Eirgrid opens first Cork office

Eirgrid’s first office outside of Dublin will be a base for 2 initiatives, the Celtic Interconnector and a key offshore grid development project, it was recently announced.

An Tánaiste Micheál Martin opened EirGrid’s new office in Penrose Quay in Cork City.

He said: “I am delighted to be here to officially open EirGrid’s new Cork office, which will support the delivery of critical infrastructure across the south of the country that will play an important role in achieving the commitments set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan.”

The Celtic Interconnector will be the first power connection between Ireland and continental Europe. It will travel 575 kilometres from East Cork to the north-west coast of Brittany and will be able to import and export enough electricity to power 450,000 homes. Construction of the interconnector is scheduled to begin next month.

EirGrid will construct new offshore substations as well as the cables and infrastructure linking them to the onshore grid. The substations will connect up to 900 megawatts of electricity from wind turbines delivered by private developers, producing enough electricity to power almost one million homes.

Studies will be carried out into potential locations for the substations, with exact locations to be identified following consultations with the public, local communities and industries.

EirGrid CEO Mark Foley said: “The delivery of an offshore electricity grid is a big step in achieving Ireland’s climate goals.

“Along with providing social and economic opportunities for the region, the targeted placement of electricity substations will help to ensure that our precious offshore renewable resources can be developed in a manner that is most sensitive to the local environment and communities on the south coast,” Mr Foley added.