• Security Of Supply
• Promote Competition in The Electricity Sector
• Accommodate Growth Of Renewable Energy
• Reduce Dependence on Imported Fuels
• Downward Pressure on Price
• Achievement of National and European
Objectives

•
Key Strategic Project
•
• Priority Interconnector Project - DG TREN January 2007
‘Critical National Strategic Importance..’ – NDP 2007-2013
•
CER to arrange for design of competition for construction of a
500MW interconnector at earliest possible date ( 2012 or earlier)
•
Upon completion, I/C to be owned and operated by EirGrid
•
Work on selection of sub sea route and sites and associated grid reinforcement to proceed in parallel with selection of developer process

•Irish Land Cable Route – Approx 45km
•Connects To UK Grid At Deeside 400kv Substation
•Welsh Land Cable Route – Approx 30km

Marine Survey

Government Approval / Contract Award
Planning Permission in Britain
Planning Approval Granted in Ireland
European Investment Bank funding secured
Granted Foreshore Licence in Britain
Commencement of Works in Wales
EU Grant secured
Full Notice to Proceed
March 2009
Sep 2009
Sep 2009
Sep 2009
Oct 2009
Nov 2009
March 2010
March 2010

High level timeline of activities
RA’s SEM
Regional
Integration
Consultation
Review of EU and UK legal requirements (including telecoms)
Customer workshop
Auction Platform workshop
Explicit auction system tender
Mods Approval from
RAs
Start Customer
Registration
Customer workshop
AS Contract Agreed
Registration in BETTA/SEM
EWIC commercially operational
Q4
2009
Q1
2010
Q2
2010
Final Notice to
Proceed
Q3
2010
Q4
2010
Q1
2011
Mods submitted to Mods panel
Q2
2011
Q3
2011
Q4
2011
RA Approval access rules
Go-live explicit
System
Customer Training
Q1
2012
Q2
2012
April 2012
Release
Q3
2012
Regulatory interface
Q4
2012

Auction Process
•
An auction platform will be procured over the next few months
•
Coordination underway with Moyle so as to offer 1 platform but 2 separate auctions
•
Explicit Auctions will be held on annual, monthly, weekly and daily basis
•
Implicit auctions being considered for within day auctions
•
Secondary trading will be facilitated
•
The auctions and the rules of the interconnector will be compliant with the Congestion Management
Guidelines
• UIOLI and UIOSI will be operated

•
500MW Continuous Rated Power
•
Overload Capacity Up To 550MW
•
DC Cable Voltage
±
200kV
•
Reactive Power Capability
•
Total Estimated Losses At Rated Power –
30MW
•
Completion Date Q3 2012

End of Presentation
EirGrid website: www.eirgrid.com
Project website: www.interconnector.ie
Planning websit www.eirgrideastwestinterconnector.ie
ABB HVDC: www.abb.com/hvdc