Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan TD today published the independent Study on the Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines Versus Underground Cables.
The Study was initiated in February of this year following calls from deputies from all sides of the house, particularly those members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for an independent study to consider the issues involved with both types of transmission infrastructure.
The study was conducted by international consultants Ecofys and Golder Associates, a global group specialising in ground engineering and environmental services, in partnership with an expert in underground cable technology.
A total of 522 submissions were received and reviewed by the consultants undertaking the report. Current international practice and two hypothetical case studies with route lengths of 100 km and 50 km were examined.
The study examined electricity transmission technoloies, comparisons of technical and economic characteristics, environmental and health impacts, policy implications and costs. The study was not project specific and was designed to inform decisions on transmission infrastructure generally.
The key findings of the study are as follows:
- Increasing pressure internationally has become an important driver for underground cables as an alternative. The technology for underground cables at high voltages is continuing to develop.
- International experience of laying such cables over long distances is limited and the majority of existing projects do not represent transmission connections in conventional networks such as we have in Ireland
- Underground cables can be expected to have forced outage rates which are at least 10 times greater than that of overhead lines.
- Underground cables are therefore severely limited in terms of transmission adequacy and are not equivalent to overhead lines in terms of security of electricity supply
- Work undertaken on the two case studies suggest that the capital cost of constructing underground cables would be approximately 5 times greater than the cost of overhead lines and 3 times the lifecycle costs
- Exposure to magnetic fields may be higher directly above an underground cable than under overhead lines. Additional measures can reduce the magnetic field for both options.
- Ireland designs and operates transmission assets in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. In Ireland magnetic field exposure directly under a transmission line is generally 80-90% lower than the maximum levels recommended in the WHO guidelines.
- Both overhead and underground options have environmental impacts
|Minister Ryan said, “The Study demonstrates that decisions on these kinds of projects need to take a wide range of complex technical, economic, environmental and other considerations into account. My Department will now arrange for the consultants to present their findings to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The Study was commissioned in order to provde an accurate and independent set of facts regarding the technical, environmental, health and cost implications of overhead lines relative to underground cables. This report provides these facts. I am confident that this Study will assist all interested parties in current and future transmission projects”.
-ENDS-
The full report can be viewed at: http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Energy/Independent+Study+on+Electricity+Transmission+Infrastructure.htm
For further information, please contact:
Press Office
Department of Communications, Energy &
Natural Resources
T: 678 2441
E.mail: press.office@dcenr.gov.ie
Staidéar Neamhspleách arna Fhoilsiú um Bhonneagar Tarchur Leictreachais
Baile Átha Cliath, 9ú Iúil 2008
D’fhoilsigh an tAire Cumarsáide, Fuinnimh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha Éamonn Ó Riain T.D. an Staidéar neamhspleách inniu um Bhuanna Coibhneasta Línte Tarchur Leictreachais ós ár gCinn seachas Cáblaí faoi Thalamh.
Seoladh an staidéar i bhFeabhra na bliana seo de thoradh glaonna ó theachtaí ar gach taobh den Tigh, go mór mór baill Chomhchoiste an Oireachtais um Chumarsáid, Fhuinneamh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha, go ndéanfaí staidéar neamhspleách ar na ceisteanna a bhaineann leis an dá chineál de bhonneagar tarchuir.
Na comhairlithe idirnáisiúnta Ecofys agus Golders Associates, grúpa domhanda a bhfuil saineolas acu in innealtóireacht talmhain agus seirbhísí comhshaoil, i bpáirt le saineolaí um theicneolaíocht na gcáblaí fo-thalamh a bhí i mbun an staidéir.
Fuarthas 522 aighneachtaí in iomlán a bhreithníodh ag na comhairlithe a bhí i mbun an staidéir. Rinneadh iniúchadh ar chleachtas idirnáisiúnta an lae inniu agus ar dhá chás-staidéar a cheapadh agus rian-fhad 100 km agus 50 km orthu.
Le linn an staidéir iniúchadh teicneolaíochtaí tarchur leictreachais, comparáid idir saintréithe teicniúla agus eacnamaíocha, tionchar ar an gcomhshaol agus ar an sláinte, impleachtaí don mbeartas agus costais. Níor díríodh an staidéar ar aon tionscadal áirithe ann féin agus dearadh é chun lucht na gcinnte um bonneagar tarchuir go ginearálta a oiliúint.
Is iad príomh torthaí an staidéir a leanas:
- Ar fud an domhain tá brú sa bhreis ann go mbeadh cáblaí fo-thalamh ann mar mhalairt ar línte ós ár gcinn. Tá teicneolaíocht na gcáblaí fo-thalamh ar ard-voltas á forbairt agus á forbairt.
- Is beag an taithí ar fud an domhain a leithéad de cháblaí a leagadh ar riain fhada agus ní bhaineanna formhór na dtionscadal atá ann faoi láthair le tarchur i ngréasáin comhghnásacha mar atá againn in Éirinn.
- Bheifear ag súil le 10 n-oiread na n-éartha seirbhíse éigeantacha ag cáblaí fo-thalamh seachas ag línte ós ár gcinn.
- Baineann dian-teorannú le cáblaí fo-thalamh ó thaobh leorgacht tarchuir mar sin agus ní hionann iad agus línte ós ár gcinn i leith sláine an tsoláthar leictreachais.
- Léiríonn an dá chás-staidéar go mbeadh costais na gcáblaí fo-thalamh thart ar 5 uair chostais caipitil na línte ós ár gcinn a thógáil agus trí uair na gcostas saolré.
- B’fhéidir gur mó a nochtfar an duine do réimsí maighnéadacha díreach os cionn cábla fo-thalamh ná faoi línte ós ár gcinn. Féadtar beart a imirt leis an réimse maighnéadach a laghdú san dá chás.
- Deartar agus oibrítear acmhainn tarchuir na hÉireann de réir treoirlínte Eagras Sláinte Domhanda na Náisiún Aontaithe (ESD). De ghnáth in Éirinn bíonn an nochtadh do réimse maighnéadach faoi líne tarchuir 80-90% níos ísle ná na huas-leibhéil a mholtar i treoirlínte an ESD.
- Bíonn tionchar araon ar an gcomhshaol ag an dá rogha, faoi thalamh nó ós cionn.
Arsa an tAire Ó Riain: “Léiríonn an Staidéar gur ghá réimse fairsing de cheisteanna casta teicniúla, eacnamaíocha, comhshaoil agus eile a thógáil faoi chaibidil agus cinnte dá leithead seo á ndéanamh. Déanfar socraithe anois san Roinn agamsa chun go gcuirfidh na comhairlithe a dtorthaí i láthair Chomhchoiste an Oireachtais um Chumarsáid, Fhuinneamh agus Acmhainní Nádúrtha.
“Coimisiúnaíodh an staidéar chun tacar fíoras cruinn neamhspleách a sholáthair i leith na n-impleachtaí teicniúla, eacnamaíocha, um chomhshaoil agus um chostais a bhaineann le línte ós ár gcinn i gcoibhneas le cáblaí fo-thalamh. Léirítear na fíorais áirithe san tuarascáil seo. Táim cinnte go gcuideoidh an staidéar seo leis na páirtithe go léir sna tionscadail tarchuir atá ann faoi láthair agus iad siúd a bheidh ann amach anseo.”
CRÍOCH
Ta an tuarascáil iomlán le feiscint (i mBéarla amháin) ar
http://www.dcmnr.gov.ie/Energy/Independent+Study+on+Electricity+Transmission+Infrastructure.htm