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• Overview
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East-West Interconnector

EirGrid is building an electricity link called the East-West Interconnector between the electricity grids of Ireland and Britain. The Interconnector will help to ensure Ireland always has enough electricity to meet your needs into the future. It can also be used to export any excess energy that is produced here to markets in Britain.

Read more about the benefits of the new East-West Interconnector.

The connection will be built between the following locations:

• Rush North Beach, Co. Dublin in Ireland
• Barkby Beach, North Wales in Britain.

Read more about the proposed route.

Planning Approval

An Bord Pleanála granted full planning permission to EirGrid in September 2009.

The  full application is available for viewing or download at the dedicated planning application website which is: www.eirgrideastwestinterconnector.ie.

Construction of the interconnector will commence in July. Many thanks to those of you who attended our information days. We look forward to working with you over the coming months.

Project activity & progress

Construction of this project is scheduled to commence mid 2010.

For a project of this size, some disruption to traffic may occur during construction. However we will be working with local authorities and community groups to put traffic plans in place and to resolve any problems that you foresee.

If you have any questions – you can always contact us to add your contact details to receive updates on works happening in your area.

Find out more about activity and progress on this project.

Your health & the environment are protected

When some people hear about this project, they may be concerned about its possible impact on their health - as well as on the environment.

However, there is no need to worry. We are absolutely committed to your safety and to safeguarding the environment at all times.

We follow the results of scientific investigations in relation to health and Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs). No conclusive evidence has been found that such fields are harmful at levels to which you could be exposed. This view is shared by many respected international authoritative organisations, including the World Health Organisation.

The magnetic field surrounding a Direct Current (DC) cable is much like that of the Earth’s own magnetic field. Since the HVDC cable will be buried to a depth of approximately 1 metre, the strongest magnetic field strength will be on the ground directly above it. The field strength will decrease rapidly as you move away from the cable centre line.  

The East West Interconnector will be in full compliance with the most up-to-date international and EU standard power system electric and magnetic field (EMF) exposure guidelines. The exposure guidelines are published by the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and were used as the basis of those adopted by the EU.  

Learn how we are addressing your health concerns and the environmental issues associated with this project.