Irish power grid connected with mainland Europe for the first time
Siemens Energy will deliver the HVDC transmission technology for the Celtic Interconnector, an electricity highway between France and Ireland.
Image source: Siemens Energy
Ireland: Siemens Energy will deliver the HVDC transmission technology for the Celtic Interconnector, an electricity highway between France and Ireland.
It will be the first connection between the Irish grid and mainland Europe. The project will strengthen the security of electricity supply in both countries and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources into the European electricity grid. The interconnector is jointly developed by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator in Ireland, and its French counterpart, RTE.
Celtic Interconnector has a total length of 575 km, of which 500 km of cables will run through the Celtic Sea. Over such long distances, electricity can only be economically transported in the form of direct current. Siemens Energy is therefore building two converter stations at the end points of the interconnector – one near Knockraha, located in the County Cork region of Ireland, the other one near La Martyre in France. Both can convert alternating current, as fed into the stations from the respective national grid, into direct current for transportation, and vice versa.
“We absolutely cannot afford to waste electricity from renewable energy sources. Every spare electron of renewable energy that can be shared with others brings us closer to our climate goals,” says Tim Holt, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy. “The increasing interconnection of European electricity grids enables consumers to benefit from a more open electricity market, higher energy security and lower electricity costs. It demonstrates that only together we can manage the energy triangle of affordability, reliability, and security.”
Source: Siemens Energy
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