Minister O'Brien welcomes new electricity interconnector as it begins powering Ireland's and the UK's energy grids
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 18 Aibreán 2025
The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien has welcomed news that a new subsea electricity interconnector linking Ireland and the UK has commenced operations. The Greenlink Interconnector, a 500 megawatt (MW) project, recently entered its 'commercial operations' phase following a successful testing period, and a three-year construction period.
In addition to the existing East-West Interconnector – which was commissioned in 2012 – this new interconnector will now double the State's interconnection capacity to 1 Gigawatt (GW). It marks a significant milestone in Ireland's journey to a more connected and energy secure Island, while supporting the transition towards a net-zero energy future.
Electricity interconnectors provide a way to share electricity between countries, and are valuable back-up power supplies for when electricity systems have reduced capacity. New interconnections also allow for increased energy imports in the case of an adverse shock, which may occur during extreme weather events.
The Greenlink Interconnector has also been recognised as a 'Project of Common Interest' (PCI) – key cross-border infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of European countries, and is considered to be of strategic importance. As a PCI, the project secured funding under the Connecting Europe Facility. Greenlink also facilitates increased energy security, grid resilience, and provides value to energy consumers. It is a vital project for grid system balancing, and will further the integration of renewable energy sources and regional investments.
The role of interconnection will increase in importance as the renewable energy sector becomes a larger proportion of supply in the Irish and European electricity system, both in relation to the import and export of electricity. Proposed new interconnection developments, aligned with Ireland's growing renewable energy sector, will enable the State to transition from a net importer to a net exporter of electricity.
In July 2023, the government published an ambitious 'National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection'. By 2030, Ireland will have re-established connectivity to mainland Europe through the Celtic Interconnector with France and envisages a further connection to Great Britain. The policy also outlines how the State plans to increase its electricity interconnection capacity by exploring new interconnection opportunities with the continent.
Welcoming the Greenlink Interconnector, Minister O'Brien said:
"I want to congratulate the team at Greenlink for bringing this critical piece of energy infrastructure for Ireland and the UK to life. I want to thank the CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks, who have played a crucial role in the consideration and delivery of this project. I also want to thank our UK and Welsh partners for achieving this milestone, and look forward to future collaboration in this area. This project is a tangible expression of our ever-strengthening energy relationship with the UK, and 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 UK's Energy Minister, Michael Shanks, said:
"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."
Notes
Ireland-UK interconnection route
The Greenlink Interconnector is a 190km-long 500MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine power cable between EirGrid's Great Island substation in County Wexford, Ireland, and National Grid's Pembroke substation in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Ireland's National Policy Statement on Interconnection
In July 2023, the government published a National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection. The policy outlines how a state-directed approach will ensure that interconnection opportunities will include integrated forward planning. This will enable the necessary infrastructure to unlock significant green energy export opportunities.
The key aspects of Ireland’s new policy on electricity interconnection include:
- specifically supporting a further connection to Great Britain by 2030, beyond the completion of the Greenlink interconnector
- to provide consideration to the following further projects: a second connection with France beyond the Celtic Interconnector; a connection to Spain; a further connection to Great Britain beyond 2030 and a connection to Belgium or the Netherlands
- a commitment to develop an Offshore Transmission Strategy and to explore the potential for multipurpose interconnectors in order to maximise export opportunities and facilitate offshore renewable energy development
- the integration of interconnector forward planning with new phases in offshore renewable energy developments, including supporting inputs into proposed Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) at local and regional areas
- consideration will also be given to further interconnection required to support the export of renewable electricity in the context of other uses, such as green hydrogen
About the Greenlink Interconnector
The Greenlink Interconnector is being developed by Greenlink Interconnector Limited, owned by Partners Group on behalf of its clients, and was recognised as a Project of Common Interest (PCI) by the EU. The project represents a significant amount of private capital investment in Ireland and Wales. The project has also been successful in sourcing some funding from the European Union Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).