Consultants to advise on electricity interconnector

THE Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has appointed a team of consultants to advise it on the building of an electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales.

CER said the team would be led by KMPG Corporate Finance, with its offices in Dublin and London advising the agency on the project, which could cost €400 million.

Last year, the Irish and British governments agreed to look into the prospect of constructing two interconnectors across the Irish Sea. These would be capable of generating up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity, equivalent to around 20% of Ireland’s annual energy requirements.

Given the cost involved, the project is likely to involve a mix of public and private finance. The Commission has appointed two engineering firms, MDM Engineers and Fichtner; two legal firms, Philip Lee Solicitors and Denton Wilde Sapte; and Irish firm PA Consulting Group. A number of parties have approached about getting involved in the project.