10 January 2019
Public exhibitions will take place in County Wexford next week (16th and 17th January)
Marks round two of consultation in Ireland for the proposed electricity interconnector
An update on the project will be provided and stakeholders’ views invited
As part of the continuing public consultation on the proposed Greenlink Interconnector, which will connect the electricity grids of Ireland and Great Britain, details have been announced for the second round of public exhibitions in Ireland next week.
Greenlink is one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure projects and brings benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea for energy security, jobs and electricity consumers. The €400m privately-financed project is being developed by Greenlink Interconnector Limited and is planned for commissioning in 2023.
Details of the exhibitions are as follows:
Fethard on Sea: Wednesday 16th January, 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
Duncannon: Thursday 17th January, 16:00 to 20:00 – Star-of-the-Sea Pastoral Centre, Duncannon, Co Wexford Y34 R668
In Ireland, the 200km interconnector is intended to come ashore under the beach at Baginbun Beach in County Wexford and then continue underground to a converter station located near to the existing Great Island substation. A number of cable routes have been assessed and the emerging preferred route will be presented at the exhibitions.
Speaking about the upcoming consultation events, Simon Ludlam, Project Director, said;
“This second round of exhibitions will provide an update for local residents and other stakeholders on the project proposal, including details of the environmental, technical and geophysical surveys currently underway. We have been pleased with the constructive responses received so far, which have allowed us to refine the proposal, and we are keen to seek further feedback on the various options now presented - particularly on the cable routes. We would also like to hear from local businesses that wish to be involved in the project - from civil engineering firms to local bed and breakfasts. Greenlink has the potential to bring significant regional investment and we want to optimise the economic benefits for the area. We 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 & Permitting Manager, Ireland: M: +353 86 0401188 tina.raleigh@greenlink.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).
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. Following public consultation and environmental impact assessment, a planning application is scheduled to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in early Q2 2019, with construction due to commence in 2020. The project is due to be commissioned in 2023.
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