EirGrid expands in Cork with plans to hire a new Head of Connection Projects for southern region
EirGrid is hiring a new Head of Connection Projects for the southern region, based in its Cork office which opened in 2023.
Ireland’s southern region is to play a critical part in the country’s transition to a low-carbon energy future, with a series of major projects being powered up by EirGrid over the next few years.
This includes the Celtic Interconnector, providing a direct connection between the electricity grids of Ireland and continental Europe for the very first time, as well as the linking of offshore renewable energy to the south coast as part of Ireland’s new plan-led system.
This pioneering programme of grid developments for the southern region will form a crucial contribution towards the country achieving its climate goals, while in the process safeguarding our energy security for future generations.
In a signal of its commitment to this ambitious vision for the region, EirGrid is hiring a new Head of Connection Projects for the southern region in its Cork office which opened in 2023.
The holder of this new post will be responsible for end-to-end delivery of all grid projects required to facilitate new connections in the region. They will have responsibility for building the team in Cork and will be supported by a wider team who will provide vital assistance in delivering this programme.
Commenting on EirGrid’s ambition for the region, EirGrid Chief Infrastructure Officer, Michael Mahon, said: “Our role as the national grid operator is building towards the goal of 80% of our electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030, as set out by Government.
“To do this we will need to connect 9 gigawatts (GW) of onshore wind, as well as 8GW of solar and a further 5GW of offshore wind energy. All of this will require an unprecedented programme of grid upgrades, reinforcements and new infrastructure right across the country so that clean electricity produced from renewables can be reliably brought to where it’s needed.
“The southern region has always played an important role in Ireland’s energy system, and this will increasingly be the case in the years to come as the renewable transition gathers pace.
“This importance is reflected in the Projects of Common Interest status awarded to the Celtic Interconnector by the EU, which recognises the most critical energy infrastructure projects across the continent. Due to be completed by 2026 by EirGrid and our French counterparts RTÉ (Réseau de Transport d’Électricité), the Celtic Interconnector will allow for the exchange of electricity across 575 kilometres between the grids of France and Ireland, providing enough power for up to 450,000 homes when needed.
“Our new Head of Connection Projects for the southern region will have the opportunity to help shape the approach we take to delivering on our goals, building an expert team that will enable us to achieve key milestones in the years ahead.
“This is an exciting time for everyone who is invested in seeing a renewable energy future for Ireland, which is important for everyone, and we’re keen to make sure that communities across the country can benefit from the opportunities presented to us by this transition.”
EirGrid’s 'Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap' outlines the approach the grid operator is taking to transform Ireland’s electricity system to enable it to use the ever-greater amounts of renewable energy becoming available.
This involves connecting sources of renewable generation such as wind and solar which are often in remote locations, and making this energy available for use by people across the country.
At the moment we have developed the capability to use up to 75% electricity from renewable sources at any given time (what is known as the System Non-Synchronous Penetration limit), but as more and more renewable energy becomes available EirGrid is seeking to further increase this limit.
The coming years will see even further interconnection with grids in other countries to allow greater amounts of power to be shared where it is needed when renewable production is high.
Alongside this, plans are being developed to enable access to the huge renewable energy resource that Ireland has in its offshore area, with the south coast representing a valuable gateway to the resources and connections that will power a renewable future.
