Threat of blackouts if power grid not upgraded

If the upgrade to the national electricity grid is not carried out, the country will face blackouts, Gridlink project manager John Lowry said yesterday.

Mr Lowry says changes in the electricity generation mix and increased use of wind energy means that, unless the grid is urgently upgraded there is a danger of the system collapsing.

His comments come on the same day that a report commissioned by Rethink Pylons argued that the €3.2bn grid upgrade could be avoided if Ireland does not “aggressively focus on wind”.