Greenlink Interconnector has been awarded a €3.6-million funding by the European Commission to finance the development of the project.
Greenlink was selected for a grant in the field of trans-European energy infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Energy).
Simon Ludlam , Project Director for Greenlink, welcomed the announcement: “Our success once again in attracting EU funding reflects the importance of Greenlink as a priority energy infrastructure project for Europe. It will bring benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea in terms of increased energy security, decarbonisation and downward pressure on consumer bills.”
Greenlink is a proposed 500 megawatt (MW) subsea and underground cable electricity interconnector between the existing electricity grids in Ireland and Great Britain (GB), allowing for electricity to flow both ways between the two countries. The cable will stretch approximately 200km under the Irish Sea to connect EirGrid’s Great Island substation in County Wexford (Ireland) and National Grid’s Pembroke substation in Pembrokeshire (Wales).
Development of the project is said to be progressing well. Marine surveys began in the summer of 2018 and procurement for the major construction contracts is now under way.