Ireland and France will be connected by a submarine DC power cable

EirGrid reported that the Irish national independent planning body An Bord Pleanála has approved a high-voltage line that it is developing together with the French network operator Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE).

The two network operators intend to build an underwater Celtic Interconnector between Ireland and France. EirGrid applied for project planning in July.

“It was a series of technical assessments, consultations and interactions with the local community that have taken place in previous years. The planning application included a full Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) and a Natura Impact Statement, ”the statement said. “Bord Pleanála appreciated the offer, including landfill in Yugal, cable route, conversion station, network connection and related technologies. The council also held a seven-week period of consultations on the law. ”

The project still needs to obtain a maritime license from the British Maritime Administration. You must also obtain a license from the relevant Irish authorities.

“With these permits, the project is expected to be built and connected by 2026,” EirGrid said.

The European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) energy program is supporting a project with funding of 530 million euros (566.5 million US dollars). If built, the submarine cable will be the first link between the two countries. A 700 MW high-voltage DC submarine power cable is to be laid between the south coast of Ireland and the north-west coast of France.