Warwick Emanuel PR: Press release

Plans unveiled for Welsh - Irish energy link

6 October 2008

Detailed plans have been unveiled for undersea and underground cables which will link the electricity networks of north Wales and Ireland.

And EirGrid, the independent electricity transmission system operator in the Republic of Ireland which is developing the project, has announced that the undersea cables will come ashore at Barkby Beach in Prestatyn.

The project, known as the East West Interconnector, will provide benefits to electricity consumers on both sides of the Irish Sea and will have the potential to create access to a new market for energy generated in Wales - particularly renewable energy. 

The interconnector will also help secure energy supplies in both countries as it will allow the two way transmission of electricity under the Irish Sea. 

Once ashore, the cables will continue underground to a converter station located in Deeside. Its purpose is to adapt the electricity for transmission across the Irish Sea, and to meet the technical requirements of the UK’s high voltage grid network.  The location of the converter station will soon be finalised and be subject to a planning application.

To reach the converter station, the cables will mainly follow the route of the A548.  The company has liaised with Flintshire County Council over the route to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum. It is intended to be routed around Flint town centre.

EirGrid’s East West Interconnector project director John Fitzgerald said: “We assessed various routes for the interconnector during a comprehensive marine survey and found the route to Barkby Beach to be the most suitable.  This was due to ecological and practical reasons.

“The cables will be buried deep under the beach and will have no visual impact on the coastline. They will continue underground to the converter station.  Protecting public safety and minimising disruption are priorities for us and we have liaised extensively with local authorities during the planning of the project and the route the cables will follow once ashore.”

The interconnector is likely to be approximately 250 km long and will carry 500 megawatts of electricity.  This is the equivalent of supplying power to around 300,000 homes.  Construction work on the interconnector is set to begin, subject to planning consents, in 2009 and is scheduled to be operational by 2012.

Public exhibitions about the project are to be held in Prestatyn and Flint this week to provide people with full details on the project.

Mr Fitzgerald added “Our team will be on hand at the exhibitions to answer any questions people may have regarding the project and I would urge anyone with an interest to come along.” 

The first exhibition will be held at Christ Church Village Hall, High Street, Prestatyn, on Thursday 9th of October.  The second will be on Friday 10th at Flint Leisure Centre.  Both will be held between 2pm and 7pm.


End
 
Notes to editors:
 
•       EirGrid has obtained an interconnector licence to the UK’s Gas and Electricity Markets Authority under Section 6 (1) (e) of the Electricity Act of 1989.

•        EirGrid has worked with leading international engineering consultancy firm JP Kenny as marine advisor for the East-West Electricity Interconnector Project. J P Kenny, part of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC, has worked on major projects of this nature in the past including the gas pipelines from Algeria to Sardinia, Algeria to Italy, and Balearic islands to Spain, as well as the Irish Sea gas interconnectors.
 
•       The interconnector is being developed by EirGrid, working closely with Ireland’s Commission for Energy Regulation, and will be owned by EirGrid following its completion.
 
Enquiries:
 
EirGrid Wales press office on 029 2055 6146