Today, Minister Eamon Ryan announced that he would be introducing new legislation to allow for Eirgrid plc to construct, own, operate and maintain an East/West Electricity Interconnector. This Bill is priority legislation for the Minister and will be placed before the Oireachtas early in the New Year.
The legislation will also include proposals to allow Eirgrid, as the independent transmission system operator, to significantly increase their statutory borrowing limit to fund the project.
Inspecting the marine survey by the MV Meridian high-tech vessel over the Irish Sea today, Minister Ryan said that this legislation highlights Government commitment to the East/West interconnector project and will ensure its completion by 2012 at the latest. This week Eirgrid will launch the bidding process for the design and construction of the interconnector.
Minister Ryan, “When complete, this interconnector will have a capacity of 500 megawatts – the equivalent of power to 350,000 homes. It will assist in our security of supply and provide greater competition in the Irish electricity market. It will integrate Ireland’s electricity system into the wider European market and offer opportunities for export of wind-generated electricity.
Renewable electricity is the power of the future. We need this interconnector to allow companies to invest in wind power, secure in the knowledge that they will have easy access to the wider UK and European markets.
This is yet another step in modernising our electricity system and encouraging renewable energy in Ireland. We are entering a new energy age and the interconnector is a necessary step in this process of major change”.
ENDS
Note for Editors:
EirGrid, overseen by the CER, has already achieved a number of important milestones in the project. Woodland in County Meath has been selected as the connection point for the interconnector on the Irish transmission system. In recent weeks EirGrid has obtained a formal connection offer from the UK National Grid located at Deeside in Wales and has commenced work on a marine survey to determine the most suitable route for the undersea cable.
EirGird plans to conclude the work late 2011 with 2012 targeted for completion of commissioning, testing and the start of commercial operations, with electricity flowing across the Irish Sea.
For further media information, please contact:-
- Brid McGrath, Press Advisor: Office +353 1 678 2440 / Mobile: 087 770 8631
- Lisa Keyes, Press Officer: Office +353 1 678 2441
- Email: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Dlí Nua chun Tús áite a Thabhairt don Idirnascaire Leictreachais as Éirinn chun na Breataine Bige
“Breis Chumhachta, níos mó Inathnuaití, agus Ceangail le Mór-Roinn na hEorpa – an tAire Ó Riain”
Baile Átha Cliath, 20ú Nollaig 2007
D’fhógair an tAire Éamonn Ó Riain inniu go dtabharfaidh sé reachtaíocht nua isteach chun ligint d’EirGrid plc Idirnascaire Leictreachais Soir-Siar a thógáil, é a bheith ina sheilbh aige, é a oibriú agus é a chothabháil. Tabharfaidh an tAire tosaíocht don mBille seo agus leagfaidh sé é ós comhair an Oireachtais go luath san athbhliain.
Cuimseofar, san mBille le bheith, forálacha d’fhonn ligint d’EirGrid ina oibreoir neamhspleách ar an gcóras tarchur dó mór-mhéadú a dhéanamh ar an uas-mhéid airgid ar féidir leis a ghlacadh ar iasacht leis an tionscadal a mhaoiniú.
Inniu agus é ag iniúchadh dó an tsuirbhé a rinne an long MV Meridian feadh an Mhuir Mheann, dúirt an tAire Ó Riain go gcuirfidh an reachtaíocht seo ós comhair an tsaoil cé chomh tugtha atá an rialtas don tionscadal um an Idirnascaire agus cinnteoidh sé go dtabharfar é chun críche faoin 2012 ar a dhéanaí. An tseachtain seo seolfaidh EirGrid an próiseas tairisceana um an idirnascaire a dhearadh agus a thógáil.
Dúirt an tAire Ó Riain: “Ar a chríochnú beidh cumas tarchur 500 Megawatt ag an idirnascaire seo – sin cothrom agus an chumhacht a úsáidfeadh 350,000 teaghlach. Cabhróidh sé linn i mbun sláine an tsoláthair agus bunóidh sé breis iomaíochta i margadh leictreachais na hÉireann. Aontóidh sé córas leictreachais na hÉireann le margadh níos leithne Mhór-roinn na hEorpa agus éascóidh sé deiseanna le leictreachas ginte ón ngaoth a allmhairiú.
“Is é an leictreachas as foinsí inathnuaite cumhacht na todhchaí. Beidh an idirnascaire uainn chun ligint do gnólachtaí infheistiú i gcumhacht na gaoithe agus iad cinnte de go mbeidh rochtain éasca acu ar margaí níos leithne na Ríochta Aontaithe agus na hEorpa.
“Is céim eile ar aghaidh í seo i leith athnuachain an chorais leictreachais againne agus chun spreagadh a thabhairt don bhfuinneamh inathnuaite in Éirinn. Ar thairseach ré nua an fhuinnimh dúinn agus is sain-chuid é an t-idirnascaire de phróiseas mór-athruithe.”
CRÍOCH
Nota d’eagarthóirí:
Tá clocha míle tábhachtacha i leith an tionscadail bainte amach cheana féin ag EirGrid faoi mhaoirseacht an Choimisiúin um Rialáil Fuinnimh. Roghnaíodh Fearann na Coille i gContae na Midhe mar an suíomh don idirnascaire ceangail le córas tarchuir na hÉireann. Seachtainí beaga ó shin fuair EirGrid tairiscint foirmeálta ó Ghréasán Náisiúnta na Ríochta Aontaithe nascadh lena chóras siúd ag Deeside sa mBreatain Bhig agus tá tosnaithe ar an suirbhéireacht mara chun an bealach is oiriúnaí a roghnú don chábla fó-mhara.
Tá i gceist ag EirGrid an obair a chríochnú faoin 2011 agus is é 2012 an sprioc-dháta aige chun coimisiúnú, promhadh agus tosnú ar oibriú tráchtála, chun go mbeidh leictreachas ag sruthlú leis thar an Mhuir Mheann.