A new electricity interconnector between Ireland and the UK has today commenced operations, with Minister Darragh O’Brien describing the infrastructure as playing “an important role in our transition to become a net energy exporter”.
The Greenlink Interconnector is a 500 megawatt (MW) project which will enable the importation of electricity from Britain, and the exportation of surplus electricity from Ireland.
In addition to the existing East-West Interconnector, the Greenlink Interconnector will now double the State’s interconnection capacity to 1 Gigawatt, according to the Department for Environment, Climate and Communications.
Welcoming the the new interconnector, Climate Minister Darragh O’Brien described the project as a “tangible expression of our ever-strengthening energy relationship with the UK, that “highlights the value and benefits which international energy collaboration can bring”.
“Increased electricity interconnection will be a key enabler in our growing use of renewable energy, facilitating the delivery of the necessary infrastructure to support our energy ambitions in our journey to a net-zero power system. Interconnection will also play an important role in our transition to become a net energy exporter, making Ireland central to wider European energy plans.
“The role of interconnection is a large part of our wider energy ambitions, and State is taking an integrated forward planning approach to interconnection, which is aligned with offshore renewable energy forward planning,” the minister said.
Greenlink provides a new connection between the Great Island substation in County Wexford and the UK National Grid’s Pembroke substation in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
According to Greenlink, approximately 160km of cable route was required to be laid offshore, with a remaining 30km onshore.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, said that “it is important” that Ireland and the UK “work together to strengthen our mutual energy security, and drive forward in reaching our clean energy potential”.
“This cable between Wexford and Wales will help deliver our Clean Power 2030 mission and support Ireland’s renewable expansion by allowing us to trade more cheaper-to-generate clean energy with each other, helping both nations to move away from volatile fossil fuel markets,” Mr Shanks said.
The Greenlink Interconnector was recognised as a ‘Project of Common Interest’ (PCI), and is considered to be of strategic importance.
As a PCI, the project secured funding under the Connecting Europe Facility.