EirGrid has begun an eight-week consultation on its flagship Celtic Interconnector project, a 500km submarine cable that will link the Irish and French electricity grids. There will be a further 40 kilometres of underground cable on land in both France and Ireland. It will have a capacity of 700 megawatts (MW), enough to power 450,000 households and will allow the import and export of electricity. It is expected to be completed in 2026.

The state-owned company is looking for feedback on a shortlist of three proposed landfall locations on the coast of East Cork and six proposed location zones for a converter station in East Cork.

The Celtic Interconnector would be the first direct energy link between Ireland and France, running from East Cork to the north-west coast of France and would put downward pressure on the cost of electricity, enhance security of supply, provide a direct fibre optic telecommunications link, and facilitate further development of renewable sources. 

All stakeholders and communities are invited to submit their feedback by Monday, 10 June. Click here to give feedback.