IRELAND IS ALWAYS growing, and we need a grid that can match our growth. 

Energy is the cornerstone of everything in Ireland. Powering everything from universities to farms, keeping the lights on in homes and hospitals, we all need a shared energy infrastructure that can match our ambitions. 

For the last 25 years, EirGrid has overseen significant developments in Ireland’s electricity transmission system, strengthening its ability to deliver power across the country. Now, it has launched its Group Corporate Strategy 2026, a five-year roadmap designed to take Ireland’s electricity system to the next level and support a future powered by secure, clean and affordable electricity.

These advancements in Ireland’s grid include getting our infrastructure renewable-ready in line with the government’s stated sustainability goal of having 80% of all of our energy come from renewable sources. The closer we get to making this goal a reality, the less our energy prices are affected by global market volatility which has been so prevalent over the last several years.

“Our grid infrastructure and the capacity and capability of EirGrid to fulfil its critical role is fundamental to unlocking greater energy independence and security, as well as supporting national and regional economic growth and a resilient society,” said EirGrid’s chief infrastructure officer, Siobhán O’Shea.

Picture by Shane O'Neill; Coalesce. Picture by Shane O'Neill; Coalesce.

To make this possible, EirGrid and ESB Networks have received regulatory approval for an €18.9 billion investment programme through to 2030. This will facilitate what O’Shea has called “the most ambitious capital programme of infrastructure development ever undertaken on the transmission system in Ireland”.

The investment will strengthen and expand grid capacity, further a range of projects that are already underway and support Ireland’s clean energy future.

This year alone has seen major progress on a wide range of energy infrastructure projects across the country. 

• Construction began this year on a new replacement substation at Poolbeg, as part of the Powering Up Dublin Programme, the largest high-voltage infrastructure programme EirGrid has ever undertaken in an urban setting.  This programme will see the installation of over 50km of cables across Dublin, as well as upgrades to a number of electricity substations. Construction is also continuing on the development of the Belcamp 220 kV Substation, while project agreement has also been achieved for the Dublin Central Bulk Supply Point, a new substation in East Wall.
• The North Connacht 110kV project, which will see a new underground line from Ballina, Co Mayo, to Ballaghaderreen in Co Roscommon, also began construction this year.
• Construction is in advanced stages on a number of elements on the Laois Kilkenny Grid Reinforcement, a project that is critical to maintaining a reliable electricity service in the region. 
• Around 500 people worked in Irish and French waters during the summer to deliver the Celtic Interconnector, a subsea cable which will connect the Irish electricity grid to France. Moving this electricity across a distance of 575km, this interconnector will have the capacity to supply electricity to 450,000 homes. All land cables in Ireland have now been successfully installed, jointed and tested on the 44 km underground route from the landfall in Youghal, East Cork, to the Grid Connection Point at Knockraha. Construction of the converter stations in both France and Ireland are also complete.

There is also a public consultation process underway to discuss various components of the Powering Up Offshore – South Coast programme, which will see EirGrid build the new electricity grid infrastructure needed to connect offshore renewable energy from Ireland’s south coast to homes, businesses and communities. This process is welcoming input from the public when it comes to emerging options for landfall locations, offshore cable corridors, offshore substations, grid connection points and onshore transmission cable routes in Cork and Wexford.

Altogether, this means that Ireland is  moving towards a more independent and sustainable energy future.

Speaking about this progress, Siobhán O’Shea said: 

“Everyone relies on us. Every home, hospital, school and business depends on a power system that is safe, secure and resilient, every minute of every day. Strategy 2026 sets out EirGrid’s plans for delivering a more secure, clean and affordable energy future for Ireland.

“Our Public Engagement Strategy is a key enabler to support the delivery of infrastructure at scale and outlines how we develop relationships on-the-ground. This means engaging at the earliest possible stage and seeking feedback on projects to ensure that local communities have the opportunity to inform the decisions we take, where possible.”