EirGrid to bid for cross-border interconnector in Ireland

Ireland’s power transmission operator EirGrid will submit a planning proposal for a £250 million electricity interconnector across the Irish border this week.

The BBC reported today that exact details of the application, made to the Irish national planning appeals board An Bord Pleanála, will not be released until a 10-week public consultation process starts on 16 June.

In a statement, the Department of the Environment said: “The information will be advertised in the local press, giving the public opportunity to make comment.”

EirGrid will submit an application for the southern half of the interconnector. The northern half will be tended to by the System Operator for Northern Ireland, with a separate planning application before the Planning Appeals Commission.

The interconnector project will take 3 years and was planned for completion by 2017, but has since suffered setbacks.

It will link the existing electricity transmission networks of Northern Ireland and Ireland between Turleenan, County Tyrone and Woodland, near Batterstown, County Meath.

EirGrid said the interconnector will “increase the capacity and the reliability” of interconnection between the networks in the north and the south of Ireland.

“This will allow the two independent networks to operate together as if they were one system for the mutual benefit of residents and businesses in both jurisdictions,” it added. “The increase in interconnection capacity will also facilitate further and greater connection of wind generation in both parts of the island which will help achieve Ireland’s renewable energy targets.”