Red Eléctrica, the Redeia subsidiary responsible for the transmission and operation of the electrical system in Spain, has finished the construction and commissioning of the underground 220 kV Rocío-Torrearenillas power line at an unprecedented pace. This stretch of line crosses the operations area linked to the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Testing, Training, and Assembly Centre (CEUS), a project supported by the Ministry of Defence through INTA and the Andalusian Regional Government, in the municipality of Moguer (Huelva).

This was a highly complex operation due to the critical nature of the line for the supply security of the Huelva capital area, for which Red Eléctrica has succeeded in significantly shortening the deadlines throughout the different phases of the project. As a result, this major project is now complete in time for the summer season on the Huelva coast, where there is a patent increase in demand for electricity.

To achieve this, the Red Eléctrica teams performed the necessary preliminary studies, drafted the project and processed the administrative procedures, arranged the acquisition of necessary supplies, especially the underground cable, and conducted a thorough analysis of the terrain through surveys before building the infrastructure of the new underground line.

 The new section was then buried and the necessary electrical tests were carried out before it was put into service. The old overhead line section was dismantled at the same time. 

The most complicated part was the dismantling of this section of overhead line, which has been replaced by an underground line, ensuring the safety of the power supply at all times without  incident. 

The burying of the power line, necessary to enable the functionality of the CEUS project's operations runway, was made possible through close collaboration between Red Eléctrica and the various involved administrations. Red Eléctrica and the Ministry of University, Research, and Innovation of the Andalusian Regional Government signed an agreement in November 2023, which was a decisive milestone for the completion of the works. 

The CEUS project is considered the most important unmanned aircraft testing centre in Europe and is currently one of the most relevant strategic investments in the province of Huelva. It is designed for conducting tests on unmanned and prototypes of military and civilian aircraft in the public and private spheres.