."
The Cardal transmission line is integral to Uruguay’s clean power goals. Currently, 98 percent of the country’s electric generation is produced from clean power, dominated by hydropower and wind energy. The line is operated by the Uruguayan state-owned power company, Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE), under a 30-year lease agreement.
With the energization of Cardal, Invenergy has now entered into service or contracted 6,475 linear kilometers (4,023 miles) of transmission and collector lines globally, including flagship projects throughout the Americas. Elsewhere in Latin America, Invenergy constructed a 44-kilometer (27-mile), 230 kV double circuit transmission line from Acajutla to Ahuachapan in El Salvador which connects its 378-megawatt LNG-to-power Energía del Pacifico project with the Central American Electrical Interconnection System or Sistema de Interconexión de los Países de América Central (SIEPAC).
In the United States, Invenergy is the leading developer of long-distance transmission projects that employ high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology and are designed to deliver diversified renewable energy resources to market. Invenergy’s transmission portfolio includes the 1,287-kilometer (800-mile), 5,000-megawatt Grain Belt Express, which will deliver more megawatt hours of renewable energy than any project in U.S. history, and the 281-kilometer (175-mile), 1,300-megawatt Clean Path NY project, which is contracted with the State of New York through a partnership between Invenergy, the New York Power Authority and energyRe.
Invenergy in partnership with IDB Invest, a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, financed the construction under an innovative A/B Bond structure in a Private Placement with US investors. The notes were rated Baa2 by Moody´s.The project was designed and constructed by a consortium formed by two Uruguayan engineering and construction firms, Saceem and Ingener, and created 480 direct construction jobs.
About Invenergy
Invenergy drives innovation in energy. Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Headquartered in Chicago, Invenergy has regional offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Japan, Poland, and Scotland.
Invenergy and its affiliated companies have successfully developed more than 30,000 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction or contracted, including wind, solar, transmission infrastructure and natural gas power generation and advanced energy storage projects. Learn about Invenergy at Invenergy.com.