The island of Ireland and Great Britain electricity markets could soon be linked by a new inter-connector capable of supplying power in either direction and reducing the likelihood of outages.
The company behind the £700 million initiative, Transmission Investments, has lodged a transmission licence application with the aim of completing the connection by the end of the decade.
Known as LirIC, it will consist of two convertor stations, one in Northern Ireland and the other in Scotland, with a cable approximately 130 kilometres long linking the two, although the exact length will depend on the exact route it takes.
Potential routes and locations for the stations are currently being studied by Transmission Investments which is developing a similar scheme between England and France. It submitted an application of the Northern Ireland inter-connector to the Northern Ireland Authority for the Utility Regulator on 17 th May 2023.
LirIC said the inter-connector will provide up to 700MW of further capacity between the Irish Integrated Single Energy Market and the GB wholesale electricity market and the application is a marker in the sand.
“The application for a Transmission Licence is an early milestone in a long process, but it‘s significant in that it moves us one stage closer towards delivering this very exciting project,” Keith Morrison, LirIC Project Director, Transmisson Investment said. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those with whom we have had very positive engagement so far, including the relevant government agencies, and the local political parties.
He said the link provides huge security and opportunity for both jurisdictions.
“Over its lifetime, this project will bring real benefits to Northern Ireland, and Great Britain. LirlC will increase the opportunities for home-grown renewables to export power to other markets, reduce the curtailment of wind generators, lower the wholesale power price in wholesale markets, which on average is forecast to be higher in Northern Ireland, as well as deliver social economic welfare benefits.
“This interconnector will help balance out the system so that power can be imported or exported according to market requirements. There’s a long way to go in the process, but we are pleased that we have reached this milestone”.
