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.

Results of Ireland’s first offshore renewable energy auction are expected to be published by EirGrid on Thursday (May 11).

The offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction invites developers of renewable energy projects to compete for contracts providing electricity at a guaranteed price.

Offshore’s first RESS involves the seven offshore wind projects which were fast-tracked for marine area consents (MAC) last year – six in the Irish Sea and one the Sceirde rocks projects, in north Galway Bay.

The system is similar to the two onshore auctions which have taken place to date - RESS 1 in 2020 and RESS 2 in 2022, with a third due this summer.

Once companies are happy with the contract terms, they are obliged to apply for planning permission.

Offshore planning is being handled by the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA).

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected the description of Ireland as a “laggard” in offshore wind energy.

He was responding to a University College Cork (UCC) report criticising what it identified as a lack of Government support for the offshore renewable sector.

The report, entitled “Innovation, Networking and Policy in the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector”, was compiled by the Cork University Business School in UCC.

It identified the main barriers for Irish companies in the sector as bureaucracy and regulation, insufficient support and engagement by government, along with a lack of funding.

Scientists, environmental and fishing representatives believe more research is required to measure the impact on marine habitats of offshore wind structures.

Planning permission has been granted for the East Cork landfall segment of the €1bn Celtic Interconnector power link between Ireland and France, according to RTÉ News.

The 500km subsea cable, a joint project of EirGrid and France’s Réseau de Transport d’Electricité, will be the first direct energy link between the two countries, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Following a public consultation three years ago, a site at Youghal was chosen for the landfall section at the Irish end.

Approval by An Bord Pleanála covers the cable plus associated infrastructure such as that for power conversion and connection to the national grid.

Pending the granting of a foreshore licence for offshore developments, as well as a marine licence from UK authorities for the cable route, it’s expected the Celtic Interconnector could be activated by 2026.

RTÉ News has more on the story HERE.

The State’s electricity transmission grid operator EirGrid has opened a two-month consultation on proposed south coast landfall and converter station locations for its electricity link between France and Ireland writes Lorna Siggins.

The Celtic Interconnector will be the first direct energy link between Ireland and France, running some 500 km under the sea from east Cork to the French north-west coast. A further 40 km of underground cable will be laid on land.

The project is being jointly developed by EirGrid and Réseau de Transport d'Électricité, the French electricity transmission system operator, with a target completion date of 2026.

Eirgrid is seeking the public’s reaction to a shortlist of three proposed landfall locations, and a shortlist of six proposed location zones for a converter station in east Cork.

The convertor station converts direct current electricity to alternating current and vice versa.

It has scheduled a series of public information days in east Cork between April 23rd and May 3rd (see list below).

The state-owned company says that the link will “put downward pressure” on the cost of electricity, while improving security of supply, providing a direct fibre optic telecommunications link, and facilitating further development of renewable sources.

A previous consultation round had confirmed east Cork as the most suitable location in Ireland for the project, which will have a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW).

Eirgrid says this capacity is enough to power 450,000 households, and the cable will allow both the import and export of electricity.

Eirgrid says that the proposed shortlisted landfall locations - Ballinwilling strand, Redbarn beach, and Claycastle beach – between Ballycotton and Youghal in east Cork were selected from a list of five.

The proposed shortlisted sites for the converter station are in Ballyadam, Leamlara, Knockraha, Pigeon Hill, Kilquane and Ballyvatta - all inland and north of Cobh - and these locations were selected from a list of 14 options, it says.

Eirgrid says that each location was assessed against five criteria; economic, technical, environmental, socioeconomic and deliverability.

EirGrid is encouraging communities and stakeholders to “share their feedback” on the proposed shortlists.

“The shortlists are provisional. Feedback from communities, local representatives, and other stakeholders will be critical to ensuring that we can assess each option fully and make informed decisions when confirming the shortlists,” Eirgrid spokeswoman Louise Glennon states.

Stakeholders, communities and members of the public are invited to respond by Monday, June 10th, by online, by email, by phone, in writing or by attending one of a number of information days in east Cork, as below:

Lisgoold Community Centre - Tuesday 23 April - 2pm – 8pm

Knockraha Community Centre - Wednesday 24 April - 2pm – 8 pm

Carrigtwohill Community Centre - Tuesday 30 April - 6pm – 9pm

Midleton Park Hotel - Wednesday 1 May - 2pm – 8pm

Cloyne Parochial Hall - Thursday 2 May - 6pm – 9pm

Walter Raleigh Hotel, Youghal - Friday 3 May - 2pm – 8pm