New electricity circuit set to supercharge the north-west

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning approval for the new North Connacht 110kV Project following an extensive period of consultation and engagement by Eirgrid with communities and other stakeholders in the project area.

The project will create a new circuit in the electricity transmission network in the north-west of Ireland. The new circuit will enhance the network in the area and increase capacity to meet future demands for electricity. It will also connect new renewable energy sources, such as wind power, to help in meeting Climate Action Plan targets.

It comprises a new 110 kV underground electricity cable from Moy substation in Ballina, Co Mayo to the Tonroe substation in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon. It will also include the upgrading and extension of the Moy and Tonroe substations, and an upgrade to the existing 110 kV overhead line between Tonroe and Flagford substations in County Roscommon. There will be no change to the location of the line.

The grant of planning approval is seen by Eirgrid as an important milestone in the transition to a low carbon electricity grid.

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We presented seven different options, including underground and overground solutions, and discussed them with the forum

“At present, a large amount of renewable electricity is generated in Mayo and the surrounding region and more is planned over the coming years,” explains EirGrid chief infrastructure officer Michael Mahon. “We need to improve the electricity network in the region so we can facilitate the future expected flow of power. If we do not do this, there will be no point in building new renewable electricity-generating capacity in the region.”

The project will bring the network to a point where renewables can be transported around Connacht and potentially to the east of the country as well. “The Government’s Climate Action Plan sets out the target to achieve up to 80 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030,” says Mahon, “and this project is an important step in reaching this target. When delivered, it will mean a strengthened network that can support a growing economy and population while improving security of supply in the region.”

Consultation and collaboration have been instrumental in bringing the project to this stage, he notes.

The North Connacht Community Forum was established by Eirgrid in September 2021. The role of the group was to ensure that the voices of the local communities, and those impacted most by the infrastructure, were heard and listened to. It provided a channel for open dialogue between the project team and those with interests in the project.

We will continue to liaise with communities, and would like to thank them and all stakeholders in both Mayo and Roscommon

“We presented seven different options, including underground and overground solutions, and discussed them with the forum,” says Mahon. “The forum has been very helpful in refining different aspects of the final route in terms of crossing rivers, moving through the town of Swinford, and so on. On the back of that public consultation, no public submissions were received by An Bord Pleanála after we sought planning approval.”

Eirgrid has also established a €1.53 million Community Benefit Fund to support the communities in closest proximity to the new transmission infrastructure. The fund will support local good causes, help communities transform their areas, and help to finance sustainable energy projects. The overall aim is to leave a positive legacy in the communities.

Collaboration with other stakeholders has also been important. “We established the HV Infrastructure Forum to facilitate that,” says Mahon. “Along with ourselves, the group includes Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the County and City Management Association (CCMA),the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, the Department of Transport, ESB and the Road Management Office.

We need to improve the electricity network in the region, so we can facilitate the future expected flow of power

“When we utilise the road network for projects, we need to work effectively with organisations like Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the local authorities. The group shows how organisations can come together to define the best pathway for the delivery of future projects. It means that when we submit a planning application everyone is happy with what we are doing.”

The next steps will see the project handed over to ESB Networks, which looks after the construction of electricity infrastructure projects. “We hope to hand it over before Christmas, with construction work commencing in 2024,” Mahon concludes.

“We will continue to liaise with communities, and would like to thank them and all stakeholders in both Mayo and Roscommon who continue to engage with the project team. Without their input at each stage of this project, we would not have been able to reach this point.”