Government proposes new electricity interconnector between Ireland and Spain

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien said the Government would have to examine possible locations where the interconnector could land in Ireland

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien has said work is ongoing to agree a memorandum of understanding with Spain. Picture: Collins Photo Agency

The Government is proposing the creation of a new electricity interconnector between Ireland and Spain, which is expected to be operational in the mid-2030s.

Energy minister Darragh O’Brien has said work is ongoing to agree a memorandum of understanding with Spain next April or May that would allow for the construction of such an interconnector.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr O’Brien said the Government would have to examine possible locations where the interconnector could land in Ireland.

“What we want to ensure is that, from an energy security perspective, [is] that we have different sources of energy too,” Mr O’Brien said.

Mr O’Brien said the project is currently in its very early stages, adding that the Government would need to continue talking to its Spanish counterparts.

“Those talks have been going very well. We want to conclude the MOU [memorandum of understanding]. Maybe to put it in context of the Celtic Interconnector will be electrified in 2027, this is a 2030s project.

“It would have to go through the normal planning consents that we have in place. Timeframe-wise, obviously it’s difficult to be exact upon it, but we’d be looking at mid-2030s.” 

The Celtic Interconnector project, which would connect the grids between Ireland and France, is currently underway. The cable laying process for the project began in August of this year.