GridWest project will not benefit Mayo

There is a belief, seemingly shared by An Taoiseach, that the 400kV GridWest project proposed by Eirgrid, aka ESB national grid, will bring much-needed electrical power to Co Mayo.

It will not.

While the lines are to be connected to the existing grid node at Flagford, Co Leitrim, they will not be connected to any existing grid node in Mayo, as part of the GridWest or Grid25 projects.

Any such connection will require a separate project, budget, and planning permission.

The Eirgrid report, prepared by Tobin Consulting Engineers, highlights the severe constraints in even connecting the proposed 400kV Moygownagh sub-station to the existing grid in Mayo.

The function of the 400kV grid will be the export from Mayo of vast amounts of wind-generated electricity, 95% of which will be produced by the vast ESB/Bord na Móna/Coillte wind-farm project at Oweninny/Cluddaun.

The new grid will not reduce risk, nor increase security of supply for existing electricity users in Mayo.

It will not be capable of delivering power to Mayo.

It will not incentivise any new industry to set up shop in Mayo.

GridWest/Oweninny/Cluddaun is a government project being put in place for benefit the 12,000 or so extremely well-paid semi-civil servants employed by ESB, Bord na Móna, Coillte and Eirgrid.

Contrary to what An Taoiseach has claimed, there is nothing “vital” in this project for the people of Mayo.

Dermot McDonnell

Castlebar

Co Mayo