Released September 16, 2009 | TAUNTON, UNITED KINGDOM
en
Researched by Protel Associates Limited in alliance with Industrial Info Europe (Galway, Ireland)--Irish state-controlled grid operator EirGrid (Dublin) has received permission to build a power-converting station in Shotton, near Deeside in the northern region of Wales. The electricity converter will transform power, making it suitable for undersea transmission. The undersea cables will connect County Meath in Ireland with Deeside in Wales. The station will also be able to convert electricity to meet the United Kingdom's high-voltage requirement.
The transmission cables will carry electricity in both directions to Ireland and Britain. EirGrid is expected to begin preliminary work later this year. The transmission link will consist of 70 kilometers of underground and 186 kilometers of undersea cables. The project, which is expected to benefit both countries by providing a reliable energy supply, will also open markets for energy produced in Ireland. Energy experts believe that the electricity interconnection will also bolster Ireland's renewable energy potential.
EirGrid is developing the east-west interconnector connecting Britain and Ireland. The interconnect points will be at Barkby Beach in northern Wales and Rush North Beach near Dublin. The 500-megawatt (MW) link, which will be able to provide electricity to about 350,000 households, is expected to begin operation by 2012.
Recently, EirGrid awarded a contract valued at $550 million to ABB Limited (NYSE:ABB) (Zurich, Switzerland) to design and supply transmission equipment for this project. The system, which is based on high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) light technology, is expected to provide tremendous environmental benefits. The technology, which consists of oil-free cables, neutral electromagnetic fields, and compact converter systems, reduces electrical losses. The unit also contains a "black-start" feature, allowing the network to restore electricity after an outage without the aid of external power sources. For details, view April 3, 2009, article - ABB Secures $550 Million HVDC Transmission System Order for U.K.-Ireland Power Interconnector.
Industry experts have observed that the Ireland-Britain interconnector will also play an important role in linking the renewable energy sources to the national grids. There are several power projects, including windfarms and biomass projects in Wales, which are expected to benefit from this link. Dong Energy A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark) is building the 800-MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Severn power plant at a cost of $663 million in Uskmouth. In March this year, Dong Energy acquired the project from Carron Energy (Cardiff, Wales). The power station will have two power generators with a heat recovery system.
Recently, RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany) completed the construction of the Rhyl Flats windfarm, consisting of 25 wind turbines, located five miles from the cost of north Wales. The project, which is ready for operation, can power about 61,000 homes.
Alstom SA (EPA:ALO) (Levallois-Perret, Paris) secured a $1.65 billion order from RWE AG to design and build a gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The project, constructed with five GT26 Alstom turbines, will have a total installed power-generating capacity of about 2,000 MW. Electricity produced at this plant will be able to provide power to about 3 million households.
Irish fuel supplier Ecopellets (Bandon) is proposing to invest 110 million euros ($160 million) to set up biomass and windfarm facilities in Wales. Together, these plants will be able to generate about 40 MW of power, which will provide electricity to 50,000 homes in the region.
Interconnectors have become an integral part of the energy infrastructure in Europe. This technology is gaining popularity as it not only provides a stable and sustained energy supply, but also greatly improves the quality. Some of the other proposed interconnectors include:
Cognizant of the importance and future of interconnectors in the region's energy grid, the European Union identified 42 projects under the 'priority interconnector' scheme in 2007. In July this year, the member governments of the E.U. agreed to fund 2.35 billion euros ($3.44 billion) for 27 gas and power interconnector projects. Of these, some of the critical projects include the North-South gas and electricity link for central and southeastern Europe, the interconnector for the Baltic region, the energy ring linking the Mediterranean region with Europe, and the North Sea offshore link.
View Project Report - 078000207 078000344 078000357
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.
The transmission cables will carry electricity in both directions to Ireland and Britain. EirGrid is expected to begin preliminary work later this year. The transmission link will consist of 70 kilometers of underground and 186 kilometers of undersea cables. The project, which is expected to benefit both countries by providing a reliable energy supply, will also open markets for energy produced in Ireland. Energy experts believe that the electricity interconnection will also bolster Ireland's renewable energy potential.
EirGrid is developing the east-west interconnector connecting Britain and Ireland. The interconnect points will be at Barkby Beach in northern Wales and Rush North Beach near Dublin. The 500-megawatt (MW) link, which will be able to provide electricity to about 350,000 households, is expected to begin operation by 2012.
Recently, EirGrid awarded a contract valued at $550 million to ABB Limited (NYSE:ABB) (Zurich, Switzerland) to design and supply transmission equipment for this project. The system, which is based on high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) light technology, is expected to provide tremendous environmental benefits. The technology, which consists of oil-free cables, neutral electromagnetic fields, and compact converter systems, reduces electrical losses. The unit also contains a "black-start" feature, allowing the network to restore electricity after an outage without the aid of external power sources. For details, view April 3, 2009, article - ABB Secures $550 Million HVDC Transmission System Order for U.K.-Ireland Power Interconnector.
Industry experts have observed that the Ireland-Britain interconnector will also play an important role in linking the renewable energy sources to the national grids. There are several power projects, including windfarms and biomass projects in Wales, which are expected to benefit from this link. Dong Energy A/S (Copenhagen, Denmark) is building the 800-MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) Severn power plant at a cost of $663 million in Uskmouth. In March this year, Dong Energy acquired the project from Carron Energy (Cardiff, Wales). The power station will have two power generators with a heat recovery system.
Recently, RWE AG (OTC:RWEOY) (Essen, Germany) completed the construction of the Rhyl Flats windfarm, consisting of 25 wind turbines, located five miles from the cost of north Wales. The project, which is ready for operation, can power about 61,000 homes.
Alstom SA (EPA:ALO) (Levallois-Perret, Paris) secured a $1.65 billion order from RWE AG to design and build a gas-fired combined-cycle power plant in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The project, constructed with five GT26 Alstom turbines, will have a total installed power-generating capacity of about 2,000 MW. Electricity produced at this plant will be able to provide power to about 3 million households.
Irish fuel supplier Ecopellets (Bandon) is proposing to invest 110 million euros ($160 million) to set up biomass and windfarm facilities in Wales. Together, these plants will be able to generate about 40 MW of power, which will provide electricity to 50,000 homes in the region.
Interconnectors have become an integral part of the energy infrastructure in Europe. This technology is gaining popularity as it not only provides a stable and sustained energy supply, but also greatly improves the quality. Some of the other proposed interconnectors include:
- France-Belgium-Germany-Netherlands link
- France-Portugal-Spain link
- Northern Continental Europe-U.K. link
- France, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Austria linked with Italy
- Baltic nations linked with Greece
Cognizant of the importance and future of interconnectors in the region's energy grid, the European Union identified 42 projects under the 'priority interconnector' scheme in 2007. In July this year, the member governments of the E.U. agreed to fund 2.35 billion euros ($3.44 billion) for 27 gas and power interconnector projects. Of these, some of the critical projects include the North-South gas and electricity link for central and southeastern Europe, the interconnector for the Baltic region, the energy ring linking the Mediterranean region with Europe, and the North Sea offshore link.
View Project Report - 078000207 078000344 078000357
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.
