The Independent Expert Panel, established in January to examine the Grid West and Grid Link projects, has met on several occasions since then to consider and approve the terms of reference for comprehensive, route-specific studies and reports of fully undergrounded and overhead options for each of the Grid West and Grid Link projects. The studies and reports are required to include assessments of potential environmental impacts, technical efficacy and cost factors. The terms of reference for the work to be carried out were published in May 2014 and are available on my Department's website. EirGrid will either undertake or commission the necessary work in accordance with those terms of reference set by the Panel. In due course, the Panel will provide an opinion to me on the completeness, objectivity and comparability of the studies and reports and will oversee the publication by EirGrid of the two reports prior to EirGrid proceeding to public consultation on the two projects. The Panel expects to be in a position to provide an opinion to me on the Grid West project in Quarter 1 2015. An opinion on the Grid Link project is expected in Quarter 3 2015.
As a matter of course, EirGrid regularly reviews its strategies and projects. Grid25 was originally developed in 2008 when the macro-economic climate was very different. In line with EirGrid’s review policy, Grid25 was updated in 2011, when the scale and scope was reduced to reflect the change in circumstances. As a result the estimated cost was revised downwards from €4 billion to €3.2 billion.
In May this year, EirGrid initiated a further update of Grid25 to take into account the most up-to-date information available, including technical feasibility, future economic and demand projections, and environmental impacts. Following discussions with my Department, this update also includes an independent review to verify the original strategies of Grid25 on the basis of changing circumstances since 2008. EirGrid expects this review to be completed and published early in 2015.
EirGrid's Grid25 Plan includes provision for facilitating increased interconnection to other EU Member States, providing for both imports and exports of electricity as appropriate. This is in line with the European Union’s goal of a fully integrated Internal Energy Market. The 500MW East-West Interconnector with the UK has already been completed, and other possible options are being considered.
