€600m interconnector shut down

The €600m east-west interconnector project has been completely shut down as workers return to fix problems with the largest single piece of infrastructure completed since the construction of the Ardnacrusha hydroelectric dam in 1929.

The interconnector is a vital piece of infrastructure to link Ireland with the wider European electricity grid and was unveiled with great fanfare by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last September.

The interconnector differs from a standard electricity line due to the ability to transmit electricity in both directions at 500MW capacity.