The North-South Interconnector has been designed as an overhead, alternating-current link between the Irish and Northern Irish electricity grids. In this form it is a critical infrastructure project for the island of Ireland. It will be the backbone of a fit for purpose electricity system that will ensure energy security, allow more renewables to be used on the island, reduce the need to burning gas and coal, reduce electricity costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The overhead, alternating-current project will strengthen and integrate the two electricity systems, where an underground direct-current link would not.
This project, and in particular the decision to build it as an underground alternating-current link, has been the subject of an unprecedented level of independent scrutiny. An independent international expert commission reported to the Government on this project in 2012 and again in 2018. The Commission fully supported the decision to build an overhead alternating-current link. In March of this year, an independent expert reported to the Government that the findings of the Commission in 2018 remained valid, again supporting the design of the North-South Interconnector as an overhead, alternating-current link. In these circumstances I am satisfied that the project should proceed as an underground alternating-current link.
