Eirgrid’s East-West Interconnector to open today

20 Sep 2012

Connection of land and marine cable, Barky Beach Wales

Eirgrid’s East-West Interconnector, the underground and undersea link to connect the electricity grids between Ireland and the UK, is set to officially open today.

The interconnector, which runs for about 260km, will aim to facilitate new markets for energy companies in both Ireland and the UK to trade electricity.

Running between Woodland, Co Meath, in Ireland, and Shotten in north Wales, Eirgrid said the underground and undersea link will have the capacity to transport 500 megawatts – enough energy to power 300,000 homes. It said the interconnector was built at a cost lower than its €600m budget.

The energy project is also being viewed as the largest piece of infrastructure built in Ireland since the construction of the hydro-electric power station Ardnacrusha, which opened in 1929.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is expected to be at the opening of the East-West Interconnector in Meath today. Commercial operations are due to start on 1 October.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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