A 700MW interconnector project between Ireland and France has secured planning approval.
An Bord Pleanala granted approval for the Celtic Interconnector Project, subject to a number of conditions.
The Celtic Interconnector, due to be completed in 2026, will help integrate the EU energy market by exchanging electricity supplies between Ireland and France as well as enable further integration of renewables capacity to meet climate objectives of affordable, secure and sustainable energy.
The planning application included a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report and Natura Impact Statement.
An Bord Pleanala assessed the proposal, including the landfall in Youghal, cable route, converter station and network connection and associated technologies.
The board also ran a seven-week period of statutory consultation.
A foreshore licence has been submitted for the offshore elements of the project in Ireland, and a marine licence is also required from the UK Marine Management Organisation.
The total length of the HVDC subsea cable between the two countries would therefore be about 575 km, including onshore portions of the cable to the converter station.
Since 2011, EirGrid has been working with its French equivalent Reseau de Transport d’Electricite (RTE) to find the best way to develop the interconnector to benefit electricity customers and markets in Ireland, France and the EU.
The Celtic Interconnector is co-funded by EirGrid and RTE with some co-financing from the EU.
In 2019, €530.7m was awarded from the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to complete the design and delivery of the Celtic Interconnector.