The largest state energy infrastructure project since Ardnacrusha, connecting the Irish electricity grid and Great Britain, advanced significantly last week as work began to lay cables under the sea bed of the Irish Sea. The 600 million euro East West Interconnector project is being developed by EirGrid – the independent electricity transmission system operator in the Republic of Ireland.
According to EirGrid, the Interconnector is an essential strategic economic infrastructure, linking Ireland to the much larger energy markets of Britain and Europe.
It involves the laying of 180 kilometres of undersea and approximately 80 kilometres of underground cables to enable the flow of electricity in both directions between Ireland and Great Britain. This means that when Ireland needs extra electricity it can import it but, crucially, it opens a new export market for Ireland’s energy, both renewable and conventional.
The ESRI issued a report last week which confirmed that the creation of a single EU-wide electricity market offers significant benefits for Ireland. The report, entitled The Internal EU Electricity Market: Implications for Ireland concluded that “the single EU electricity market should result in lower electricity prices and increased competition as suppliers from Great Britain and beyond will be able to enter the Irish market. This should spur efficiency and increase consumer choice.”
As the cable laying got underway, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD, was present to observe this key milestone for the project. With just one year to completion, transmission should commence on the interconnector in late 2012.
Commenting on the project, Minister Rabbitte said: “The interconnector will improve security of supply, as well as increasing competition and assisting in achieving our ambitious renewable targets. I am delighted that EirGrid are on track to complete the project within budget and on time, by the end of next year.
“Witnessing the laying of the marine cable across the Irish Sea is symbolic of linking Ireland, a geographically isolated island, to the single European energy market which will ultimately benefit all electricity consumers and generators.”
As the Nostag 10 makes its way across the sea, the cable will be carefully lowered into the water and laid in a narrow trench which will be opened and closed by a remote controlled vehicle operating on the sea bed. The cable laying work is expected to take approximately eight months to complete.
Andrew Cooke, EirGrid’s Director of Grid Development, said: “This is a very exciting stage in the project and probably one of the most challenging. Before work started, EirGrid carried out a detailed marine survey to identify a route for the undersea cable that would have the least impact on marine life.
“With over 600 people currently working on the project, it is great to see the interconnector cable finally beginning to be laid at sea. Europe’s electricity future will be reliant on interconnector projects of this nature, and currently EirGrid is investigating the feasibility of further interconnection to Europe.”
The Interconnector is scheduled to be operational in late 2012 and will be capable of carrying power to supply the equivalent of 300,000 homes, and will be owned by EirGrid following its completion.
