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Environment

Protecting your environment is fundamental to how we work.

The environmental impact of this project

The East-West Interconnector will have a positive impact on the environment. For example, it will allow much more clean energy (such as wind) to be supplied to consumers. This means that carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation in both Ireland and Britain can be reduced.

This project requires that a cable be laid onto the seafloor between Ireland and Wales. This cable also needs to be placed underground for some distance on land.

An environmental report for this project was undertaken as part of the planning application. The full planning application documents can be viewed at 

www.eirgrideastwestinterconnector.ie.

Undersea environment

Placing a cable onto the sea bed is not a simple matter of just lowering it into the water. We carried out studies to choose the route with the lowest possible environmental impact.

We have already conducted a detailed study of the Irish Sea to make sure the cable can be placed exactly where required. This survey looked at the suitability of the seabed for such a cable.

We are also employing a fulltime Marine Mammal Observer. This person will make sure no harm is caused to animals such as seals, dolphins or whales during installation.

We are happy to consult with any groups who have concerns about environmental disruption during this project.

Overland environment

When the undersea cable arrives onland it will be placed underground until it reaches its local converter stations. The local converter stations will be located at:

• Woodland, Co. Meath, Ireland.
• Deeside, North Wales.

A converter station is a building that changes electricity transported by the cable into a form that can be used by householders and business.

The cable itself will be installed using a technique called ‘ducting’.

Trenches and 'ducting'

'Ducting' means that - rather than digging one big long trench - the cables will be laid side by side in tubes (called 'ducts') in a trench 1.2 metres underground. This installation procedure will help to minimise disruption to existing roads.

The length of open trenches will be kept to a minimum of between 10 to 50 metres per day (depending on ground conditions). This will also help with traffic management.

The ducting will then be covered in and the open section reinstated and landscaped. The electricity cables will be threaded through the ducts at a later stage.

We promise to take account of peak traffic periods during all cabling works. We will also ensure appropriate traffic management plans are in place.

Underground route

The route of the underground cable is being planned to avoid as many environmentally sensitive places as possible. Where this is not an option, we are working to make sure very little impact occurs.

For example, we will assess areas of archaeological interest in order to bypass them,

Finally, we will also reinstate and landscape all areas that have been affected during construction to return them to their natural state.