Taoiseach to switch on €600m interconnector today

The first ever electricity connector between the Republic of Ireland and Britain will be officially opened later today.

The East West Interconnector project, developed by EirGrid, is stationed in Batterstown, Co Meath and will allow electricity to be bought and sold between the two countries.

The East West interconnector, which is around 260 kilometers long, will link the Irish power system to the electricity grid in Britain by undersea and underground cables.

It has the capacity to transfer 500 mega-watts of electricity, which is enough to power 300,000 homes.

The semi-state company Eirgrid developed the project at a cost of around €600m.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be joined by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte at an event in Batterstown in Co Meath later, when the interconnector will be officially switched on.