EirGrid, the Irish company responsible for operating and developing the electricity grid and market, spoke at the National Maritime College of Ireland Seafarers' Conference 2024 today about its plans to connect offshore wind energy to the grid and its ongoing engagement with key stakeholders like fishing and coastal communities.
As part of Ireland's transition to a low-carbon future, EirGrid has been tasked by the government to deliver a plan-led approach for connecting offshore wind to the electricity grid. Michael Mahon, Chief Infrastructure Officer at EirGrid, outlined that this will involve the delivery of grid transmission infrastructure to connect offshore renewable energy resources to points on the south coast.
To achieve this, EirGrid will need to build new electricity substations and associated undersea electricity.