Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 3 related projects in PECWeb
Released December 05, 2023 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Work has started on the first power interconnector between Ireland and France.
The Celtic Interconnector project, which will cost 1.6 billion euro (US$1.76 billion), will run for 575 kilometers (km), connecting the north coast of Brittany in France to the south coast of Ireland. It is being developed by the grid companies, or transmission systems operators (TSOs), of both countries, EirGrid and Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE). The high-voltage, direct-current (HDVC) undersea cable will have a capacity of roughly 700 megawatts (MW), enough to power 450,000 households, and is seen as vital for Ireland's energy security and the shift toward renewables. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy security is now a priority within the European Union (EU) and the Celtic Interconnector is classed as a high-priority energy infrastructure project, or "Project of Common Interest" (PCI). Since 2019, estimated project costs have spiraled upwards by over 70% from the original 930 million euro (US$1 billion) budget. Despite this, last year both developers reaffirmed their commitment to the project, claiming it "has significant benefits at an EU level." It is also being heavily co-funded by the European Commission (EC) to the tune of 530 million euro (US$582 million) from its Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The project is due to be completed in 2026 with integration to the grid expected by 2027.
Ireland's Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan made the announcement with his French counterpart, French Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher. "What we have set out in this declaration makes clear that both Ireland and France will be central to wider European energy plans," Ryan stated. "The commencement of construction on the Celtic Interconnector project marks an important part of our wider energy ambitions. Increased electricity interconnection will be a key enabler in our growing use of renewable energy will also help lower energy prices and play a central role in Ireland's journey to a net zero power system. It will also better integrate European electricity markets, and by using more diversified energy markets, this will improve our electricity security and resilience."
Pannier-Runacher added: "The joint declaration on energy I will sign with my Irish colleague Eamon Ryan will deepen the working relations between our two ministries. I will also be thrilled to inaugurate the Celtic Interconnector, which will increase the security of supply both for Ireland and France and contribute to the decarbonisation of our electricity mixes."
In addition, both countries have expressed their support for a second interconnector if the EU's forthcoming Offshore Network Development Plan, due early next year, calls for additional European connectors to support offshore wind. The EU Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) estimates that its transmission systems and interconnectors will need to be capable of integrating 300 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind generation capacity into the energy system by 2050. Industrial Info is tracking more than 320 transmission and interconnector projects in Europe worth over US$36 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The Celtic Interconnector project, which will cost 1.6 billion euro (US$1.76 billion), will run for 575 kilometers (km), connecting the north coast of Brittany in France to the south coast of Ireland. It is being developed by the grid companies, or transmission systems operators (TSOs), of both countries, EirGrid and Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE). The high-voltage, direct-current (HDVC) undersea cable will have a capacity of roughly 700 megawatts (MW), enough to power 450,000 households, and is seen as vital for Ireland's energy security and the shift toward renewables. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy security is now a priority within the European Union (EU) and the Celtic Interconnector is classed as a high-priority energy infrastructure project, or "Project of Common Interest" (PCI). Since 2019, estimated project costs have spiraled upwards by over 70% from the original 930 million euro (US$1 billion) budget. Despite this, last year both developers reaffirmed their commitment to the project, claiming it "has significant benefits at an EU level." It is also being heavily co-funded by the European Commission (EC) to the tune of 530 million euro (US$582 million) from its Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The project is due to be completed in 2026 with integration to the grid expected by 2027.
Ireland's Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan made the announcement with his French counterpart, French Energy Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher. "What we have set out in this declaration makes clear that both Ireland and France will be central to wider European energy plans," Ryan stated. "The commencement of construction on the Celtic Interconnector project marks an important part of our wider energy ambitions. Increased electricity interconnection will be a key enabler in our growing use of renewable energy will also help lower energy prices and play a central role in Ireland's journey to a net zero power system. It will also better integrate European electricity markets, and by using more diversified energy markets, this will improve our electricity security and resilience."
Pannier-Runacher added: "The joint declaration on energy I will sign with my Irish colleague Eamon Ryan will deepen the working relations between our two ministries. I will also be thrilled to inaugurate the Celtic Interconnector, which will increase the security of supply both for Ireland and France and contribute to the decarbonisation of our electricity mixes."
In addition, both countries have expressed their support for a second interconnector if the EU's forthcoming Offshore Network Development Plan, due early next year, calls for additional European connectors to support offshore wind. The EU Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) estimates that its transmission systems and interconnectors will need to be capable of integrating 300 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind generation capacity into the energy system by 2050. Industrial Info is tracking more than 320 transmission and interconnector projects in Europe worth over US$36 billion in investment. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the report.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
