Warwick Emanuel PR: Press release
Work starts on the electricity connector between Wales and Ireland
2 November 2009
The first phase of work to enable the construction of an undersea electricity connection between Ireland and Wales is due to start today (2nd November 2009).
The East West Interconnector, costing approximately €600 million (£560m), has been planned by EirGrid, the independent electricity transmission system operator in the Republic of Ireland, and is due to be constructed over the next three years.
Investigative and enabling works will now start on parts of the A548 highway, along the proposed route of the underground cables. Work will begin at Greenfield Bridge and continue at other locations including Rockcliffe Tunnel and Aber Road, over a period of several weeks.
Whilst the work is being carried out, traffic management will be in place, including the closing of lanes where necessary, in order to maintain safe traffic flows. Where traffic flow is restricted, traffic light and ‘Stop/Go’ systems will be employed to minimise delays.
Alan McHugh, EirGrid’s East West Interconnector project manager said: “This is a very important first step for us in getting construction of the Interconnector underway. We apologise for any inconvenience the work may cause, and assure people that we will work as quickly as possible to complete this phase of the project.”
The work specifically involves digging trenches in the highway to identify existing underground services and laying plastic pipes called cable ducts, which will be used to pull through the underground cables at a future stage in the project. Once this work has been completed, all the trenches will be filled in and the highway fully reinstated.
In planning this work, EirGrid has liaised with the Highways Department of Flintshire County Council.
When completed the Interconnector will have a capacity of 500MW and will be able to transport power in bulk and high quality in both directions between Ireland and Wales, providing benefits to electricity consumers on both sides of the Irish Sea. It will have the potential to create access to a new market for energy generated in Wales, supporting the energy sector in adapting to meet the challenges posed by climate change and fuel security.
