We need this ‘to make sure the lights don’t go out’- Eirgrid boss

Sparks flew in the council chamber on Monday afternoon with news that construction of the North South Interconnector will begin next year with the controversial pylons placed above the ground.

This was confirmed by representatives of Eirgrid in a presentation to members of Cavan County Council at their May monthly meeting. The councillors later passed a motion rejecting the overhead line, which already has full planning permission both sides of the Border.

Much to the dismay of councillors, Eirgrid CEO Mark Foley insisted constructing the system above ground is “the only way to do it”.

He outlined the project has become more important than ever in recent months due to the continuing war in Ukraine.

Mr Foley also shared his belief Ireland could face blackouts in as little as two years.

“This needs to be done to make sure the lights don’t go out,” Mr Foley said.

The CEO stated the project, when completed, will aid the country in reaching its 80% emissions reduction target and reduce the cost of electricity to the consumer.

Mr Foley explained when he became CEO of Eirgrid, he had to “look at the facts”. Having compared the different options, he concluded an AC line “overground is the only solution that will work”.

From his experience, the alternative HVAC lines, which would run underground, would not be robust or secure enough to support the system without failure.

“HVAC will fail. If you do it, it will bring the community to blackout.

“A two-part system would be the only other option,” he suggested. However, the system in Northern Ireland and the Republic would then be separate.”

Eirgrid is currently at a procurement stage of the project, which is set for completion in the “middle of this year”.

Many onsite surveys have also been conducted. This involves walking over lands on which the interconnector will be located, boring holes and assessing the terrain.

This process was completed in areas of Cavan, Monaghan and Meath where landowners were in agreement.

Sinead Dooley, head of public engagement, joined the presentation, stating the council should know she is a “straight talker”.

She told the meeting how she had asked two questions - if it was necessary, which she said it is; and if there was another way of doing it, which she was told there was not.

Ms Dooley continued to outline the lengths to which Eirgrid is going to appease affected landowners, including hosting information evenings, meeting people individually, and by appointing a community liaison officer “so we know exactly what the community think”.

She assured those at the meeting “all voices will be heard” during a process, which will begin in September of this year.

The update was met by disdain from councillors, particularly Fianna Fáil Councillor Clifford Kelly who had been campaigning for the past 16 years for the lines to be undergrounded.

Put simply, he believes undergrounding is a viable option and planning for the project should be revisited.

Cllr Kelly also rejected predictions of blackouts.

“The situation in Northern Ireland has changed from one of electricity deficit to that of surplus for the next 10 years, even in a scenario of increased demand, according to Eirgrid’s own 10-year forecast annual report. The headline grabbing claims of ‘the lights going out in Northern Ireland’ and that there would be ‘risk to life and limb’ have turned out to be nothing more than misleading scaremongering,” said the Kingscourt based councillor.

“The SNSI (Second North South Interconnector) has been downgraded by the EU from the status of ‘Project of Common Interest (PCI)’ in November 2021. This PCI status was used by Eirgrid as the foundation stone with An Bord Pleanála (ABP) for demanding planning approval. The foundations have been rocked. The planning approval should be revisited,” contended Cllr Kelly.

“The only value of the SNSI now is for purely commercial reasons - to increase export of surplus electricity generation and to allow supporting an unhealthy increase in data centres.”

He doesn’t believe local communities will see any benefits from the project in terms of employment or electricity needs.

Countering Eirgrid’s dismissal of the underground option, Cllr Kelly stated: “The key arguments against the undergrounding option have now been blown out of the water by none other than Eirgrid itself, with the decision to underground the Kildare-Meath line.”

He continued: “The independent expert reports of 2012, 2018 and 2021 all state that the underground cable technology is a feasible and realistic option for the SNSI. Eirgrid has refused to accept the experts’ views.”

Cllr Kelly went further branding claims of consultation with landowners on the interconnector a “blatant lie”.

“In the 16 years to date Eirgrid has never held a single public meeting with landowners and communities to outline its plans and answer basic questions. It continues to maintain radio silence in terms of any discussion on the project.”

In regards to Eirgrid’s claims that statutory powers of ‘wayleave’ will be used to access lands if necessary, Cllr Kelly stated Eirgrid would not have the authority to do so and would need to rely on the ESB.

“The planning approval for the SNSI was given to Eirgrid, not to the ESB,” remarked Cllr Kelly.

Responding, one of the Eirgrid representatives again claimed it was physically impossible to use the underground option due to issues regarding the HVAC technology. He explained the Meath to Kildare project was only feasible due to the power of the plants at each end of the route.

“Northern Ireland doesn’t have the same capability,” he said.

The representative also made reference to an interconnector between Belgium and Germany, a system many councillors believe could be mimicked in Ireland. He explained the underground option was only achievable there due to separate grids already in place, which supported the infrastructure.

The overground system then came under fire from many of the other council members who had their own concerns.

Aontú Councillor Sarah O’Reilly queried if ESB were working alongside Eirgrid to complete the project, to which Eirgrid responded it was.

She also asked an array of technical questions to which Eirgrid agreed to supply a response in the coming days due to issues with the legality of the questions.

Sinn Féin Councillor Paddy McDonald was also unhappy with the news, stating in the past the council had been informed an underground alternative would be €25,000 more expensive.

"We were led to believe it was strictly cost and now that has changed."

Defending the project, Eirgrid outlined this information had not been given by their company, but external contractors.

"Contractors are not competent to comment on that".

Independent Councillor Shane P O’Reilly asked for the expected construction start date.

When told the project would begin construction in 2024, Cllr O’Reilly stated: “Going back in years, this was a divide and conquer situation, where Eirgrid did themselves absolutely no favours whatsoever. Communities were walked upon, in my own village there was actually physical assault at a meeting. That’s not who we are, we’re usually fairly easy going people.”

Cllr Shane P. O’Reillly stated his belief that Eirgrid think the people of rural Ireland are stupid.

He said these people would “turn the finger” back at Eirgrid, questioning their competence as a company.

“This project could have been completed 16 years ago. It’s never going to happen,” he remarked.

The Mullagh man further claimed the 80% reduction in carbon emissions, a target set by government, is not achievable.

When put to him that a 40% reduction, which seemed unachievable in the past, was achieved, Cllr O’Reilly stated: “The reason it was achieved was the engagement of the people on the ground who helped Eirgrid to do it and it wasn’t forced on them, and you should have learned from it.”

Cllr S.P. O’Reilly’s argument was interrupted by Cathaoirleach John Paul Feeley who took questions from other councillors.

At that, Cllr O’Reilly walked out of the meeting.

Eirgrid explained to the members that it currently in the process of procuring the production of the pylons.

Fine Gael Councillor T.P. O’Reilly stated: “I’m just a bit concerned that seems to be going ahead without the landowners’ consent. It should be put to the landowners before it goes to the procurement of the pylons. There’s a perception out there that when the whole procurement process is done, you can’t go back on it.”

Fianna Fáil Councillor Philip Brady agreed. “You’re starting a project without the consent of the land owners.”

Eirgrid denied this was the case and stated all landowners would be consulted prior to any construction.

The semi-state company assured the councillors the works it was carrying out at the moment are preliminary and must be complete prior to speaking to landowners.

The meeting concluded with Cllr Kelly proposing a motion for the council to unanimously reject Eirgrid’s plans to put the North South Interconnector lines overground.

All members of the council supported the motion.