Written answers

Thursday, 2 April 2015

Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Electricity Transmission Network

Photo of Seán ConlanSeán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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255. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the exact transmission capacity required for the underground Grid West option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13655/15]

Photo of Alex WhiteAlex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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An Independent Expert Panel (IEP) was established in January 2014 to oversee the integrity of the process being undertaken by EirGrid to report on comprehensive, route-specific studies of overhead and underground options for both the Grid Link and Grid West projects. The studies and reports are to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors.

I am advised that EirGrid submitted a report on the Grid West project to the Panel in early February 2015. The report identifies two overhead line options and one underground cable option. These options were also referred to in EirGrid's recently published Strategy. That report was considered by the Panel at its last meeting on 24 February 2015. I understand that the Panel sought further information in respect of certain parts of the report and will be engaging with EirGrid over the coming weeks in that regard. I am advised that the Panel expects to be in a position to provide me with an opinion on the Grid West project in April.

I understand that the minimum capacity required for the Grid West Project is approximately 410MW. This is regardless of whether an underground or overhead solution is selected as most appropriate. The minimum underground high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable available to facilitate this capacity is 500MW, therefore this is the capacity that EirGrid has assessed and brought forward to the Independent Expert Panel for comparison with 220kV overhead line and 400kV overhead line options.

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