Ireland-France link of 700 MW moves to initial design & pre-consultation

The Celtic Interconnector, a roughly 700-MW link between France and Ireland to increase competition and support the expansion of renewables, is entering the Initial Design and Pre-Consultation phase.

The EUR-1-billion (USD 1.1bn) project is studied by Irish state-owned electric power transmission operator EirGrid Plc and France's transmission system operator RTE. Feasibility studies have been completed over the past five years and the two companies agreed on Thursday to move to the next phase.

What follows, over a period of two years, is in-depth economic assessment of the Celtic Interconnector; technical studies and initial technical design specifications; environmental assessment; and pre-consultation in preparation for permitting procedures both in France and Ireland. The phase also includes the assessment of landing points for a subsea cable and grid connection points in the two countries.

Once the Initial Design and Pre-Consultation phase is completed, EirGrid and RTE will have to decide whether to move towards development. If they make a final decision to proceed with construction, the interconnector can go online in 2025.

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