20 June 2018 - As part of the continuing public consultation on the Greenlink Interconnector, details have been announced of a public exhibition next week (27th June) in County Wexford, Ireland.
Greenlink will stretch approximately 200km under the Irish Sea to connect the electricity transmission networks in Wales and Ireland. It is one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure projects and brings significant benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea for energy security, jobs during construction and operation and for electricity consumers. The €400 million privately-financed project is scheduled for construction in 2020 and commissioning in 2023.
As part of our commitment to an inclusive process of consultation with all stakeholders, we will be holding the following exhibition:
Fethard on Sea: 27th June – 16:00 to 20:00 St Mary’s Hall, Corner of Main Street and Ralph Road,
Fethard on Sea,
New Ross,
Co Wexford Y34 HH58
A further exhibition will take place later in the summer, details of date and location to be announced.
The interconnector will consist of a subsea cable that is intended to come ashore under the beach at either Baginbun Beach or Boyce’s Bay in County Wexford and then continues underground to a converter station located near to the existing Great Island substation. A number of underground cable routes are being assessed.
Speaking about the upcoming public consultation events Simon Ludlam, Project Director, said;
“During the public consultations we will be sharing the details of the project and the surveys we propose to complete to ensure that the final proposal is of the highest standard. We will be asking for feedback on the proposed surveys and cable routes along with listening to any additional issues residents and local stakeholders feel we should be considering. “A large infrastructure project also provides opportunities to local businesses. We will be keen to hear from all local businesses that would like to be involved in the project – from civil engineering firms to local bed and breakfasts.”
Simon Ludlam continued;
“Greenlink is a nationally important infrastructure project but we want to deliver it as a local project – maximising local content and ensuring that the views of local people are fully considered throughout the development process. I encourage residents and other local stakeholders to attend the public exhibitions, come and meet the team and have their say in how the project progresses.”
CONTACTS FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Anna Stanford, Communications Consultant: M: +44 7961 234634 Anna.Stanford@elpower.com
Tina Raleigh, Planning Lead, Ireland: M: +353 86 0401188 D: +353 21 242 7786 tina.raleigh@elpower.com
Notes to Editors:
Greenlink is a proposed 500MW, subsea and underground cable interconnector (with associated converter stations) between the existing electricity grids in Ireland and the UK, operated respectively by EirGrid and National Grid Electricity Transmission. The project will link the Great Island transmission substation in County Wexford (Ireland) and Pembroke transmission substation in Pembrokeshire (Wales). More details at: www.greenlink.ie
Greenlink has key strategic importance, as it will provide significant additional interconnection between Ireland, the UK and continental Europe, contributing to each country’s interconnection objectives, enhancing energy security and enabling the further integration of renewable, low carbon energy sources.
Constructing and commissioning an interconnector requires the completion of a thorough programme of environmental and technical assessment to ensure that the final interconnector design fully considers the environment in which it is built. A planning application is scheduled to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in March 2019, with construction due to commence in 2020. The project is due to be commissioned in 2023.