Regional Assembly Reviews Electricity Grid Upgrade Plans for Ireland

The BMW Regional Assembly reviewed EirGrid’s plans to upgrade the national electricity transmission network at their meeting on Friday last, in Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon.  The meeting was addressed by Mr. Aidan Corcoran, Senior Transmission Manager with responsibility for the ‘Grid 25’ Programme, EirGrid’s grid development strategy.
Mr. Corcoran presented the current electricity transmission system and highlighted a number of areas where reinforcements, upgrades and new lines were required.  Mr. Corcoran stated that the grid upgrade was essential in order to support reliability and security of supply, to make better use of Ireland’s considerable renewable energy resources, to increase connectivity to the UK and European grids and to support the further development of Ireland’s economy.   Mr. Corcoran informed the meeting that there were several challenges to be overcome in enabling Ireland to reach the ambitious target of 40% electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020, with an envisaged target of 15% being met by end 2010,   and the current transmission system needed to be upgraded for this purpose. He outlined that Ireland relies on natural gas for 55% of its electricity generation fuel  and  added  that it was not sustainable to maintain these levels..
Members of the Assembly raised several concerns in relation to plans for a number of  new high voltage transmission pylon lines in the Region.  Concerns were also in raised in relation to electro-magnetic radiation emissions and the absence of a clear national policy in this area.  Alternative methods were suggested including the use of DC power systems or the running of transmission lines under-water around the coast, was proposed.  However, Mr. Corcoran stated that under-water cables did not obviate the need for over-land transmission.

Several members proposed that the transmission lines should be placed underground due to the unsightly visual impacts of the transmission lines and growing public opposition, including among the landowners affected. It was emphasised  that a  small but increasing proportion of power lines are being installed underground in other EU Member States.  Mr. Corcoran acknowledged that public acceptability of high voltage power lines was in decline, but stated that overhead lines are preferable from a technical, operational, security and efficiency perspective. He stated that EirGrid was not opposed to the undergrounding of cables where this was considered most appropriate. It was stated by a member of the Assembly that an opportunity to run power lines underground on the margins of new motorways had been missed.
Further specific concerns were raised by Members in relation to the public consultation that was undertaken for the proposed new North South Interconnector line to link in with the Northern Ireland Electricity network and the need for EirGrid to lodge a new planning application for this.  Concerns were also raised in relation to a planned new sub-station in Co. Laois with potentially a large number of lines to be connected to this.