East–West Interconnector

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The East–West Interconnector is a 500 MW electrical link that connects Ireland’s and Britain’s power grids. It lets electricity flow in both directions, improving competition, security of supply, and the use of wind power.

Where it is and how it works
- It runs between Rush North Beach, County Dublin, Ireland, and the Shotton Converter Station near Deeside, Wales, United Kingdom.
- The route is about 261 km long, with 186 km under the Irish Sea and 75 km buried underground.
- It uses HVDC Light technology with a ±200 kV direct current system and a single 500 MW circuit. The submarine cable and converter stations were built by ABB.
- The project operates at 400 kV on the alternating current side and ±200 kV on the direct current side.

When it started and what it does
- Construction began in 2007 and it was commissioned in 2012, with an inauguration on 20 September 2012.
- It was developed by the Irish grid operator EirGrid to link the Irish and British electricity markets, enabling easier access to power on either side and helping integrate more renewable energy.

Why it matters
- By linking the Irish and UK markets, the interconnector promotes competition and can lower barriers for new suppliers.
- It increases the security of electricity supplies for both countries and makes it easier to move wind-generated power where it’s most needed.

History and operations in brief
- The project received significant financing from the European Investment Bank and European Commission grants, with additional backing from banks and EirGrid.
- In 2016, a maintenance fault temporarily limited exports, but full capacity was restored later that year, and by mid-2017 the link was delivering full 500 MW in both directions.
- In March 2022, after a planned three-week shutdown, the interconnector operated at very low capacity for a period before returning to normal operations.