Greenlink Interconnector Limited has appointed the former chief executive of ESB, Padraig McManus, to its board.
McManus will take on the role of board director for the company, which is a project to construct a subsea interconnector to link the power markets of Ireland and Great Britain.
Greenlink will use a subsea and underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable system to connect the power markets of Ireland and Great Britain, improving the security of electricity supply in both countries and reducing average electricity costs for consumers. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2020 and is expected to be completed by 2023.
Padraig McManus was Chief Executive of the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Ireland’s state-owned electricity utility, between 2002 and 2011, and in 2010 led the £1bn-plus acquisition of NIE Networks. Most recently, between 2012 and 2017, McManus was Chair of Eir, the telecommunications group.
Angus Norman , Interim Program Director for Greenlink, said:
“ We are delighted to welcome Padraig onto the Greenlink Board. He brings with him a deep knowledge of the Irish electricity market, experience of managing large infrastructure projects and investments in Ireland and abroad, and a great deal of respect across the industry, all of which will be hugely beneficial to the project. Padraig will be a great asset to Greenlink as we approach the major milestones of submitting our planning applications and making plans for construction .”
Padraig McManus said:
“ I look forward to working with the Greenlink team and on a project that will bring significant benefits for both Ireland and the UK – better energy security, regional jobs and investment, and greater integration of low carbon power sources. Consumers will also benefit from greater competition between Irish and UK energy suppliers .”.
Subsea survey work for the project has been completed, procurement for the major construction contracts is under way, and onshore and marine planning applications will be submitted by the end of 2019. The project is expected to have a three-year construction programme, offering local supply chain opportunities and leading to commissioning in 2023.