Electricity network set for European link-up

IRELAND’S electricity network could be linked directly to France or Spain as an alternative to having another interconnector with Britain.

Eirgrid, the state-owned transmission system operator, has already announced that work will begin next year on their first inconnector between Ireland and Wales.

The 230km undersea cable from near Ratoath in Co Meath should be completed by 2012 and carry 500MW of electricity, enough to power about 300,000 homes.