UP-DATE TYRONE TO CAVAN ELECTRICITY INTERCONNECTOR

07/06/2007

The Tyrone to Cavan Electricity interconnector will be a very important piece of national infrastructure which will deliver significant benefits to consumers.  
 
Northern Ireland Electricity and Eirgrid are in the process of identifying possible routes as determined by a range of physical factors such as, ground conditions, the need to avoid existing infrastructure, centres of population, scenic areas and compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines. The current stage of this process is meetings with landowners to hear their plans for use of the land in order that we can factor that into developing the route proposals. This will allow us to firm up on a preferred route.  
 
Once this has been completed we are planning a programme of consultation with individuals and communities in the proximity of the proposed route. This wider consultation is planned for late June and early July. This should allow people the opportunity to communicate any views they might have as regards the project.  
 
Until such time as we have developed detailed route proposals, it is not possible to provide people with the accurate and detailed information they require.  
 
The interconnector will be an important addition to Northern Ireland’s infrastructure, which will deliver benefits for consumers through both Northern Ireland and the Republic. It will:  
 
- Facilitate choice and competition in electricity supplies  
- Strengthen the security of electricity supply  
- Support the future growth of renewable generation  
- Lower the cost base of electricity generation  
 
The Tyrone to Cavan interconnector will enhance interconnection between the two Irish electricity grids and will complement the existing Tandragee to Louth Interconnector, which has operated without issue for many years and has successfully delivered a range of benefits to consumers. Without interconnection it is demonstrably the case that there would be less competition, higher electricity prices, less generation from renewable sources, and more blackouts across the island of Ireland.  
 
The project has the full backing of the Energy Ministers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and of both regulators, the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR) and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). Interconnection of this sort is a priority EU policy and commonplace throughout Europe.  
 
This proposed interconnector project is the culmination of very careful and detailed studies undertaken jointly by Northern Ireland Electricity and EirGrid. The project will be subject to the full planning process, including an Environmental Impact Assessment.  
 
We appreciate that with any large engineering project of this type there will be concerns among local people as to its impact on them and the environment in which they live. We will be making particular efforts to design towers that will best fit with the topology of the surrounding countryside. Having said this there are limits to what can be achieved and the towers, on average, will be around 35m high with a 20m wide base. Putting the proposed line underground would be a very expensive option and would put an unnecessary financial burden on all customers in Northern Ireland. NIE have an obligation to develop the most cost effective solution, taking into account all relevant issues. There are also many practical difficulties with placing a line such as this underground.  
 
Some people will have concerns regarding the effects of electric and magnetic fields or EMF’s and there is now a considerable body of research into the effects of electric and magnetic fields around electricity lines. To date over £300m has been spent worldwide, over a period of 25 years, investigating the subject. Unfortunately press coverage sometimes focuses on the more sensational aspects of ongoing research leading to unnecessary concerns. The new Interconnector will be designed to comply with current Government policy and guidelines. There will be a full section on EMF’s in the Environmental Impact Assessment that will be included with our planning submission.  
 
As we move forward in the process, there will obviously be more detailed discussions with individual landowners on whose property equipment may be erected. These discussions will cover both the long-term tenure of the towers and any initial disruption during construction works.  
 
There is further information on the project at:  
www.nie.co.uk/NieTyroneCavanInter.pdf  
 
There is further information on electric and magnetic fields and an overview of recent research at: www.energynetworks.org/spring/she/EMFs.asp  
 

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