Ireland-France electricity cable delayed until the end of 2028

Recent fuel protests highlighted the vulnerability of Ireland’s energy security: The initial plan for the Celtic Interconnector to go live this year would have supplied relatively cheap nuclear-powered electricity from France. Picture: EirGrid

The planned commencement this year of Ireland’s first electricity interconnector to mainland Europe has been delayed until the “end of 2028”, it has been confirmed.

The new deadline for the Celtic Interconnector could be further extended as cable operations at sea are dependent on suitable weather conditions, the Government said.

The 500km cable will connect Cork to Brittany, in northern France, and link Ireland into the French electricity grid. It will be Ireland’s first direct energy connection with the EU since Brexit.

The energy cable, a project jointly developed by EirGrid and its French equivalent, Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTÉ), received €530m in EU funding in 2019, and was set to “go live” in 2026.

Delays with the project has continued Ireland’s dependency on imported gas for electricity generation, wholesale prices of which have risen from the Iranian blockade in the Gulf, in retaliation to the US and Israeli war on the country.

The International Energy Agency has estimated that the impact of reduced gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz will last for another two years at least.

Fuel protests highlighted vulnerability

Fuel protests last month highlighted the vulnerability of Ireland’s energy security, when blockades were placed around Ireland's oil refinery at Whitegate and other key ports, preventing the distribution of gas and oil.

If the Celtic Interconnector became operational this year it would have supplied relatively cheap nuclear-powered electricity from France and provided some counter-balance to rising prices of imported gas, upon which Ireland’s electricity generation depends.

As reported in the Irish Examiner last month, and following queries on 16 April from Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford/Wicklow, Malcolm Byrne, the Government was unable to provide clarity on the completion of the Celtic Interconnector.

Last week in the Dáil, Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien gave Roderic O’Gorman, Green Party TD for Dublin West, an update on the infrastructure.

He said that since construction commenced in November 2023, ”strong progress” had been achieved on both converter station sites and onshore cable installations and that land works in Ireland were “expected to be completed in 2026”.

He said marine cable installation began in 2025: 

This project is both significant and complex, operating within a challenging maritime environment heavily influenced by weather conditions.

The minister said there was “slower-than-expected progress” in 2025, adding: “Cable protection operations and more challenging than anticipated sea-bed conditions were given as the main reason for the slow progress. Due to this, Eirgrid has advised that the Celtic Interconnector will be commissioned by the end of 2028.” 

In a separate letter to Mr Byrne, EirGrid confirmed that the new commissioning date for the project is “now expected for Q4 2028”.

The letter, sent in response to the April 16 Dáil debate, added: “Adverse weather conditions could impact this date if marine campaigns cannot be undertaken or completed.” 

It said that around 500 people were currently working in Irish and French waters and that a second marine cable had commenced off France in recent weeks.

EirGrid said three specialist vehicles were currently carrying out subsea cable protection activities along the marine route, which was crucial in protecting the cables once installed.

• Cormac O’Keeffe, Security Correspondent