Invenergy Transmission and Tealov S.A., subsidiaries of Invenergy, on Nov. 26 announced that Tealov S.A., has executed an Operating Lease Contract with the National Administration of Power Plants and Electrical Transmissions/Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE) for the construction, ownership, and lease of the Cardal Transmission project.

The project — comprised of 55 kilometers of new 500-kV high-voltage transmission line, 20 kilometers of new 150-kV transmission line, a new 500-kV substation, and accompanying infrastructure — is expected to begin construction in early 2021, and be operational in early 2023. The new transmission line will connect to the Punta del Tigre substation and a 150-kV high-voltage line in Salto, Uruguay.

Cardal brings Invenergy’s successful transmission development track record to more than 1,200 transmission circuit kilometers globally, including 220 circuit kilometers in Latin America.

Kris Zadlo, senior vice president, Commercial Analytics, Regulatory Affairs and Transmission at Invenergy, said, in part, “We have found strong partners to expand our footprint in Uruguay with, and look forward to executing the project and improving the resiliency, reliability, and security of the Uruguayan electric transmission grid.”

The project will be designed and constructed by a consortium formed by two Uruguayan engineering and construction firms — Saceem and Ingener.

The Cardal Transmission project is Invenergy’s third project in Uruguay. Invenergy currently operates two renewable energy projects in Uruguay — La Jacinta Solar Farm (64 MW) and Campo Palomas Wind Farm (70 MW).

In recent years, Invenergy has been expanding its presence in Latin America, helping to accelerate the growth of sustainable energy in the region. Invenergy is constructing the 378-MW LNG-to-power Energía del Pacifico project in El Salvador, which consists of a 44-kilometer 230-kV double-circuit transmission line in addition to a state-of-the-art thermal power plant and marine regasification terminal. In Mexico, Invenergy has more than 800 MW of projects under construction and in development across wind, solar, storage, and natural gas. In 2019, Invenergy also announced a partnership with Empresas Publicas de Medellin (EPM), a large public utility in Colombia, to develop renewable energy projects.