Third interconnector ‘will save €30m’

IT MAKES economic sense for Ireland to build a third electricity interconnector as savings of up to €30 million could be made by the investment, according to Eirgrid.

A third interconnector will also be required if we want to become a net exporter of wind energy.

An interconnector is a pipeline that runs between countries and allows them to import and export electricity as required.

Eirgrid, the country’s transmission system operator (TSO), say Ireland’s second interconnector, which is being built between Ireland and Wales will bring production and cost savings of about €50m-€75m in 2025 while a potential third interconnector with France, a country with excess electricity generation and is linked to grids of surrounding countries, could save another €25m.

Our second interconnector, with capacity of 500MW, is due to go live in 2012. The 400MW Moyle Interconnector, which connects the electricity grids of the North and Scotland, accounts for 10% of peak winter electrical demand.

EirGrid published yesterday’s report in response to the Government White Paper Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland.

The Interconnection Economic Feasibility Report finds that interconnection will be more economically attractive in the future when there is more renewable energy being produced here.

“An increase in the number of interconnectors give us increased security of electricity supply, increased competitiveness, reduced production costs and an ability to integrate greater quantities of renewable generation resources,” said chief executive Dermot Byrne.

At present, wind production has to be regularly curtailed if it is a particularly windy day as the current system can’t cope. With additional interconnectors, that additional wind could be exported.

EirGrid is planning to produce a work programme to develop detailed costs and investigate the technical feasibility of different interconnector options and routes.