east–West Interconnector
{{Short description|Power cable connecting Ireland and the UK}}
{{for|a planned natural gas pipeline in Turkmenistan|East–West pipeline}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2010}}
{{Infobox power transmission line
| name = East–West Interconnector
| photo =
| caption =
| map = {{maplink |type=line |frame=yes |plain=yes |frame-align=center |zoom=5}}
| map_caption = Location of Eirgrid East–West Interconnector
| country = United Kingdom, Ireland
| state =
| province =
| coordinates =
| lat =
| long =
| direction = East–West
| start = Shotton, North Wales {{coord|53|13|38|N|3|4|22|W|type:landmark|name=East West Interconnector - Shotton HVDC Static Inverter}}
| through = Irish Sea
| finish = Rush North Beach, County Dublin {{coord|53|28|16|N|6|34|3|W|type:landmark|name=Eirgrid East West Interconnector - Woodland HVDC Static Inverter}}
| par =
| owner =
| partners = EirGrid
| operator =
| cable_manufacturer = ABB
| cable_installer =
| cable_layer =
| substation_manufacturer= ABB
| substation_installer=
| contractors =
| construction = 2010
| expected =
| est = 2012
| decom =
| type = submarine cable
| current_type = HVDC Light
| length_km = 261
| capacity = 500{{nbsp}}MW
| AC_voltage = 400{{nbsp}}kV
| DC_voltage = ±200{{nbsp}}kV
| poles_no =
| circuits_no = 1
}}
The East–West Interconnector is a 500{{nbsp}}MW high-voltage direct current submarine and subsoil power cable from 2012 which connects the Irish and British electricity markets, between Dublin and the Wales/England border. The project was developed by the Irish national grid operator EirGrid.
Aim
The interconnector is aimed to increase competition and security of supply, and better use the capacity of wind energy. The additional capacity headroom provided by the interconnection will assist in reducing the Electricity Supply Board's dominant position in the Irish electricity market. By joining the two markets it will allow Irish suppliers to access power in the British mainland market and for British suppliers to enter the Irish market without initially having to commit to large capital expenditure, significantly reducing barriers to entry. Irish renewable generators will benefit from the interconnection as it will increase their available market and may make it more economically attractive to construct more large scale renewable generation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}
ESB Power Generation announced in 2007 its intention to withdraw approximately 1,300{{nbsp}}MW of capacity by 2010. This would effectively reduce the installed capacity of fully dispatchable plant from 6,437{{nbsp}}MW to 5,150{{nbsp}}MW. This closure of older inefficient power plants, such as a 461{{nbsp}}MW fossil fuel capacity at Poolbeg Generating Station Dublin,http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010398.shtml {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504233500/http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_1010398.shtml |date=4 May 2016 }} Poolbeg Thermal (461MW) (Dublin) (Oil / Gas). Poolbeg comprises two separate plants: the three thermal units (461MW) and the combined cycle gas plant (460MW) which opened in 2000 will remain in operation and coupled with the high growth demand forecasts presented, created a major threat to the security of the Irish electricity grid.
{{cite report
|title = Independent TSO EirGrid Generation Adequacy Report 2007-2013
|publisher = Eirgrid
|date = 1 November 2006
|url = http://www.eirgrid.com/media/Independent%20TSO%20EirGrid%20Generation%20Adequacy%20Report%202007-2013.pdf
|access-date = 21 June 2011
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110815214830/http://www.eirgrid.com/media/Independent%20TSO%20EirGrid%20Generation%20Adequacy%20Report%202007-2013.pdf
|archive-date = 15 August 2011
}}
The interconnection will enhance security of supply and grid stability on both countries and create conditions suitable for the development of a new regional market. The European Commission expressed the view that European electricity markets would benefit from further interconnection investments. The EU Trans-European Networks project has classified the UK{{ndash}}Irish Interconnector as a priority project.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}
Location
At {{convert|262|km|abbr=in}} in length, {{convert|186|km|abbr=in}} of which is beneath the Irish Sea, the East West Interconnector links the electricity transmission grids of Ireland and Great Britain, from converter stations at Portan in Ireland to Shotton in Wales.
History
Studies for the UK{{ndash}}Irish interconnection date back to the 1970s when the Irish Electricity Supply Board first examined the possibility of linking the UK and Irish electricity grids. Further studies were conducted in the early 1990s and a joint study was recently conducted between Electricity Supply Board and National Grid plc with the support of the European Union.
In 2004 the Commission for Energy Regulation on request of the Irish Government sought proposals from the private sector to construct two 500{{nbsp}}MW merchant interconnectors between Ireland and Wales. A private project was established by Imera Power who was contracted to develop two 350{{nbsp}}MW interconnectors through its affiliate East West Cable One Ltd. in 2006.
In 2006 the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, instructed the Commission for Energy Regulation to commence the development of a regulated interconnector of 500{{nbsp}}MW as it was deemed to be critical infrastructure.
Eirgrid commenced work on the East West Interconnector in 2007. It was completed in 2012 and on 20 September 2012 it was inaugurated in Batterstown, County Meath by UK secretary for energy and climate change Ed Davey, Irish prime minister Enda Kenny and European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger.{{cite news |title=Electricity cable links UK and Irish grids |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and-resources/electricity-cable-links-uk-and-irish-grids-1.535103 |date=21 September 2012 |work=The Irish Times |access-date=17 December 2024}}
On 8 September 2016, the interconnector had a fault that occurred during an annual maintenance at the converter station in County Meath. The maintenance was carried out by contractor ABB. The interconnector re-entered service on 20 December 2016 with a fully rated 500{{nbsp}}MW import, however exports to the UK were still limited to roughly 280MW.[http://smartgriddashboard.eirgrid.com/#all/interconnection Eirgrid All Island Interconnection] smartgriddashboard.eirgrid.com {{As of| 2017|6}}, the cable offered full capacity in both directions. In March 2022, following a planned 3 week shutdown, the interconnector remained at below 1% capacity for an ongoing period.
Technical features
The Eirgrid East–West Interconnector has a total length of {{convert|261|km|abbr=in}}, of which {{convert|186|km|abbr=in}} is submarine cable and {{convert|75|km}} is subsoil cable. The link connects converter stations at Rush North Beach, County Dublin, Ireland, and Shotton Converter Station, Deeside, Wales. The interconnection uses ±200{{nbsp}}kV HVDC Light cables with a capacity of 500{{nbsp}}MW. It is the first HVDC Light transmission system project, to use ±200{{nbsp}}kV cables. The cables and converter stations were provided by ABB.
{{cite web
| title = East West Interconnector
| publisher = ABB
| date = 1 December 2009
| url = http://www.abb.com/industries/ap/db0003db004333/a60fb5e59414e817c125774a002f365b.aspx
| access-date = 28 February 2010
| title = East-West Interconnector will move Ireland closer to heart of European electricity sector
| publisher = Commission for Energy Regulation
| date = 29 March 2009
| url = http://www.cer.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=2d6185fc-6f3b-4c7a-8d83-4e3e79cd0245
| format = PDF
| access-date = 28 February 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123124/http://www.cer.ie/GetAttachment.aspx?id=2d6185fc-6f3b-4c7a-8d83-4e3e79cd0245
| archive-date = 21 July 2011
| url-status = dead
}} The project was financed by a €300{{nbsp}}million loan from the European Investment Bank, capital investments from commercial banks, EirGrid equity and a €110{{nbsp}}million grant from the European Commission.{{cite press release
| title = EIB to invest up to €300 Million in EirGrid East West Interconnector
| publisher = European Investment Bank
| date = 28 September 2009
| url = http://www.eirgrid.com/media/EIB%20to%20invest%20up%20to%20300%20Million%20in%20EirGrid%20East%20West%20Interconnector.pdf
| access-date = 28 February 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710173727/http://www.eirgrid.com/media/EIB%20to%20invest%20up%20to%20300%20Million%20in%20EirGrid%20East%20West%20Interconnector.pdf
| archive-date = 10 July 2011
| url-status = dead
}}
East West Cable One project - abandoned proposal
A competing project was undertaken by East West Cable One (EW1), also known as the East West Interconnector. The EW1 cable with a capacity of 350{{nbsp}}MW was to be connected at Arklow substation in County Wicklow and Pentir Substation near Bangor in North Wales. The second cable known as EW2 was a second phase project with a capacity of 350{{ndash}}500{{nbsp}}MW was proposed between Wexford and Pembroke.
Both developments were to be funded by the private sector on commercial basis; their costs would not be recovered by system tariffs for all end users in either UK or Ireland, but rather by the users of the cable, large wholesale energy traders. Corresponding exemption from the third party access rule was granted by the European Commission on 23 November 2009 for 25{{nbsp}}years for phase one and 20{{nbsp}}years for phase two.
{{cite news
| url = http://tdworld.com/projects_in_progress/announcements/eu-imera-exemption-1109/
| title = European Commission Grants Imera EU Exemption for East West Interconnectors
| work = Transmission & Distribution World
| publisher = Penton Media, Inc.
| date = 23 November 2009
| access-date = 28 February 2010}}
Since 2016, the associated websites for these projects have been mothballed.
Eirgrid Interconnector sites
{{GeoGroup|section=Eirgrid Interconnector sites}}
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Site ! class="unsortable" |Coordinates | |
| Shotton static inverter plant | {{coord|53|13|38|N|3|4|22|W|type:landmark|name=East West Interconnector - Shotton HVDC Static Inverter}} |
| Cable enters sea | {{coord|53|20|41|N|3|24|8|W|type:landmark|name=Cable enters sea}} |
| Cable leaves sea | {{coord|53|31|29|N|6|4|56|W|type:landmark|name=Cable leaves sea}} |
| Woodland HVDC static inverter | {{coord|53|28|16|N|6|34|3|W|type:landmark|name=East West Interconnector - Woodland HVDC Static Inverter}} |
See also
{{Portal|the United Kingdom|Ireland|Energy}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071019001123/http://www.eastwestinterconnector.ie/page2/page2.html Imera Power East–West Interconnector]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110115230330/http://www.eirgridprojects.com/projects/east-westinterconnector/map/east-westinterconnector/ Way of the cable]
{{Energy in the United Kingdom|sources}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:East-West Interconnector}}
Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from Great Britain
Category:Electrical interconnectors to and from the island of Ireland
Category:Electric power infrastructure in Wales
Category:Electric power infrastructure in the Republic of Ireland
Category:Ireland–United Kingdom relations
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 2012