2011 - 2016...implementation programme 2011 - 2016 grid25 implementation programme 2011 - 2016...

GRID25Implementation Programme

2011 - 2016

www.eirgrid.com

GRID25Implementation Programme

2011 - 2016

Section 1 - Introduction and Context

1.1 Context 2

1.2 TheVisionofGrid25 5

1.3 StrategicObjectivesofGrid25 5

1.4 TheStrategicPolicyContextforGrid25 6

1.5 TheChallenges 7

Section 2 - The Grid Development Strategy

2.1 Introduction 9

2.2 TheGrid 9

2.3 TransmissionSystemPlanning 9

2.3.1 ElectricityDemand

2.3.2 Generation

2.3.3 Potentialmajordemandcentres

2.3.4 Interconnection

2.3.5 Planning,environmentalandcommunityconsiderations

2.4 FutureGridRequirements 13

2.4.1 Onshoregrid

2.4.2 Offshoregrid

2.5 TheGridDevelopmentStrategy 15

2.5.1 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheBorderRegion

2.5.2 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheMidlandsRegion

2.5.3 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheSouth-EastRegion

2.5.4 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheWestRegion

2.5.5 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheMid-WestRegion

2.5.6 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheSouth-WestRegion

2.5.7 ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystemintheDublinandMid-EastRegions

Section 3 - Towards A Planning And Environmental-Led Approach To Electricity Transmission

Infrastructure Development

3.1 Context 29

3.2 GovernanceandProcess 29

3.3 EnvironmentalDataandGuidelines 31

3.4 ProceduresforTransmissionSystemPlanning 34

Section 4 - Planned Network Developments

4.1 Context 35

4.2 NetworkReinforcementDevelopments 39

4.3 DSOConnections 40

4.4 GeneratorConnections 41

Table of Contents

Section 5 - Environmental Mitigation Measures

5.1 Introduction 43

5.2 EMM1FullIntegrationofPlanningandEnvironmentalConsiderationsinEirGrid’s

TransmissionSystemPlanning 45

5.3 EMM2PreparationofStrategicEnvironmentalConstraintsMapping 46

5.4 EMM3PreparationofEvidence-BasedEnvironmentalGuidelines 46

5.5 EMM4ConsiderationoftheBroadestPossibleRangeof

AlternativesinallFutureEnergyTransmissionStrategies 50

5.6 EMM5PreparationofTransmissionDevelopmentPlanEnvironmentalAppraisalReport 50

5.7 EMM6OngoingCo-operationinpreparationofRenewableEnergyGenerationGuidelines

andStrategies 50

5.8 EMM7IntegratingOffshoreGridconnectivityrequirementsandenvironmental

considerationsinEirGrid’sStrategicEnvironmentalFramework(SEF) 51

APPENDIX A – Network Reinforcement Projects, Demand Customer and DSO Connection

Projects, and Generator Connection Projects, identified in EirGrid’s Transmission

Development Plan 2010.

A1 NetworkReinforcementProjects 53

A2 DemandCustomerandDSOConnections 67

A3 GeneratorConnections 71

A4 ConnectionofInterconnectors 74

APPENDIX B – Mitigation Measures 75

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1.1 ContextEirGridplc(“EirGrid”)istheNationalelectricityTransmissionSystemOperator(TSO).TheEuropeanCommunities(InternalMarketinElectricity)Regulations,2000(SINo.445of2000)setsouttheroleandresponsibilitiesoftheTSO;inparticular,Article8(1)(a)givesEirGrid,asTSO,theexclusivefunction:

“to operate and ensure the maintenance of and, if necessary, develop a safe, secure, reliable, economical, and efficient electricity transmission system, and to explore and develop opportunities for interconnection of its system with other systems, in all cases with a view to ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity are met having due regard for the environment.”

“Develop”inthiscontextreferstoplanning,routing,obtainingconsentsetc,butnottoconstructingthetransmissionsystem(theGrid),whichiscarriedoutbyESBNetworksasTransmissionAssetOwner(TAO).NeitherdoesEirGrid’sroleincludethegeneration,distributionandsellingofelectricityinIreland.

Section 1 - Introduction and Context

Grid251isahigh-levelstrategyoutlininghowEirGridintendstoundertakethedevelopmentoftheelectricitytransmissiongridintheshort-,medium-andlonger-terms,tosupportalong-termsustainableandreliableelectricitysupply.TheGrid25strategyseekstoimplementtheprovisionsofthe2007GovernmentWhitePaperonEnergy-Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland intermsofdevelopmentofelectricitytransmissioninfrastructure.

Gridplanninganddevelopmentarehighlydynamicprocessesthatareconstantlyrespondingtochangesindemandandtheemergingconditionsofthegrid2.Griddevelopmentisessentiallyareactiveprocess–reactingto,andfacilitating,identifieddemandforanenhancednetworkinanarea,forexamplenewgenerationsources,ornewdemandcentressuchasnewcentresofemploymentorpopulationgrowth.Assuch,griddevelopment,andGrid25inparticular,doesnotdictatewheresuchnewdemandistooccur;rather,gridplanninganddevelopmenthassignificantcognisanceofotherstrategiesforspatialandstrategicplanninganddevelopment.

ThisGrid25 Implementation Programme(IP)isapracticalstrategicoverviewofhowtheearlystagesofGrid25areintendedtobeimplemented.TheIPidentifiesthebestcurrentunderstandingofthosepartsofthetransmissionsystemthatareenvisagedaslikelytobedevelopedoverthenextfiveyears–thisisseparatelysetoutinEirGrid’sannualTransmissionDevelopmentPlan(theidentifiedprojectsofwhicharereproducedinSection4andAppendixAofthisIP)togiveeffecttocurrentGovernmentPolicy.TheIPidentifiestheissues,objectivesandassociatedprocessesthatwillneedtobeadoptedwhenmakingdecisionsabouthow

1Grid25–“AStrategyfortheDevelopmentofIreland’sElectricityGridforaSustainableandCompetitiveFuture”,publishedbyEirGridinOctober2008.

2ThisdynamismisreflectedintheStatutoryreportingprocessesoftheCommissionforEnergyRegulation(CER)whichrequirethepublicationofannualreviewsandupdateofaTransmissionDevelopmentPlan–preparedinaccordancewithArticle8(6)ofTheEuropeanCommunities(InternalMarketinElectricity)Regulations,2000(SINo.445of2000),andwhichissubmittedforapprovaltotheCommissionforEnergyRegulation(CER).

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andwheredevelopmentswilloccur.Inthiswayitestablishestheparametersandcriteriafortheprocessesbywhichsubsequentdecisionswillbemade.

ThisIPandaccompanyingStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment(SEA),incorporatesadviceandcommentsreceivedfromboththeEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA)andtheNationalParksandWildlifeService(NPWS)oftheDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht(DAHG),aswellasfromotherpartiesduringtheperiodofpublicconsultationinrespectoftheDraftIP.TheSEAwasundertakenfollowingascopingexercise,inlinewithcurrentbestpracticeforthecarryingoutofSEAsforNational-scaleprogrammes.Theseassociateddocumentshavealsobeenrevisedinresponsetosubmissionsmadeduringtheperiodofpublicconsultation.

Itisimportanttonotethat,whileotherSEAs,suchasinrespectofland-useplans,maymakeretrospectiverecommendations3abouthowtheplansorpoliciesshouldbealteredtoavoidimpactsontheenvironment,duetothehighlevelandstrategicnatureoftheSEAforthisIP,mostoftherecommendationshavebeenabouthowtochangedecision-makingprocesseswithintheIPitself.Assuch,therecommendedmitigationmeasuresinmanyinstanceshavealreadybeenincorporatedintotheIPinaniterativeprocess,someofwhichhavebroughtaboutchangesintheorganisationalandworkingpracticeswithinEirGrid.ThesehighlevelmitigationmeasuresareoutlinedinSection5ofthisdocument,whilelowertiermeasuresareincludedinAppendixB.

Itisintendedthatfollowingadoption,theIPandassociatedSEA4willhavea5–yearlifespan,withthereviewanddraftingprocessforthesubsequent

3Theseareusuallyincludedas‘mitigationmeasures’

4PresentedinanEnvironmentalReport(ER)withaccompanyingNaturaImpactStatement

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Figure 1.1 Structure for Grid25 strategy and associated Implementation Programme, SEA, Transmission Development Plan* and associated Environmental Appraisal Report.

TDP

TDP EAR

TDP EAR

TDP EAR

TDP EAR

TDP

IP5Year

IPReview5Year

Grid 25

SEA

SEA

EAR

*TheTDPisafiveyearplanwhichissubjecttoannualreview.

Allreferencesto‘TransmissionDevelopmentPlan(TDP)2010’intheIP,andassociatedSEAdocuments,refertothe‘DraftTDP2010’whichiscurrentlywiththeCommissionforEnergyRegulation(CER)forformalreviewandapproval.

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IPandSEAcommencingwithinthefinalyearofthatlifespan.However,thecontentofthesedocumentswillbesubjecttoongoingreviewandupdateovertheperiodofGrid25,inthecontextoftheEirGridTransmissionDevelopmentPlan,whichisupdatedannually.AnEnvironmentalAppraisalReport(EAR)willbeproducedtoaccompanyeachannualTDP,todemonstratehowtheTDPisinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheIPandSEA,ortoidentifyanyupdatestothesedocuments.OngoingmonitoringmeasuresassetoutintheSEAwillalsobeaddressedineachannualEAR.

ThisrelationshipissetoutgraphicallyatFigure1.1.

1.2 The Vision of Grid25Giventhatthedemandsfortransmissioninfrastructurearelikelytobefardifferentin2025,andbeyond,thancurrently,EirGridmustplanforthelonger-termfuturestrategictransmissiondevelopmentandreinforcementneedsoftheelectricitytransmissionnetwork.

TheVisionofGrid25“is of a grid developed to match future needs, so it can safely and reliably carry power all over the country to the major towns and cities, and onwards to every home, farm and business where the electricity is consumed and so it can meet the needs of consumers and generators in a sustainable way”(p.13).TheStrategytoachievethisvisionstates,interalia,:

“Grid25 will deliver an efficient transmission network for Ireland’s social and economic development. It will have the necessary capacity to reliably transport the future anticipated power levels from renewable and conventional generators and interconnectors to the cities and towns and the villages where the power is required.

We will follow international best practice and innovative methods to provide the necessary transmission capacity. The technology options

available to implement Grid25 will increase as research and development is carried out. We will be proactive in investigating and adopting new technologies taking due consideration of the cost and effectiveness of the technology”.(p.21)

Grid25notesEirGrid’sStatutoryobligationtobalancetheprovisionofreliabletransmissioninfrastructurewiththecoststothefinalcustomerandwiththeimpactofthatinfrastructureontheenvironment(p.21).

1.3 Strategic Objectives of Grid25IndevelopingtheGrid,theGrid25strategyenvisagesthedeploymentofstrategicalternativesdesignedforthelong-termdevelopmentofasafe,secure,reliable,economicandefficientgrid.Inthiscontext,theGridDevelopmentStrategyofGrid25(pp21-22)notesthat,inconsiderationofthecapacityofnewtransmissionlines,therewillbeapositivepresumptiontowardsbuildingnewlinesat400kVandat110kVwhereappropriate.Buildingat400kVratherthan220kVismoreefficientandprovidesgreaterpowercarryingcapability.Buildingone400kVcircuitavoidstheneedforbuildingamultiplicityof220kVand110kVlinesandsohaslesslong-termimpactontheenvironmentandonlocalcommunities.Inthelongerterm,itmaybeappropriatetoupgradethe220kVnetworkto400kV,forsimilarreasonsofefficiencyandcapacity.EirGridwillexamineeachcaseastheneedtoupgradearises.

TheStrategynotesEirGrid’scommitmenttoseektominimisethenetlengthofnewlinebuildinaregionthroughanumberofinitiatives(p.22):

• Byutilisingtheexistingnetworkwherepossibletoavoidbuildingnewoverheadcircuits.Re-utilisingtheexistingnetworkmaybemorecostlythanbuildingnewcircuits,butmayresultinalowerimpactontheenvironment;

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• Seekingtoup-rateexistinglinesbyusingahighercapacityconductor,whereappropriate,toavoidtheneedformajorstructuralchangesandsotominimisesecurityissues;

• Wheretherequiredincreaseincapacitycannotbeachievedthroughanewconductor,consideringupgradingthecircuittoahighervoltage;

• Whereappropriate,consideringreplacinganexistingsingle-circuitlinewithadoublecircuitlinetoprovidetherequiredadditionalcapacity;whilethisisamorecostlyoption,andlessreliablethanhavingtwoseparatelines,itavoidsbuildinganewlineonaseparateroute;

• Inlimitedcircumstances,puttingcertain110kVcircuitsundergroundtominimisetheimpactofnewbuildinaregion.Thismaybeconsidered,forexample,inareaswherethereiscongestionofurbandevelopment,amultiplicityofoverheadlines,arelativelywideexpanseofwater,oranareaofuniquenaturalbeauty;

• ExaminingthepotentialforusingHVDCtechnologyforcertainapplicationswhereappropriate,forexamplesuchastransportinghighvolumesofpoweroverlongdistances;

• ConsideringtheappropriatenessofnewtowerdesignsandothermitigatingmeasuresoutlinedintheGovernment-sponsoredreport,preparedbyEcofys,onThe Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity Transmission Lines Versus Underground Cablesinordertominimisethelandscapeandvisualimpactofnecessaryinfrastructure,andtakingaccountoftheNationalLandscapeStrategywhenpublished.

1.4 The Strategic Policy Context for Grid25

IrishenergypolicyissetfirmlyinaglobalandEUcontextwhichhasputenergysecurityandclimatechangeamongthemosturgentinternationalchallenges.Inpursuitofthis,theEUhassetalegallybindingobligationforMemberStatesthatgreenhousegasesacrosstheEUmustbereducedby

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atleast20%by2020,comparedwith1990levels.

ThestrategiccontextforenergyinfrastructureissetoutinanumberofpolicydocumentscoveringNational,RegionalandLocallevels,andcomprisingbothspatialandnon-spatialplanningpolicy.Theseinclude:

-IrishGovernment’sEnergyWhitePaper Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland(March,2007)

- NationalDevelopmentPlan2007–2013, NationalSpatialStrategy2002–2020,

- RegionalPlanningGuidelines2010–2022,

- CountyDevelopmentPlansandrelevant LocalAreaPlans.

The2007WhitePapersetsatargetof33%ofelectricityproducedfromrenewablegenerationby2020;thiswassubsequentlyincreasedto40%.

Some58%ofcurrentdemandforelectricityisingatewaycitiesandtowns,asidentifiedintheNationalSpatialStrategy(NSS).TheNSSdefinesgatewaysashavingastrategiclocation,nationallyandrelativetotheirsurroundingareasandprovidingnational-scalesocialandeconomicinfrastructureandsupportservices.TheGrid25strategywillcontributetoachievingtheNSSgoalofdevelopinggatewaysandachievingbalancedregionaldevelopment.Inthisstrategiccontext,theprovisionsandpoliciesofthevariousRegionalPlanningGuidelinesareofessentialimportance.

EirGridpublishesaTransmissionForecastStatementannuallywhichhighlightsopportunitiesfortheconnectionofdemandat31pointsonthegrid.ThedocumentpresentstheopportunitiesforgeneratorconnectionsidentifiedthroughtheGate3connectionprocessandoutlinesthegenerationopportunitiesarisingfromGrid25.

EachPlanningAuthorityisrequiredtoprovideanobjectivewithinitsDevelopmentPlanforthe

provision/facilitationofinfrastructureincludingenergy.Inaddition,Section10(1B)ofthePlanningandDevelopmentActs2000–2010requiresthatallplanningauthoritiesshall,withinoneyearaftermakingRegionalPlanningGuidelines,prepareaCoreStrategy.TheCoreStrategymustshowthatCountyDevelopmentPlanobjectivesareconsistentwithnationalandregionaldevelopmentobjectivesintheNationalSpatialStrategyandRegionalPlanningGuidelines.Thisensuresthatthestrategicvisionofthesehigher-levelplanningandpolicydocumentsareappropriatelyandadequatelyreflectedinlocalDevelopmentPlanpoliciesandobjectives.

Thecorestrategymust,amongotheraspects:

- Detailandtakeaccountofexistingandproposedtransmissioninfrastructureinacounty;

-Providetheframeworkfordecidingonthescale,phasingandlocationofnewdevelopment,havingregardtoexistingservicedandplannedinvestmentoverthecomingyears.

Consequently,keyelectricityprojectswhicharecriticaltothefuturedevelopmentofacountyandregioncanbeprioritised.

1.5 The ChallengesEnergy Potential

GivenIreland’ssignificantpotentialforgenerationofrenewableenergythroughbothonshoreandoffshorewindenergy,andothermarinerenewableenergygeneration,thepotentialexiststomakeuseofthesenaturalresourcestoprovideforIreland’sinternalenergyneeds,meetNationalcommitmentstoreduceCO2emissionlevelsundertheKyotoProtocol,andtomakeIrelandmoreenergysecure.EirGrididentifiesfurtherrenewablegenerationasanincreasinglyimportantpartoftheoverallgenerationmix,andiscommittedtosupportingandfacilitatinggovernmentpolicyforthecapturingofrenewableenergy,primarilybymeansofthe

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developmentofarobust,secureandreliableelectricitytransmissiongrid.TheGovernment’srenewablegenerationtargetfor2020istomeet40%ofelectricityconsumptionfromrenewableenergysources.EirGrid’sGrid Development Strategy,assetoutinGrid25,involvesplanninganddevelopingthetransmissionsystemtomeetanticipatedlonger-termgeneration/demandneeds,therebyprovidingforamorecosteffective,optimalandefficientsystemthanwouldbethecasewithamoreshort-termandpiecemealapproach.Inparticular,Grid25providesfortheoptimalconnectionofaverysignificantcapacityofrenewablegenerationinIrelandoverthecomingyears;suchconnectionwilloccurthroughalong-termstrategicprogrammeoftransmissiondevelopment.

Economic Development

Continuedcommitmenttoinvestmentinnationalstrategicinfrastructure,includingtransmissioninfrastructure,providesakeybasisforeconomicrecoveryandgrowth.Givencurrenteconomiccircumstances,thereisaneedtoprioritiseprojectsandexpenditurewiththemostimmediatepositiveimpactontheeconomyandemployment.InvestmentmustalsobedeliveredinacoherentandefficientmannerandbeconsistentwiththeGovernmentvisiontocreatea‘SmartEconomy’.Theprovisionofenergyinfrastructureisoneofthekeydriversforeconomicgrowthandregionalandnationalcompetitiveness.TheGovernmenthasendorsedEirGrid’sstrategyforNationalinfrastructuredevelopmentasperGrid25,andsupportssignificantinvestmentinthestrategicandlonger-termdevelopmentoftheelectricitytransmissionnetwork

Export of Energy

Inresponsetothe2007GovernmentWhitePaperonEnergy-Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland,EirGridhascarriedoutanassessmentofthecostsandbenefitsofadditionalinterconnection

betweentheislandofIrelandandtheUKandFrance5(inadditiontotheexistingMoyleInterconnector 6andtheEast-WestInterconnector,currentlyunderconstructionbyEirGridbetweenIrelandandWales).Incarryingoutthisassessment,EirGridhasexaminedabroadrangeofscenariossuchasthelikelyrequirednumberofinterconnectors,differentfuelpricesanddifferentgenerationportfolios.Thereportconcludesthatenhancedinterconnectionbetweentheall-islandgridandothergridshasthepotentialtodeliversignificantbenefitstotheislandofIreland.

Balanced Regional Development

BecauseoftheimportanceoftheelectricitysystemtocustomersalloverIreland,EirGridisveryconsciousofgovernmentpoliciestosupportregionaldevelopment.Theinvestmentinthistransmissionstrategyisdistributedacrossallregions,andtherebywillsignificantlyimproveregionalelectricityinfrastructure,andwillprovidethebackboneforfurthereconomicdevelopmentintheregions.FurtherdevelopmentemergingfromGrid25willmaintainpriorityinsupplystandardsacrossallpartsofthenetwork,thusenablingeconomicdevelopmentinallregions.

Itisimportantthatnationalandregionalspatialplanninganddevelopmentpoliciesandstrategiesrecognisetheestablishedrelationshipbetweeneconomicgrowthandelectricityconsumption.Aspartoftheeconomicrecoveryofeachregion,andthecountryasawhole,itisimportantthateachregionhasamodernefficienttransmissionnetworkthatwillallowittocompetewithotherregionsinIrelandandEuropeinattractingpotentialinvestorsandemployers.Inthiscontext,itisimportantthatlocalauthorities,localandcountydevelopmentplans,andregionalplanningguidelinesensureadequatepriorityforkeyelectricitytransmissionprojectsthatarecriticaltothefuturedevelopmentofaregion.

5InterconnectionEconomicFeasibilityReport,EirGrid,November2009,availableatwww.eirgrid.com

6TheMoyleInterconnectorconnectstheelectricitygridsofNorthernIrelandandScotland

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2.1 IntroductionThehighvoltage(HV)electricitytransmissionnetwork(110kV,220kVand400kV)formsthebackboneoftheelectricitysupplysysteminIreland.High-qualityandreliableelectricitytransmissioninfrastructure,providingqualityperformance,isvitalforIreland’songoingsocio-economicdevelopment,andthusisofnationalstrategicimportance.

2.2 The Grid Thenationalelectricitytransmissiongridplaysavitalroleinthesupplyofelectricity,providingthemeanstotransportpoweracrossameshednetwork,linkinggeneratorlocationswithoftensignificantlyspatiallydistantdemandcentres.The400kVnetworkprovidesahighcapacitylinkbetweenMoneypointgenerationstationonthewestcoastandtheGreaterDublinAreaontheeast.The220kVnetworkformsanumberofsinglecircuitloopsaroundthecountry.The110kVnetwork,whichisthemostextensiveelementoftheoveralltransmissionsystem,extendsacrossthecountry(refertoFigure2.1).

TheIrishnetworkiscurrentlyconnectedtothetransmissionsystemofNorthernIrelandprimarilybymeansofasingle275kVdoublecircuitinterconnectionbetweenLouthandTandrageesubstations.Therearealsotwolower-capacity110kVconnectionswiththeNorthernIrelandnetwork,atLetterkennyinCo.DonegalandCorraclassyinCo.Cavan.

ThetransmissionsystemontheislandofIrelandisalmostentirelyconstructedasoverheadline(OHL),exceptinverylimitedcircumstances,suchascongestedorbuilt-upareas,whereundergroundcable(UGC)used.

2.3 Transmission System PlanningThemaindeterminantsintransmissionsystemplanningare:

• Thedemandforelectricityfromconsumers;

• Additionalgenerationfromnewgenerators,comprisingbothconventionalgenerationandrenewablegeneration;

• Potentialmajordemandcentres,i.e.NSSgatewaysandhubs;

• Interconnectionandpotentialimportandexportofenergy.

Theseareaddressedinthefollowingsub-sections.

2.3.1 Electricity demand

Inmanycases,growthindemandforelectricityresultsinhigherpowerflowsonthetransmissionnetwork.Awellestablishedrelationshipexistsbetweeneconomicgrowthandelectricityconsumption.WherepowerflowsexceedthecapabilityoftheGrid,reinforcementisnecessary.Grid25isastrategydesignedtomeetincreasinganticipateddemandforelectricity.

InthecontextoftheGovernmentcommitmentfor40%ofNationalelectricitysupplyfromrenewablesourcesby2020,andtheclearpotentialforlonger-termfutureexportofenergy,EirGridisadoptingamoreproactiveapproachtothestrategicplanningofthetransmissionnetwork,wherebytransmissioninfrastructureisplannedandprioritisedinanticipationofforecastedlonger-termfuturelevelsofimport,exportandgenerationdemand.Thisstrategicapproachiscrucial,giventherelativelylonglead-intimesforsuchinfrastructuredevelopment–includingprojectidentification,studyandassessment,planningandconsenting,constructionandenergisation.ThisiswhytheGrid25strategyisbeingactivelypursuedinthecontextofashort-termeconomicdecline.

Section 2 - The Grid Development Strategy

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Figure 2.1 Map of the Irish Transmission System as at December 2010 (extract from EirGrid Transmission Development Plan 2010)

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2.3.2 Generation

Asnotedabove,generationfromrenewableenergysourcesisakeyfactorinGrid25tomeetingtheGovernmenttargetof40%by2020,toreducingcarbonemissions,andtomaintainingasustainableenergysupply.Itisrecognisedinthe2007GovernmentEnergyWhitePaperthatwindenergywillplayapivotalcontributiontomeetingthatgoal.Marinetechnologiesandbiomassarealsoexpectedtocontribute.

Ingeneral,additionofgenerationoutputcreatesamuchgreaterandimmediateimpactonthegridthandemandincreases,duetothesizeofagenerator,orcumulativesizeofclusteredgenerators,relativetothemoregradualincreasesinlocaldemand.Thegridoftenhastobereinforcedtofacilitatetheflowofpowerfromthegeneratortotherestofthesystem.Thisisparticularlyapparentinrespectofnon-traditionalmodesofgeneration,suchasrenewables,wheremanyofthelocationssuitableforrenewableenergygenerationschemesareinareaswheretherehas,historically,beenlittleornogenerationdevelopmentandassociatedprovisionofsupportingtransmissioninfrastructure.

Theaggregateofrenewablegenerationcapacityinsomeareasisequivalenttothatofalargeconventionalgenerationstation.Inmanycases,theexistingtransmissionnetworkisofinsufficientcapacitytocarrythepowerfromthesegenerationsources.Significantreinforcementandnewbuildofthegridisthereforerequiredtocaterforthenewpowerflowsfromrenewablegeneration.

Inshort,itwillnotbepossibletoutiliseIreland’snaturalresourcesofrenewableenergywithouttheassociatedessentialupgradingandreinforcementoftheNationalelectricitytransmissionnetwork,asoutlinedinGrid25.

2.3.3 Potential major demand centres

Asnotedabove,some58%ofcurrentdemandforelectricityisingatewaycitiesandtowns,asidentifiedintheNationalSpatialStrategy(NSS).TheNSSdefinesgatewaysashavingastrategiclocation,nationallyandrelativetotheirsurroundingareasandprovidingnational-scalesocialandeconomicinfrastructureandsupportservices.TheGrid25strategyendorsestheNSSgoalofdevelopinggatewaysandachievingbalancedregionaldevelopment.

2.3.4 Interconnection

TheprimarybenefitsofInterconnectionare:

• Improvingcompetition–bylinkingtootherEuropeanmarkets;

• Supportingdevelopmentofrenewablepowergeneration–byenhancingtheflexibleexchangeofpowerflowsovertheislandofIreland.Thiswillenabletheconnectionandoperationoflargervolumesofrenewablegeneration(especiallywindpoweredgeneration)throughouttheisland;

• Improvingsecurityofsupply–byprovidingadependablehighcapacitylinkbetweenthetransmissionsystemsofIrelandandothercountries.

TheexistingMoyleInterconnectorconnectstheelectricitygridsofNorthernIrelandandScotland.Ithasacapacityof500MWandcurrentlyiscapableofimporting450MWinwinterand400MWinsummerfromScotland.However,thisInterconnectorislimitedbycontractualarrangementstoanexportcapacitytoScotlandof80MW.Thisrestrictionisbeingreviewedatthemoment,anditisthereforeassumedforthepurposesofthisImplementationProgrammethatexportcapabilityisincreasedto400MW.

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EirGridiscurrentlydevelopingthe500MWEastWestInterconnectorbetweenIrelandandWales.Thishasascheduledcompletiondateof2012.

ItisthereforeassumedthattheislandofIrelandwillhavesome900MWofinterconnectionwiththeUnitedKingdomwithinthenextnumberofyears.

EirGridandNorthernIrelandElectricity(NIE)arecurrentlyprogressingtheplanningofasecondmajorinterconnectorbetweentheRepublicofIrelandandNorthernIreland.These,andotherpotentiallonger-termfutureinterconnectors,couldplayasignificantroleininternationalisingtheIrishenergymarket,andinfacilitatingtheanticipatedhighlevelsofrenewablegenerationontheisland,byprovidingameanstoexportexcessgenerationwhenoutputfromrenewablegenerationishigh,andtoimportpowerwhenitislow.

2.3.5 Planning, environmental and community considerations

EirGridiscommittedtoensuringthattheplanninganddevelopmentofthetransmissionnetworkoccursinaccordancewithallrelevantlegislation

andinternationalbestpractice.Recentchangesinlegislation(especiallytheHabitatsDirective),coupledwiththeexperienceofpublicconcernregardingtheperceivedeffectsoftransmissiondevelopments,particularlyasarticulatedinthepublicplanningprocessthroughwhichstrategicinfrastructurenowproceeds,meansthatenergyplanningmustnowdemonstrateconsideration,fromtheoutset,ofhowtoavoidorreduceenvironmentalandcommunityimpacts.

EirGridtakestheviewthatitwillnotbepossibletodevelopthetransmissionnetwork–andtherebytorealisethepotentialofthecountry’snaturalresourcesofrenewableenergy–withoutputtingplanning,environmentalandcommunityconsiderationsattheheartofitsTransmissionSystemPlanning.Ignoringtheseissueswilldelayorpreventthefuturedevelopmentofthetransmissionnetwork–resultinginincreasedcostsandreducedefficiencies.AssetoutinmoredetailinChapter3ofthisIP,EirGridappliesabestpracticeapproachtotheplanninganddevelopmentofalltransmissionprojects.

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2.4 Future Grid Requirements2.4.1 Onshore grid

The220kVnetworkwasfirstintroducedintheearly1960sinIreland,andthe400kVnetworkwasbuiltinthemid-1980s.Sincethistime,thisbulkpowernetworkhaschangedlittlewhiledemandoverthesameperiodhasgrownbyover150%,therebyleavinglittlecapacityforfurthergrowthontheexistingnetwork.Anticipatedincreasingpowerflowsonthenetworkmeansthatbetweennowand2025,thecapacityofthebulktransmissionsystemwillneedtobesignificantlyincreased.Theassociated110kVnetwork,whichprimarilybringspowerfromthebulknetworkstobulksupplypointsservingpopulationcentres,alsoneedstobesubstantiallyupgraded.

Grid25seekstoachieveabalancebetweencostsandtheimpactofnewtransmissioninfrastructure,throughmaximisingthecapabilityoftheexistinggridand,wherenewhighcapacityinfrastructureisrequired,buildingitmainlyatthe400kVvoltage.Thefollowingestimateshavebeenmaderegardingtheprovisionofinfrastructurerequiredtostrengthen

theNationaltransmissionnetwork,inaccordancewithGrid25(refertoFigure2.1):

• Grid25statesthatinrespecttofuturegridrequirementsthatapproximately1,150kmofnewcircuitswillberequiredupto2025tomeettheneedsofconsumersandgenerators.Thisrepresentsanincreaseofabout20%onthetotallengthoftheexistingnetwork.Ofthis,800kmwillneedtobeat220kVorhigher;theremaining350kmwillbeat110kV.Inadditiontothesecircuits,othercircuitswillbeneededtoconnectmanyofthenewgeneratorstothegrid;

• Some2,300kmoftheexistingtransmissionnetworkwillneedtobeupgradedby2025toprovidegreatercapacity.Thiscomprises1,100km,or70%,oftheexisting220kVnetwork,and1,200kmofthe110kVnetwork.

ItshouldbenotedthatthesefiguresmaybesubjecttochangeovertheperiodofGrid25,inresponsetochangingdemandandothercircumstances.

Figure2.2,extractedfromEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010,identifiesareasofchange,drivingplannednetworkdevelopment.

TheEirGridNationalControlCentre,Dublin

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Figure 2.2 Network Map Showing Areas of Change Driving Network Development (extract from EirGrid Transmission Development Plan 2010)

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2.4.2 Offshore grid

AnumberofscenariosforfutureelectricalgenerationandtransmissioninIrelandinvolvethedevelopmentofoffshoregridinfrastructure.ThishasthepotentialtooccurinmanyareasofftheIrishcoast,onaccountofdevelopmentsincludingtheexploitationofoffshorerenewableresources(wind,waveandtidal),increasedinterconnectionwithotherEUMemberStates,andtheparticipationofIrelandinaPan-Europeanoffshoregrid.Thishaspotentiallysignificantimplicationsforgriddevelopmentandforinteractionswithterrestrialandinshoreenvironments.

2.5 The Grid Development StrategyGrid25isaimedatdeliveringanefficientandhigh-qualityNationalelectricitytransmissionnetwork.Itwillensurethenecessarycapacitytoreliablytransportfutureanticipatedpowerlevelsfromrenewableandconventionalgeneratorsandinterconnectorstothecities,towns,villages,homes,andotherkeymarketswherethepowerisrequired.

TheNationalelectricaltransmissionnetworkisadynamicandmeshedsystemthatisconstantlysubjecttochange,andwherethechangeofasinglevariablehasthepotentialtochangethesystematlarge.Thismakesfuturepredictionsacomplexanddynamicprocess,whicharelikelytochangeovertimeasdemand,generationflows,andgridcapacityfluctuateandchange.

Figure2.3,andsubsequentFigures2.4-2.10,havebeenextractedfromEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010,andprovideahigh-levelindicativeoverview,andregionalbreakdown,ofthegeneralstrategyforthefuturedevelopmentofthegrid,aspertheprovisionsofGrid25.Thearrowscolouredgreenonthesefiguresprovideanindicativerepresentationofthestrategyfortransmissionofthepotentialflowofelectricity(betweendemand/loadcentres,generatorsandthesystematlarge).

Itshouldbenotedthatthesefiguresderivefromanun-scaledmapwithindicativerepresentation.Assuch,thesearrowsrepresenttheoverallintendeddevelopmentstrategy,anddonotpurporttorepresentspecificprojects;norisitintendedtosuggestthattheeventualrealisationoftheseprojectswillbecontainedwithintheareaofthesearrows.

Mostoftheelectricitytransmissionnetworkiscurrentlyperformingwithinrequiredstandards.Someareashavebeenidentifiedaslikelytorequirenetworkreinforcement,asdemandincreasesand/ornewgenerationisconnected.ThenetworkreinforcementprojectswithinthisImplementationProgramme(andwithinEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010),havebeendesignedtodealwiththeseemergingchallenges.

Becauseofthemeshednatureofthenetwork,theidentifiedstrategicdevelopmentsarelikelytobenefitawiderareathantheactualscopeofaparticularreinforcementproject.

Detailedstudiesarebeingcarriedouttoidentifynetworksolutionswhichwillbebroughtforwardintheplanningprocessandultimatelytoconstruction.SuchsolutionsareultimatelyidentifiedasprojectsinEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010followingreceiptofinternalCapitalApproval.Thekeyareasforplanned,andlonger-term,strategicgridnetworkdevelopmentasoutlinedinGrid25arepresentedonaregionalbasisbelow.

16

Figure 2.3 Map Indicating Future Network Development Requirements (extract from EirGrid Transmission Development Plan 2010)

17

2.5.1 Reinforcement of the transmission system in the

BORDER REGION

ThereareanumberofissuesthatneedtobeaddressedforthestrategicdevelopmentoftheelectricitytransmissioninfrastructureintheBorderRegionoftheRepublicofIreland.Theseissuesarisedueto:

• Thesignificantextentofnewgeneration,inparticulargenerationfromrenewablesources,thatisexpectedtomaterialisethroughoutboththeBorderRegionitself,andtheWestRegion;

• TherequirementtooptimallyintegraterenewablegenerationintheBorderRegionandNorthernIreland;

• Securityofsupplyintheregion.

Figure2.4providesanindicativestrategicrepresentationofareasrequiringfuturenetworkdevelopmentwithintheBorderRegion.

AsubstantialnumberofnewelectricitygeneratorsareintendingtolocateintheBorderRegion,particularlyinCountiesDonegalandSligo,andinNorthernIreland,eachofwhichwillrequireconnectiontotheelectricitytransmissiongrid.Thesemainlycompriserenewablegenerationsourcessuchaswindfarms.Theelectricity

transmissioninfrastructurewillrequiretobesignificantlystrengthenedtofacilitatesuchconnection,whichwillresultintherequirementbothtoupgradeexistinginfrastructureandtoconstructnewhighvoltageelectricitytransmissioninfrastructure.Thiswillhavethebenefitofstrengtheningtheoverallmeshedgrid,thusprovidingamoresecureandreliablesystemforinwardinvestment,aswellasfacilitatingthetransmissionofenergygeneratedtoloadcentresthroughouttheregionandthecountry.

EirGridiscurrentlyworkingwiththeelectricitynetworkoperatorandownerinNorthernIrelandtoidentifytheoptimalsolutionforthenetworktocaterforrenewablegenerationintheNorth-Westoftheisland(i.e.DonegalandthewesternpartofNorthernIreland).

ThesubstantialnumberofnewgenerationconnectionsbeingsoughtintheWestRegion(Section2.5.4)mayalsohaveanimpactontheBorderRegion.Furtherinter-regionaltransmissionreinforcementwillberequiredtoensurethatthisgenerationisadequatelyconnectedtotheNationalnetwork.

TheplannedsecondmajorinterconnectorbetweentheRepublicandNorthernIrelandisrequiredtoimprovecompetitionbyreducingtransmissionconstraintsthatarecurrentlyrestrictingtheefficient

TheCOntrolRoomatSONI,Belfast

18

performanceoftheall-islandSingleElectricityMarket,tosupportthedevelopmentofgenerationfromrenewableenergysources,andtoimprovesecurityofsupplyontheisland.

Longer-termforecastedgrowthindemandforelectricityintheBorderRegion,asoutlinedinGrid25,willplacepressureonthetransmissionnetwork,requiringitsupgradingtoensurecontinuedsecurityofsupplytolocalhomesandbusinesses

intheRegion.StrengtheningofcircuitsbetweentheNorth-WestandNorth-Eastregionswillberequiredinthelonger-termtofacilitatepowerflows,including:

• FurtherintegrationoftheDonegalandNorthernIrelandnetworks;

• UpgradednetworkssupplyingDundalk;

• Upgradingoftheexistingtransmissionnetwork.

Figure 2.4 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The Border Region

19


MIDLANDS REGION

ThetransmissionreinforcementprojectsintheMidlandsregionare,intheshort-term,drivenbytheneedtoincreasethesecurityandqualityofsupplytokeypartsofthenetwork.Thisisthecasewiththeconstructionofnew110kVcircuitsbetweenThornsberryandCushaling,andthereinforcementoftransmissioninfrastructureintheMullingararea.

A400/110kVsubstationisrequiredintheLaoisareatosupportthe110kVnetworksandprovidetherequisitelevelofsecurityofsupplyinLaois,CarlowandKilkenny.

AshighlightedinGrid25,longer-termreinforcementsareassociatedwiththetransmissionofwindgenerationthatwillassistinmeetingthegovernmentcommitmentofproviding40%oftheRepublicofIreland’selectricitydemandfromrenewablesourcesby2020.Thisincludesupgradingthetransmissionnetworktofacilitatepowerflowsfrombothrenewableandconventionalsourcesandmaximisetheuseofexistingpowercorridors.

Figure 2.5 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The Midlands Region

21


SOUTH-EAST REGION

Thereareanumberofissuesthatneedtobeaddressedregardingthelong-termstrategicdevelopmentofthetransmissioninfrastructureintheSouth-EastregionoftheRepublicofIreland.Theseissuesarisedueto:

• Generaldemandgrowth,particularlyintheGreaterDublinArea;

• NewgenerationconnectionswithintheSouth-Eastregion;

• ThepotentialforadditionaltransmissioninterconnectionwithGreatBritainandmainlandEuropebasedintheregion;and

• Thesignificantamountofwindgenerationexpectedtomaterialisethroughoutthecountry,particularlyintheSouthofthecountry.

Theexistingtransmissioninfrastructureisexpectedtocomeunderstrainbothatalocalandataregionallevel:Atalocallevel,demandgrowth(despitecurrentreductionsinload)placespressureonthetransmissioninfrastructure,requiringlocalreinforcement.Thereisalsoaneedtointegrate

newgenerationthatisplannedtoconnecttothenetwork.Ataregionallevel,alargeamountofwindgenerationisplannedtoconnectintheSouthofthecountryandwouldresultinanincreaseintheamountofenergythatwouldrequiretotraversetheSouth-Eastregion.Inordertofacilitatethesepowerflows,transmissionreinforcementwillberequired,(seeFigure2.6)asoutlinedinGrid25.

ThereisapotentialforfurtherinterconnectiontobeconstructedbetweentheRepublicofIrelandandUnitedKingdomand/ormainlandEurope.Givenitsgeographicallocation,theSouth-Eastregionisconsideredtoconstitutealikelyareaforterminationofafutureinterconnector.

Longer-termreinforcementintheregionincludes:

• StrengtheningofthehighvoltagetransmissionlinkstobothDublinandCorktofacilitateincreasedpowerflows;

• StrengtheningofthenetworkssupplyingmajorcitiesandtownsintheSouth-Eastregion;

• Reinforcementofcurrentinfrastructurewhilemaximisingtheuseofexistingcorridorswherepossible,throughup-ratingtheexisting110kVand220kVcircuits.

22

Figure 2.6 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The South-East Region

23


WEST REGION

Theissuesthatneedtobeaddressedinthelong-termstrategicdevelopmentoftheelectricitytransmissioninfrastructureoftheWestRegionincludethefollowing:

• Thesignificantquantityofgeneration,inparticulargenerationfromrenewablesources,thatisexpectedtomaterialiseintheWestRegion;

• Generaldemandgrowthinthearea.

AsubstantialnumberofnewelectricitygeneratorsareproposingtolocateintheWestRegion,andeachrequirestobeconnectedtotheelectricitygrid.Thesegeneratorscomprisemainlyrenewablegenerationsourcessuchaswindfarms,biomassplantsandmarine-basedgenerationtechnologies.Thiswillresultintherequirementtobuildnewhighvoltageelectricitytransmissioninfrastructureintheregion,whichwillhavethebenefitofstrengtheningtheexistingtransmissioninfrastructure,thusprovidingamoresecureandreliablesystemforinwardinvestmentaswellasdistributingtheenergygeneratedtoloadcentresthroughouttheregionandthecountry.

ThemainnewcorridorsintheWestRegioncomprise:

• NewelectricityinfrastructurewhichwillberequiredfromtheNorthMayoarea,initiallytowardsexistinggridinfrastructurelocatedineithertheeastorsouthpartoftheWestRegion.Itislikelythatsuchinfrastructurewillthencontinuetothekeymarketsontheeasternsideofthecountry.

• NewelectricitytransmissioninfrastructurewhichwillalsoberequiredfromwestCo.GalwaytoGalwaycityandbeyond.

Theconnectionofthesenewgeneratorswillalsoresultinanassociatedrequirementtoupgrademanypartsoftheexistingtransmissionnetwork.

Grid25statesthatgenerallonger-termforecasteddemandgrowthintheregionwillalsoresultintherequirementtoupgradetheexistingnetwork,andtobuildnewtransmissionlines.Thisincludes:

• MajorinfrastructuraldevelopmentfromMayotothemainbulktransmissionsystemintheeasternpartoftheregion;

• Upgradingtheexistingtransmissionnetwork.

Figure 2.7 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The West Region

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MID-WEST REGION

ReinforcementofthetransmissionsystembetweenMoneypointandTarbert,includingtheprovisionofanewsubstationtothewestoftheexistingTarbertsubstation,andtheongoingdevelopmentofMoneypointasakeytransmissionhub,isrequiredtofacilitatepowerflowsinthemid-westandsouth-westofthecountry.Thisreinforcementisrequiredtoenablerenewableandconventionalgenerationto

betransmittedtotheloadcentres,thusprovidingincreasedsecurityandavailabilityforconsumers.

Suchreinforcementgivesflexibilityformeetingthepowerrequirementsoftheregion.

Longer-termdevelopmentincludes:

• StrengtheningthetransmissioncapacityacrosstheShannonEstuary;

• UpgradednetworkssupplyingtheurbancentresofEnnisandLimerick;

• Up-ratingexistingnetworkstofacilitatehighercapacitypowerflows,usingexistingcorridorswherepossible.

Figure 2.8 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The Mid-West Region

25


SOUTH-WEST REGION

Thereareanumberofissueswhichneedtobetakenintoaccountwhenplanningforthelong-termstrategicdevelopmentoftheelectricitytransmissioninfrastructureoftheSouth-Westregion.Theseinclude:

• Thesignificantamountofgeneration,inparticulargenerationfromrenewablesources,thatisexpectedtomaterialisethroughouttheSouth-Westregion;

• Generaldemandgrowthinthearea.

TheSouth-Westregionhasseenahighlevelofrenewablegenerationandconventionalgenerationseekingtoconnecttotheelectricitynetwork,asoutlinedinGrid25.Thiswillresultintherequirementtobuildsignificantnewhighvoltageelectricitytransmissioninfrastructureintheregion,includingnewsubstationsconnectingtokeytransmission

hubsinMoneypointandCork.Thiswillhavethebenefitofstrengtheningtheexistingtransmissioninfrastructure,thusprovidingamoresecureandreliablesystemforinwardinvestment,aswellastransmittingtheenergygeneratedtoloadcentresthroughouttheregionandthecountry.

GrowthindemandforelectricityintheSouth-Westregionneedstobefacilitated,andthismayleadtotherequirementtoconstructnewelectricitytransmissioninfrastructure.Thiswillensurethattheregionhastheappropriatetransmissioninfrastructuretoenableittoattractnewindustryandallowexistingindustrytoexpand.

Longer-termforecasteddevelopmentintheRegionincludes:

• SignificantstrengtheningofcapacitybetweentheSouth-WestandSouth-Eastregionstoallowexcesspowertoflowfrombothrenewableandconventionalsourcestosupplydemandinotherpartsofthecountry;

• Upgradingoftransmissionnetwork.

26

Figure 2.9 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The South-West Region

27


DUBLIN AND MID-EAST REGIONS

Itisperhapsunsurprising,givenitsrelativelyhighdensityofresidentialandemploymentpopulations,thattheGreaterDublinArea(formedbytheDublinandMid-EastRegions)isthemostsignificantelectricitydemandcentreinthecountry.Assuch,alargeconcentrationoftransmissionlinesarelocatedintheareawhichincludes110kV,220kVand400kVlinesandstations.

TheDublin220kVsystemcurrentlyconsistsofaringoffourprimaryBulkSupplyPoints,comprisingthehubsofCarrickmines,Finglas,InchicoreandPoolbeg220/110kVstations.Planneddevelopmentincludesadditional220kVBulkSupplyPointsatFinnstown(nearAdamstown),andintheDublinNorthCityFringearea.OtherplanneddevelopmentincludesincreasedtransformercapacityatCarrickmines,FinglasandInchicorestations.EirGridandESBNetworks(theDistributionSystemOperator-DSO)areworkingtogethertoprovideadditionaltransformercapacityatCarrickminesandInchicore220kVstations.

InrelationtotheDublinnetworks,EirGridinconjunctionwithESBnetworkshasidentifiedtheneedforthetwonew220/110kVin-feedstationsinthenorthandwestofDublin.Newstationsareplannedinthenorthandwestcityareas,toaccommodatedemandgrowth,andtobettermanageexistingdemandlevelshighlightedinGrid25.

Itislikelythatsomereconfigurationand/orreinforcementofthe220kVandthe110kVnetworkswillberequiredinthelonger-termtomeetDSOdemands,andtoavoidnetworkconstraintsintheDublinarea.

The400kVnetworkprovidesahighcapacitylinkbetweenMoneypointgenerationstationandGalwayonthewestcoastandDublinontheeast.EirGridalsoisconsideringtheneedforandoptionstoexpandits400kVnetworkintheGreaterDublinArea.Thiscouldbebythealterationofexistingroutesorequipmentorwithentirelynewoverheadlineorundergroundcableroutes.Additionaltransformercapacityisplannedatthetwoexisting400kVstations–atWoodlandnearDunshaughlin,Co.Meath,andatDunstown,Co.Kildare.

Longer-termdevelopmentintheRegionincludes:

• StrengtheningofnetworkintoandoutoftheRegiontoallowthedemandtobemetbyrenewablegeneratorslocatedmainlyinthewestofthecountry;

• StrengtheningofnetworkservingDublincityload;

• Developmenttoallownorth-southflowstoby-passthenetworkservingtheDublinload;

• ReinforcementofthenetworktocaterforstronggrowthinKildareandnorthWicklow;

• Upgradingoftheexistingnetwork.

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Figure 2.10 Areas Requiring Future Network Development In The Dublin And Mid-East Region

29

3.1 Context UndertheprovisionsofthePlanningandDevelopmentActs2000–2010,themajorelectricitytransmissioninfrastructuredevelopmentbeingcarriedoutbyEirGridnowgenerallycomprisesstrategicinfrastructuredevelopment,asdefinedundertheActs,requiringanapplicationforStatutoryApprovaltobemadedirectlytoAnBordPleanála.

Assuch,thesecomplexdevelopmentsnowoccurwithinthevehicleofthepublicplanningprocess,wherethefocusisonmattersofproperplanningandsustainabledevelopment,andwherepublicparticipationisakeypillaroftheprocess.

Combinedwiththis,thereisnowasignificantemphasisandfocusontheenvironmentalimpactofalldevelopmentprojects,primarilyinreferencetotheEUHabitatsDirective,whichgivesappropriateprotectiontositesandspeciesofdesignatedinternationalimportance.

EirGridhasrespondedproactivelytothisnewregimeintermsoftheplanninganddevelopmentofelectricitytransmissioninfrastructure.Thishasprimarilyoccurredbyshiftingthemanagementandstructureofprojectdevelopmenttowardsaplanningandenvironmentalcontext.

3.2 Governance and ProcessEirGridhasinstitutedanewinternalsectionforthegovernanceoftheGrid25Programme.Inadditiontocoveringmattersofadministrative,financialandcorporategovernance,theProgrammeManagementOffice(PMO)includesexperiencedexpertsintheareasofecology,publicplanning,wayleavingandlandownerengagement,andprojectcommunications.TheseexpertsareassignedtoallEirGridprojects,toadviseandassistprojectmanagersandtheirprojectteamswiththeplanninganddevelopmentofallEirGridprojects.

InordertoensurethattheplanninganddevelopmentofallEirGridprojectsoccursinaconsistentandtransparentmanner,andwithappropriateemphasisonplanning,environmental,andcommunityissues,thePMOhasdevelopedaprocess(knownasaProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap)whichisappliedtoalllargescaleprojects.Theprocessissetoutinaseriesofstageswhichprogressfromthebroadestearlystageofinformationgatheringtothedetailedpre-applicationstageofsiting,environmentalassessmentandpreparationoftheplanningapplication.TheRoadmapalsoincludesthepost-consentconstructionphase.

TheemphasisoftheRoadmapisthatplanning,environmentalandcommunityissuesareidentifiedfromtheearlieststageofaproject.Theearlyidentificationofsuchissuesmeansthatconsiderationisgivenattheoutsettotheavoidanceofconstraints,ratherthanlatermitigationofimpactsarising.Thus,inthefirststageofinformationgatheringinrespectofaproject,astudyareaisidentified,environmentalandotherconstraintswithinthatstudyareaareidentified,andtheprojectissitedorroutedwiththeemphasisonavoidingthoseidentifiedconstraints.Allissues,decisionsandsolutionsaresubjecttoastructuredproject-specificstrategyofpublicandstakeholderconsultation,withfeedbackincorporatedintotheongoingprogressandplanningoftheproject.

AsummarygraphicoftheProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmapissetoutinFigure3.1.TheeventualprojectsubmittedforStatutoryApprovalwillthereforehavebeensubjecttodetailedenvironmentalandotherassessment,withaclearstatementofalternativesconsidered,andappropriatelycommunicatedtothepublic,landownersandotherstakeholders,includingAnBordPleanálaastheStatutoryCompetentAuthority.

Section 3 - Towards a Planning and Environmental-led Approach to Electricity Transmission Infrastructure Development

30

Figure 3.1 EirGrid’s Project Development and Consultation Roadmap

31

3.3 Environmental Data and GuidelinesEirGridhascommittedsignificantresourcestogatheringenvironmentaldataandinformationwhichwillinformdecisionsforprojectdevelopment.ResponsibilityforthedeliveryandinterpretationofthisinformationrestsgenerallywiththeConsultantEcologistofthePMO,andthereforecanbemostappropriatelyandeffectivelydisseminatedtotheprojectteamswithinEirGrid,aspartoftheProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmapprocess.Suchdataandguidelinesincludesthefollowing:

• TheStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment(SEA)–comprisinganEnvironmentalReport&NaturaImpactStatement–whichhasinformedthisIP;

• StrategicEnvironmentalConstraintsMapping,whichusesaGISdatabasetomapdesignatedenvironmentalandothersensitivesitesandareas–thismappinghasbeenusedtoinformtheSEA;

• EirGridisinthefinalstagesofcompletingEcologyGuidelinestoinformthedevelopmentoftransmissioninfrastructure;

• ThePMOissuesinternalPracticeNotesforprojectmanagersrelatingtoplanningandenvironmentalissues,includingonthescreeningandscopingofEnvironmentalImpactStatements,andAppropriateAssessment;

• EirGridhascommencedthepreparationofEvidence-BasedEnvironmentalStudiestodeterminetheactualeffectoftheconstructionandexistenceoftransmissioninfrastructureprojectsontheirreceivingenvironment.ThesestudieswillbothinformEirGrid

andallstakeholdersastotheactualenvironmentalimpactoftransmissionprojects,butalsowillidentifynecessaryorappropriatemodificationstocurrentdesignandpracticewhichwillhavealowerenvironmentalimpact.ThisisaddressedinmoredetailinChapter5ofthisIP,andinSection9oftheaccompanyingSEAEnvironmentalReport.

Thesedataandguidelines,combinedwithEirGrid’sinternalgovernanceprocesses,andinparticularitsProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap,servetoplaceplanningandenvironmentalmattersattheheartofallEirGrid’sdecision-makingrelatingtotheplanninganddevelopmentoftransmissioninfrastructure,fromthestrategicpolicyleveltothemoredetailedproject-specificlevel.

ThisapproachissetoutgraphicallyinFigure3.2,whichsetsEirGrid’sprocessesintotheirwidercontextofinternalenvironmentalprocesses,aswellasexternalpolicycontext.Itshouldbenotedthat,whilsteachlevelofEirGrid’sprocessissetinaparticularpolicycontext,themoredetailedprocesslevelswillalwayshaveregardtothehigher-levelpolicycontextandprocesses.

Thus,forexample,anyproposeddevelopmentwillbesetintothegoverningcontextoflocal,county,regional,andNationalstrategicandstatutoryplansandstrategies,aswellastheover-ridingpolicyoftheEnergyWhitePaper.Equally,theprojectwillbesubjectbothtotheproject-specificstatutoryEIAandAAprocesses,aswellashavingregardtothehigher-levelSEA.

Constructiononthetransmissiongrid

32

Figure 3.2 EirGrid’s Strategic Decision Making Process (illustrating integration of environmental consideration at each level)

Policy

Programme

Plan

Project

EirGrid Process

Grid25 Implementation Programme

Master Plan

Scheme Development

Scheme Design & Permitting

Grid25

Policy Context

White Paper

National Plans & Strategies

Regional Guidelines & Strategies

County Development Plans & Strategies

County/ Local Development Plans & Strategies

Environmental Process

Strategic Environmental Assessment & Appropriate

Assessment

Screening for SEA & AA

Strategic Environmental Framework & Technical

Guidance

Screening for EIA & AA

34

3.4 Procedures for Transmission System Planning

Inthecontextoftheseprocessesandgovernance,theproceduresforTransmissionSystemPlanningtotakeaccountofPlanningandEnvironmentalconsiderationsoccurateachstage,asfollows:

AtStrategic Level,(thisIP),procedures,processes,andresources(staffanddata)areputinplace.

AtTechnical Planning Level,arangeofalternativeapproachesareconsidered–theseincludegridconfigurationandmanagement,andre-useofexistingassets,technicalandroutingoptions.EirGridiscurrentlyconsideringthemeritsofcapturingthisintheformofregionalMasterplansforgriddevelopment.TheongoingpreparationoftheseMasterplanswillbesubjecttocontinualenvironmentalscrutinyandassessmentasappropriate,toensurecompliancewiththeSEA.

AtProject Level,oncetheneedandtechnicalconfigurationhasbeendetermined,moredetailedalternativesfortherealisationofthatprojectareconsidered,withaformalconsiderationofallalternatives–usingSEAandEIAtechniques

AtPermitting LeveltheapplicationforconsentissubjecttoformalEIAandthereisformalpublicandagencyconsultation,inreferencetotheProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmapprocess.

Overall,withtheimplementationandongoinggovernanceoftheseprocessesandprocedures,strategicplanningandenvironmentalconsiderationsarenowattheheartofEirGrid’sprojectdevelopmentprocess.Thisisconsideredtobeappropriate,consistentwithbestpracticefortransmissioninfrastructureplanning,andinaccordancewiththeprinciplesofproperplanningandsustainabledevelopment.

35

4.1 Context EirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan(TDP)2010,availableonwww.eirgrid.compresentstheplannednetworkdevelopmentprojectsthatEirGridhasprogressedtothepointwheretheyarethepreferredschemetomeetthechangingsystemrequirementsinthecontextofthelong-termdevelopmentofthenetwork.Theseprojectshaveallbeensubjecttoinitialenvironmentalevaluation,primarilyinreferencetostrategicconstraintsmapping,aspertheprocesssetoutinFigure3.1and3.2;anumberoftheseprojectshaveprogressedtothestageatwhichtheirgeneralnature,locationandextentisconfirmed,suchthattheyarecurrentlysubjecttoproject-specificenvironmentalassessment(withAAasappropriate).Inaddition,theseprojectshavebeenconsideredagainsttheGrid25IPSEA.

TheTDP2010identifiesatotalof111projectsthatareinprogress,70ofwhichareinthedetaileddesignandconstructionphase–thesearereproducedintheirentiretyAppendixAofthisIP.AnumberoftransmissionprojectsarecurrentlyintheStatutoryplanningconsentsprocess,orpermittedandunderconstruction.ThesehavenotbeenspecificallyidentifiedinthisImplementationProgramme(althoughtheyareincludedintheprojectslistedinAppendixA),astheyare,orhavebeen,separatelysubjecttospecificenvironmentalandotherassessment,inaccordancewithEirGrid’sprocessesfortheplanninganddevelopmentofprojects,asperitsProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap,aswellasinaccordancewithStatutoryprocedureandbestpractice.

TheTDP2010presentstheanticipatedtotalsofnewequipmentcurrentlyplanned/atinternalCapitalApprovalstage–thisisreproducedinTable4.1.Theseareestimatesonly,becausethescopesoftransmissionprojects,particularlythoseinthepreliminarystagesofdesign,canchange.

Inaddition,theTDP2010anticipatesthatsome7.7kmof220kV,and575kmof110kVtransmissioncircuitswillhavetheirthermalratingsincreased.2no.220kVtransmissionlinesand2no.110kVtransmissionlineswillberefurbishedwithoutaffectingtheirratings.

Itisimportanttonotethatthevarioustransmissiondevelopmentprojectsareatdifferentphasesoftheirlifetime.ThisIPidentifies26no.networkdevelopmentprojectscontainedwithintheTDP2010thatareatdesignandenvironmentalassessmentstage,andwhichEirGridconsidersarerequiredtomeetchangingsystemrequirementsintheshorttomediumtermdevelopmentofthenetwork,asidentifiedatastrategiclevelinChapter2ofthisIP.

400kV 220kV 110kV

NumberofNewStations 1 9 7

NumberofNewStationBays 8 49 181

OverheadLine,(km) 140 56 313

Underground/UnderseaCable,(km) 0.5 33.5 0

400/ 400/ 220/ 220kV 110kV 110kV

NumberofNewTransformers 2 2 16

NewTransformers,TotalMVA 1,000 500 3,250

110kV

NumberofNewCapacitorBanks 7

CapacitorBanksTotalMvar 135

Table 4.1 Estimates of Identified New Transmission Assets (Table S-1 of EirGrid’s TDP 2010)

Section 4 - Planned Network Developments

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Thetransmissioninfrastructureprojectsoutlinedbelowarecategorisedunderthreesubsectionsrelatingtothemaindriversfortransmissiondevelopment:

• NetworkReinforcements;

• GeneratorConnections;

• DSOConnections.

Becauseoftheuncertaintiesinherentinthepublicplanningprocess,thetimeframeandthescopeofprojectsnotyetintheconstructionphasemaybesubjecttochange.

Tables4.2,4.3,and4.4presentthefollowingprojectinformation:

• CapitalProjectnumber(CPNo.)–eachprojectisreferencedwithaCapitalProjectnumberforco-ordinationbetweenEirGridandtheTransmissionAssetsOwner(TAO-ESBNetworks);

• ProjectTitleandDescription–forprojectsinthePreliminaryDesignstage,theprojectdescriptionsareEirGrid’scurrentbestestimatesandmaybeliabletochange;

• ExpectedCompletionDate(E.C.D.)–theseestimatesaresubjecttotheplanningprocess,theconstructionprogress,availabilityoftransmissionoutages,andcommissioning,andmaybeliabletochange.

• Phase–relatingtothestageofprojectdevelopment.

LinelengthsareapproximateforNetworkReinforcementprojectsthatareinthepreliminarydesignphaseorinpublicplanningprocess.

EirGridandESBNetworks,asTSOandTAOrespectively,arealsoco-ordinatingothercapitalprojectsnotlistedherein,generallycomprisingminorcapitalworks,andlineuprating,diversionsandalterations.

Figures4.1and4.2,extractedfromEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010,provideanindicativeoverviewoftheplannednetworkdevelopmentsatOutlineDesignandEIA,orconsentandconstructionstages,asoutlinedintheDraftTDP2010.Thisprovidesanindicativerepresentationofplanneddevelopment,anddoesnotrepresentspecificalignmentsofproposals.

AsnotedinChapter3above,allEirGridprojectsinthepre-planningstagesofprojectdevelopment(notedas“outlinedesignandEIA”inthefollowingtables)aresubjecttotheEIAandAAprocesses;thisinitiallycomprisesascreeningprocess.Whereaprojectiscurrentlyintheplanningprocess,andhasbeenaccompaniedbyanEISandAppropriateAssessment,thisisindicatedinthemorecomprehensivetablesextractedfromEirGrid’sTDP2010,reproducedatAppendixAofthisIP.

38

Figure 4.1 Map Indicating Planned Network Developments in the Detailed Design & Construction Phase (from EirGrid’s Transmission Development Plan 2010)

39

4.2 Network Reinforcement DevelopmentsThisSectiondealswiththeidentifieddevelopmentprojectsthataredrivenbygenericdemandgrowthandreinforcementsresultingfromgeneratordemandandinterconnectorconnections.Table4.2liststhenetworkreinforcementprojectsrelevanttothisImplementationProgramme(asextractedfromEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010).

Ofnote,intheTDP2010,theNorth-South400kVInterconnectordevelopmentwasidentifiedasinthepublicplanningprocess.Theapplicationwassubsequentlywithdrawnfromthatplanningprocessandtheprojecthasrevertedtothestatusof‘OutlineDesignandEIA’.However,forconsistency,thestatushasnotbeenalteredinthisIP,whichreflectsthecontentoftheTDP2010.TheprojectislistedinTableA1ofAppendixA.

1 Note EMM = Environmental Mitigation Measure

CP No. Project Title & Description E.C.D Phase

CP0501 Clashavoon-Dunmanway 110 kV New LineConstructionofanew110kVlinefromClashavoontoDunmanwaystationandassociatedstationworks.

Mar-14 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0580 Carrickmines 220 kV GIS Development Replacementofexistingair-insulatedswitchgearwithgas-insulatedswitchgear(GIS);Installationofanew4th220/110kVtransformer.

Dec-12 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0585 Laois /Kilkenny ReinforcementNew Station & Associated Lines & Station WorksNew400/110kVtransmissionstationinCo.Laois.ThestationwillbeloopedintotheexistingDunstown-Moneypoint400kVlineandCarlow-Portlaoise110kVline.Anew110kVcircuitfromthenewstationtoKilkennyusingtheexistingBallyragget-Kilkenny38kVlinewhichisbuiltto110kVstandards.Anew110/38kVstationatBallyraggettocaterforlossoftheKilkenny-Ballyragget38kVline.[DetailstobefinalisedwithDSO].


CP0596 New 110kV Circuit To MullingarConstructionofanew110kVcircuittoMullingar110kVstationfromeitherKinnegadorDerryiron110kVstations.

Oct-14 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0597 Reinforcement of the Ardnacrusha & Ennis AreaUpratingoftheMoneypoint-Tullabrack-Booltiagh-Ennis110kVcircuittoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC.DependentonMoneypoint400/220/110kVGISDevelopment,seeCP0688


CP0674 Tralee 110 kV StationNewCoupler

Aug-12 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0699 Cathaleen’s Fall - Srananagh 1 110kV Line UprateUpratelinetoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC


CP0709 Dunmanway 110kV Station Upgrade Dec-14 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0707 Barrymore 110kV station extension - Loop into Cahir - Knockraha 110kV line

Jun-13 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0619 New Capacitors at ShankillInstallationof15Mvarand30Mvarre-deployablecapacitorunitsatShankill110kVstation

OnHold OutlineDesignorEIA

Table 4.2Network Reinforcement Projects

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4.3 DSO ConnectionsMostdemandconnectionstothetransmissionsystemaresoughtbyESBNetworks,theDistributionSystemOperator(DSO)whichappliesfornewstationconnections.Table4.3liststhedevelopmentprojectsthatrelatedirectlytotheconnectionofnewTSO/DSOinterfacestationstothegrid,ortochangesinexistingconnectionarrangements.

TheDSOhasfurtherdevelopmentplanswhichareatvariousstagesofpreparation,severalatanadvancedstage.EirGridisco-operatingwiththeDSOontheseexpansionplansinordertobringthemforwardtoprojectinitiationwhenrequired.EirGridwillinitiatethenecessarytransmissionconnectionswhenformalnotificationsfromtheDSOtoproceedarereceived.


CP0437a North Dublin 220kV Project - New 220kV Station Anew220kVstationintheNorthDublinWorksareaandassociatednetworks.ThedevelopmentispartofawiderTSO/DSOagreedreinforcementstrategytoenhancethenetworkinthenorthernfringeofDublincity.ThestationwillbetailfedfromFinglas220kVusingcableandconstructedwithGIS.Theprocessofacquisitionofanewsiteforthisprojectiscurrentlyunderway.


CP0506 Finnstown 220kV Project (Adamstown) - New 220kV Station Finnstown220kVstation,southofLucan,anew220kVstationloopedintotheInchicore-MaynoothNo.1andNo.2220kVlines.Thestationwillbeinitiallyasingletransformer220kVstation,butallowfinaldevelopmentforafourtransformerstation.DuetospacerestrictionsonpotentialsitesanentirelyGISstationisproposed.


CP0644 Bracklone 110 kV Station and Loop In New110kVstationtobeloopedintoPortlaoise-Newbridge110kVline.ReplacesexistingPortarlington38kVStation.


CP0649 Drumline 110 kV Station Works Two20MVATransformerssupplying12.2MWNewloadand11.4MWtransferedloadfromexistingDrumlinetransformers.


CP0627 Bandon 110 kV Station NewTransformerBay.


CP0075 Ballycummin 110 kV New Station NewstationloopedintotheLimerick-Moneteen110kVline.


Table 4.3DSO Connection Projects

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4.4 Generator ConnectionsThissectionoutlinesprojectsthatrelatedirectlytoconnectionofgenerationtothetransmissionsystemortochangesinexistinggenerationconnectionarrangements.Someoftheseconnectionsarecontestable,i.e.thegeneratorhasdecidedtobuildtheconnectionassetstoTSOspecifiedstandards.

TheEstimatedCompletionDate(E.C.D.)isEirGrid’scurrentbestestimateofwhenthegeneration

connectionwillbecompleted.ItshouldbenotedthatthisisdependentonprogressbytheapplicantandnotEirGrid.Thedateofcompletionfortheseprojectsisco-ordinatedwiththeIndependentPowerProducer(IPP)programmeofconnection.

Table4.4liststhegeneratorconnectionprojectsrelevanttothisImplementationProgramme(asextractedfromEirGrid’sTransmissionDevelopmentPlan2010).

Table 4.4Generator Connection Projects


CP0500 North Kerry Project Anew220kVstationloopedintotheexistingClashavoon-Tarbert220kVline.TheworkincludesconnectionworksforAthea,DromadaandCloghboolawindfarms

Apr-14 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0603 IPP088 Mulreavy Connection Connectionofanew110kVstationforconnectionofnewwindfarm.

Jan-12 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0608 IPP119 Cloghboola Wind Farm ConnectionofanewwindfarmintotheexistingTrien110kVstation.


CP0615 Glenree 110kV Station Connectionofanew110kVstation,loopedintotheexistingCunghill-Moy110kVline.ThisstationwillfacilitatetheconnectionofnewDSOwindfarms.

Sep-11 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0648 Garrow 110 kV Station ExtensionWorksforanew110kVtransformerbayfortheprovisionofrenewableenergy.


CP0650 Millstreet 220/110 kV station New220/110kVstationloopedintotheexistingClashavoon-Tarbert220kVlinefortheconnectionofwindfarms.


CP0651 East Kerry & North West Cork 220 kV Station Anew220kVstationloopedintotheexistingClashavoon-Tarbert220kVlinefortheconnectionofwindfarms.Twonew110kVlineswillbeconstructed,onetoGlenlaraandtheothertotheplannedCordalstationinCo.Kerry.KnockacummerconnectionintoGlenlaraisalsopartofthisproject.


CP0602 IPP044 Keelderry Wind FarmConnectionofanewwindfarmtoanewstation,loopedintotheexistingAgannygal-Derrybrien110kVline.


CP0641 IPP118NorePowerStationExtensionworksintheexistingKilkennystationfortheconnectionofanewOCGT.


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Figure 4.2 Map Indicating Planned Network Developments in the Outline Design Phase and Public Planning Process. Note: All new developments on this map are subject to on-going EIA and AA processes

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5.1 Introduction Mitigationmeasuresaremeasuresenvisagedtoprevent,reduceand,asfullyaspossible,offsetanysignificantadverseimpactsontheenvironmentofimplementingtheIP.

Mitigationinvolvesamelioratingsignificantnegativeeffects.Wheretherearesignificantnegativeeffects,considerationisgiveninthefirstinstancetopreventingsucheffectsor,wherethisisnotpossibleforstatedreasons,tolesseningoroffsettingthoseeffects.Mitigationmeasurescanberoughlydividedintothosethat:avoideffects;reducethemagnitudeorextent,probabilityand/orseverityofeffects;repaireffectsaftertheyhaveoccurred,and;compensateforeffects,balancingoutnegativeimpactswithotherpositiveones.

Therearetwotypesofmitigationmeasures.Thefirstinvolveshigh-levelpreventativemitigationmeasuresthatwereincorporatedintothedraftingoftheIPdocumentorbybringingaboutchangesinorganisationalandworkingpracticeswithinEirGrid.Theseincludesevenmajorprocedures,identifiedbelowandoutlinedinthesubsequentsectionsofthischapter,whichwillbeemployedtoidentifyandavoidenvironmentaleffects:

EMM 1. FullIntegrationofPlanningand EnvironmentalConsiderationsin TransmissionSystemPlanning;

EMM 2. PreparationofStrategicEnvironmental ConstraintsMapping;

EMM 3. PreparationofEvidence-Based EnvironmentalGuidelines,consistingof:

a) EnvironmentalBenchmarking Studies;

b) Evidence-BasedEnvironmentalDesign Guidelines;and

c) GuidelinesonEIAforTransmission ProjectsinIreland;

EMM 4. ConsiderationoftheBroadestPossible RangeofAlternativesinallfutureEnergy TransmissionStrategies;

EMM 5. PreparationofTransmissionDevelopment PlanEnvironmentalAppraisalReport;

EMM 6. OngoingCo-operationinpreparation ofRenewableEnergyGeneration GuidelinesandStrategies;and,

EMM 7. IntegratingOffshoreGridconnectivity requirementsandenvironmental considerationsinEirGrid’sStrategic EnvironmentalFramework(SEF).

ThesecondtypeofmitigationmeasuresinvolvesthosethataddresstheimplementationoftheIP.TheseareidentifiedinAppendixBofthisreportandhavebeenfullyintegratedintotheIP.Projectteamsshouldrefertotheseinterimgeneralmitigationmeasures.ThesemeasureswillbeextendedandaugmentedbytheoutputfromtheEnvironmentalBenchmarkingStudiesandEvidence-BasedEnvironmentalDesignGuidelinesreferredtoaboveandoutlinedbelow.Itisnotedthattherearelinkagesbetweenvariousmitigationmeasuresandthatthemitigationofcertaineffectswillbecontributedtowardsbymultiplemeasures.

Additional,moredetailedmitigationmeasurestothoseidentifiedbelowwouldbelikelytoberequiredbylowertier,project-specific,environmentalassessmentsandwouldneedtobeintegratedintorelevantspecificplansandprojects.Itshouldbenotedthatmanyoftheidentifiedlowertiermitigationmeasuresareproceduresandprocessesthatwillneedtobeadopted.

ThemitigationmeasuressetoutunderSections5.2to5.8wererecommendedbytheSEAandAAprocessestobeintegratedintoanearlierdraftoftheIP.TheIPpreparationteamtookonboardthisrecommendationandfullyintegratedthemeasuresintoSection5intheIP.ThestatusofimplementingallmitigationmeasuresisdetailedinTable5.1.

Section 5 - Environmental Mitigation Measures

7NoteEMM=EnvironmentalMitigationMeasure

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Mitigation Measure Code

Mitigation Measure Title Status

EMM1 FullIntegrationofPlanningandEnvironmentalConsiderationsinEirGrid’sTransmissionSystemPlanning

Hasalreadyoccurred;changeswillcontinuetobeimplemented.

EMM2 PreparationofStrategicEnvironmentalConstraintsMapping

Hasalreadyoccurred;willbeupdatedonanongoingbasis,asappropriate,toincludemostup-to-date,relevantenvironmentaldata.

EMM3 PreparationofEvidence-basedEnvironmentalGuidelines

Hasbegun;Guidelinestobepublished.

EMM4 ConsiderationoftheBroadestPossibleRangeofAlternativesinallFutureEnergyTransmissionStrategies

MeasuretobeadheredtoasrelevantonadoptionofIP.

EMM5 PreparationofTransmissionDevelopmentPlanEnvironmentalAppraisalReport


EMM6 OngoingCo-operationinpreparationofRenewableEnergyGenerationGuidelinesandStrategies


EMM7 IntegratingOffshoreGridconnectivityrequirementsandenvironmentalconsiderationsinEirGrid’sStrategicEnvironmentalFramework(SEF)


EMM8(AtoK) OthermeasuresintegratedintotheIP MeasurestobeadheredtofornewprojectsasrelevantandasappropriateonadoptionofIP.

MeasurestobeextendedandaugmentedbytheoutputfromtheEnvironmentalBenchmarkingStudiesandEvidence-BasedEnvironmentalDesignGuidelines

Table 5.1

Status of Implementing Mitigation Measures

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5.2 EMM1 Full Integration of Planning and Environmental Considerations in EirGrid’s Transmission System PlanningConsiderablechangesofproceduresandpersonnelhavebeenputinplacetoensurethatenvironmentalfactorsareconsideredattheearlieststageofEirGrid’sTransmissionPlanningSystem–asaresultoftheparallelSEAprocess.Thesearepreventativemeasuresaimedatanticipatingstrategicdecisionsthatwouldbelikelytoresultinavoidableadverseenvironmentaleffects.

ThisStrategicEnvironmentalFramework(SEF)hasresultedinfourmajortypesofinterventions:

1. TheEirGridTransmissionSystemplanning procedureshavebeenstrengthenedto incorporateenvironmentalconsiderationsas anearlydeterminant(refertoChapter3of thisIP)andasacriticalstageintheprocess ofdecisionmaking.Thesesystemsarenow operational.

2. EirGridhasestablishedaProgramme ManagementOffice(PMO)andnewpositions ofresponsibilitywithintheorganisationthat provideseniorplanningandecologicaladvice toprojectteams.Appointmentshavebeen madetothesepositions.

3. EirGridisimplementingStrategic EnvironmentalConstraintsMappingthat providesdecision-makersandsystemplanners withhigh-levelenvironmentaldatathatcan beusedfortheconceptualdevelopmentstage ofTransmissionPlanning.

4. Procedurestobefollowedonaproject-by- projectbasisforthedetailedconsideration, weightingandevaluationoflikely environmentaleffects–including cumulativeeffects–havingparticularregard totherequirementsoftheHabitatsDirective8.

Suchproceduresincludetheneedfor timelyconsultationwithrelevantplanning andenvironmentalauthoritiessuchasthe NPWS,theevaluationofup-to-datemapping, designationsanddevelopmentplans,policies, andaconsiderationofanyrelevantsectoral guidelines.

Inaddition,EirGridwillcontinuetoworkpro-activelywiththeDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltacht(DAHG)andwithlocalplanningauthoritiesandregionalauthoritiestoidentifycriticalpolicies,objectivesandconstraints-e.g.criticalrivercrossingpoints–inDevelopmentPlansandRegionalPlanningGuidelines,toensurethattheplanninganddevelopmentofnationalstrategictransmissioninfrastructureoccursinthecontextofbestenvironmentalpractice,andinaccordancewiththeprinciplesofproperplanningandsustainabledevelopment.

EirGridwillalsocontinuetoworkalongsideESBNetworks,BordGais,theNationalTransportAuthority,theNationalRoadAuthoritiesandotherkeystrategicbodiesinordertoensurethatsustainabledevelopment,spatialplanningandtransportandgridinfrastructurearepromotedinanintegratedmanner.

8Referencedstatutoryobligation

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5.3 EMM2 Preparation of Strategic Environmental Constraints MappingTheScopingReportfortheSEAidentifiedtheneedtoputStrategicEnvironmentalConstraintsMappinginplaceinordertoensurethatenvironmentalconsiderationsareincludedattheearlieststageofprojectinceptionandintheconsiderationofalternatives.AstudywascommissionedandcompletedwhileconsultationswerebeingundertakenfortheSEAandtheinformationcontainedintheStudyinformednumeroussectionsofthisSEAEnvironmentalReport.

TheStrategicEnvironmentalConstraintsMappingcomprisesmappingoftheenvironmentalconsiderations–bothconstraintsandopportunities–thatneedtobeincorporatedintostrategicdecisionsaboutprojectsandotherdevelopmentslikelytogiverisetoenvironmentaleffects.Themappingisofsufficientdetailtoprovideanoverviewofthelikelihoodofencounteringenvironmentalchallengeswhenplanningroutesthoughparticularareas–ataregionallevel–andshouldassistinmoredetailedconsiderationofpotentialroutecorridorsandintheselectionofroutingalternatives.Themappingshouldformaframeworkformoredetailedmapping–onaprojectbyprojectbasis–ofsitespecificsensitivitiesforecologyandculturalheritageandforlocaldevelopmentplandesignationsofsceneryandvisualvulnerability.

TheconstraintsmappingwillbecomepartofEirGrid’sStandardOperationalProcedureaspartoftheoverallSEFtowhichdesignersarerequiredtohaveregard.ItishopedthattheconstraintsmappingcanultimatelybeupdatedtoincludeNorthernIrelandandwillbeupdatedperiodicallytoensuretheuseofthemostup-to-date,relevantenvironmentalbaselinedata.

5.4 EMM3 Preparation of Evidence-based Environmental GuidelinesThroughtheSEAscopingprocesstheideaofaseriesofauthoritativestudiesexaminingtheactualeffectsoftheconstructionandexistenceofpowertransmissionprojectsinIrelandwasrecommendedtobepreparedandtheseareintheprocessofbeingcommissioned.

Theseauthoritative,ex post9studieswillprovidebenchmarkstofacilitatethepreparation,presentationanddefenceofpowerprojectsthatwillberobustandwillrigorouslyassesstheimpactsoftransmissionprojectsinIreland.Detailsofthethreetypesofstudiesthatwillmitigateimpactsbyanticipationandavoidanceareasfollows:

1. Environmental Benchmarking Studies

StudieswillbecarriedouttodeterminetheactualeffectoftheconstructionandexistenceofpowerprojectsinarepresentativerangeoftypicalIrishenvironmentalconditions.Thestudieswillfocusontheprincipaltopicsofconcerninenvironmentalimpactassessments–includingecology,visualimpact,andimpactuponhumanbeings.

Thestudieswillexaminetheeffectonatypicalarea,habitatorcircumstancethatiscommonlyencountered–suchaspasturesinthelowlands,blanketbogsortheenvironsofavillage.Theywillexaminetheeffectsoftheconstructionandexistenceofarangeofpowertransmissionprojects–includingsubstationsandarangeofsizesoftransmissionlinesrangingfrom110–400kV.

Studieswilldescribetheeffectofpowerprojectsonspecifictopicsinspecificenvironments–thesewillbecomparedtounaffectedareas,ontheonehand,andtonon-standardand‘worstcase’conditionsontheother,inordertoestablishthefullrangeofconditionsthatcouldarise,asfollows.

9Ex postistheLatinfor“afterthefact”.Inmodelswherethereisuncertaintythatisresolvedduringthecourseofevents,theex postvalues(e.g.ofexpectedgain)arethosethatarecalculatedaftertheuncertaintyhasbeenresolved.

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Typical Conditions

Ineachcaseanareawillbeidentified–andagreedwithstakeholders–asbeingtypicalofthespecificconditionswherethetransmissionprojecthasinteractedwiththeenvironmentaltopic.Theareaofinteractionwillbescrutinisedandcomparedwithanunaffectedcontrolareatodescribethenature,magnitudeandsignificanceoftheeffectsthathaveoccurred.

InadditiontotheTypicalConditiontherewillalsobeanexaminationoftwootherconditions–Non-standardandWorstCaseconditions–thatcanbeusedtodeterminetheparameterswithinwhichthebenchmarkingoftheenvironmentaleffectscanbedeemedtobereliablypredicted.

Non-standard Conditions

Locationswillbeidentifiedandagreedwithkeystakeholderswhicharetypicalofalandscape,habitatorlandusebutwhichhaveobjectivecircumstancesorfactorsthatincreasethepotentialforenvironmentaleffect–suchassteeperslope,greaterage,differentmanagementregimes.ThesewillbescrutinisedandcomparedwithbothTypicalConditionsandunaffectedcontrolarea,inordertodescribethenature,magnitudeandsignificanceoftheeffectsthathaveoccurred.

Worst Case Condition

Locationswillbeidentifiedandagreedwithstakeholderswhicharetypicalofalandscape,habitatorlanduseinwhichthereisobjectiveevidenceofadverseenvironmentaleffectsduetotheexistence,constructionormaintenanceofthepowerproject.Thenature,magnitudeandsignificanceoftheeffectsthathaveoccurredwillbedescribedandevaluatedtodeterminehowsuchadverseeffectsoccurred,andhowtheymightbeavoidedinfuture.

Lessons Learned

Eachsectionwillincludeasummaryofwhatprojectdesignerscanlearnfromthisanalysisintermsofwhatpracticesappeartogiverisetotheleastandthegreatestenvironmentaleffect.Thisadvicewillbeclearlydifferentiatedintobestpracticetobringabout‘LegalCompliance’,aswellas‘BestPractice’.

Summary Study

AllstudiesforeachsectionofthecountrysidewillbesummarisedintoanoverallrouteselectionandprojectdesignguideforeachcomponentoftheIrishcountryside.Forinstance,therewillbeasectionentitled‘PowerProjectsinWetlands’.Thiswillprovideauthoritativedesignadviceonallaspectsofeachstepofapowerproject–fromrouteselectionthroughtoprojectdesignandcontractimplementation.Usingthis,designerswillbeabletoanticipate,avoidorameliorateadverseeffectsoncommunities,flora,fauna,water,landscapeorculturalheritage.ThisinformationwillbecompiledintoEvidence-Based Design Guidelines for Power Projects in Ireland[seebelow].

On-going Studies

Thestudiesareconceivedasanon-goingbodyofworkthatwillbecontinuouslyupdatedandamendedtotakeaccountofdevelopmentsinunderstanding–arisingfrompracticeorresearch.

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2. Evidence-Based Environmental Design Guidelines

TheprimaryobjectiveisthattheseDesignGuidelineswillprovidepracticalguidanceforhowbesttoincorporateeachtypeofpowerprojectintoeachpartoftheIrishenvironmentinsuchawayastoanticipateandavoidadverseeffectstothegreatestextentpossible.

Thesecondaryobjectiveistoestablishanevidencebasedapproach–acceptedbystakeholders–thatcanbeusedtodemonstratethatanyresidualeffectsareconsistentwith‘bestpractice’.

TheEnvironmentalBenchmarkingStudieswillidentifyevidenceforthetypesofroutes,designs,constructionandmaintenancemethodsthatgiverisetotheleasteffectontheenvironment.ThisknowledgewillbetranslatedbyprojectdesignersintoGuidelinesforrouteplanners,projectdesigners,managersandthoseresponsibleforconstructionandmanagementofpowerassets.

TheDesignGuidelineswilladdresstheissuesthatariseateachofthreestagesofaprojectbeginningattheInitiationstagewhereaprojectisfirstconceived,throughthePlanningStage–whereroutesareselected–finishingwiththeDesignStagewheredetaileddecisionsaretakenabouthowtheprojectwillbebuilt.Theseissuesareconsideredasfollows:

• ProjectInitiationIssues

• PlanningIssues

• DesignIssues

ThereportsfromtheEnvironmental Benchmarking Studieswillbeexaminedtodeterminetherouting,designandconstructionmethodsthatproducethemostenvironmentallysuitableoutcomes.Thesereportswillalsodescribeanddetailevidenceofenvironmentaldegradationthathasoccurredashighlightedinthe‘worstcase’evaluations.TheadvicefromtheLessons Learnedandthe

Summary StudysectionsoftheEnvironmentalBenchmarkingStudieswillbeusedasabasisformostofthismaterial.

Theemphasisthroughoutwillbeonprovidingconcise,practicaladvicefrompractitionerstopractitionersthatwillmaketheoutcomeofmoredetailedstudiesbyspecialistsavailableinanimmediatelyapplicableway.

3. Guidelines on EIA for Transmission Projects in Ireland

TheEIA GuidelinesaremeanttoaccompanytheEvidence-Based Design GuidelinesandareintendedtoprovideanagreedandauthoritativeformatforthepreparationofEIAforpowerprojectsinIreland.

TheobjectiveistominimisechallengesanddisputesabouttheproceduresandcontentofthecoverageofEIAsforpowerprojects.Itwillachievethisbyidentifyingandagreeingappropriatescope,contentandstructureforpowerprojectEIAswithallrelevantstakeholders–inadvanceofanyspecificproject.

ItisproposedthatthestructureandcontentwillexactlymatchthatemployedintheEPA’sAdvice Notes on Current Practice in the Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements.Itwill,howeverprovideconsiderablymoredetailoneachsection.

TheseGuidelineswilldrawheavilyonboththeEnvironmental Benchmarking Studies and the Evidence-Based Design Guidelinestoprovidethedetailaboutthescopeofenvironmentalstudiesontheonehandandtodescribehowtheprojectsshouldbedescribedontheother.TheywillalsotakeintoaccountEirGrid’sEcologyGuidelinesforTransmissionPowerlineswhichwillbeupdatedasappropriatefollowingcompletionofthebenchmarkingstudies.OneofthemostimportantcomponentsoftheGuidelineswillbeastandardisedGlossaryofImpacts.Thiswillcollateastandardisedandauthoritativesetofdescriptionsoflevelsofimpactforpowerprojects.

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ThisisintendedtoremoveuncertaintyinthepreparationofEnvironmentalImpactStatementsbyfacilitatingrapidandconsistentscopingandscreening.Itwillalsomakekeydeterminationsmorerobustandprotecttheirdecisionsagainstanythreatsanddisputesaboutthesufficiencyofthedataortheappropriatenessofthemethodsemployed.

ThebenchmarkstudieswillprovidethefactualbasisforEvidence-BasedDesignGuidelinesforPowerTransmissionProjectsinIreland.Thebenchmarkstudiesandthedesignguidelines,inturnwillprovidethebasisforspecialistEIAGuidelinesforthissector.

ItisnotedthatprojectswillalsohavetobescreenedwithrespecttotheHabitatsDirectiveAssessment/AppropriateAssessmentasrequiredbyArticle6oftheHabitatsDirective10–availableDEHLGGuidance’AppropriateAssessmentofPlansandProjectsinIreland’(2009)shouldbeconsideredasappropriateinthisregard.

5.5 EMM4 Consideration of the Broadest Possible Range of Alternatives in all Future Energy Transmission StrategiesAlternativeroutesandregionalgriddevelopmentstrategieswillconsiderthebroadestrangepossibleofspatialandenvironmentalalternativesatthenextlevelofenvironmentalassessment–i.e.thatoflowertierplans,multipleorindividualprojects.Allprojectswillbesubjecttodetailedconstraintsandroutesstudy,inaccordancewithEirGrid’sProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap.

5.6 EMM5 Preparation of Transmission Development Plan Environmental Appraisal ReportEirGridproducesanannualrollingoperationaldocument,theTransmissionDevelopmentPlan(TDP),asrequiredbyregulation8(6)ofSI445/2000,andsubmittedforapprovaltotheCER(CommissionforEnergyRegulation).

IncompliancewithSI435of2004,TDPswillbescreenedfortheneedtoundertakeSEAandAA.Notwithstandingtheoutcomeofscreening,anEnvironmentalAppraisalReportwillbepreparedtoaccompanyeachannualTDPwhichwilldescribeanyeffectsarisingthatwillbesignificantlygreater,differentormoresignificantthanthoseanticipatedbytheSEAorAA.

TheEnvironmentalAppraisalReportwhichaccompaniesthenextTDPshalltakeintoaccountmaritimemappingandissuesemergingfromtheseparateSEAinrespectofthecurrentOffshoreRenewableEnergyDevelopmentPlan,asappropriate.

5.7 EMM6 Ongoing Co-operation in preparation of Renewable Energy Generation Guidelines and Strategies Somepartsofthecountryarebettersituatedforgenerationofrenewablesuppliesofenergythanothers.However,thereiscurrentlynogoverningterrestrialrenewableenergystrategydetailingwhererenewableenergygenerationshouldoccurinIreland.AnumberofpoliciesandobjectivesexistinvariousCountyDevelopmentPlansandCountyWindEnergyStrategieswhichpromotethedevelopmentofrenewableenergyatidentifiedlocationsintheirjurisdictions.


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ThereisclearmeritinthepreparationofRegionalRenewableEnergyGenerationGuidelines,asrenewableenergydevelopmentsmayoftentraversecountyandregionalboundaries.EirGridiskeentosupport,co-operateandparticipateinthepreparationofanysuchfutureRegionalRenewableEnergyGenerationGuidelines,RegionalRenewableEnergyStrategies,CountyWindEnergyStrategiesandCountyRenewableEnergyStrategies.Furthermore,EirGridwillcontinuetosupporttheimplementationofaspectsoftheNationalRenewableEnergyActionPlan2010whereapplicable.

5.8 EMM7 Integrating Offshore Grid connectivity requirements and environmental considerations in EirGrid’s Strategic Environmental Framework (SEF)ItisemergingthatanumberofscenariosforfutureelectricalgenerationanddistributionstrategiesinIrelandarelikelytoinvolvethedevelopmentofoffshoregridinfrastructure.ThishasthepotentialtooccurinareasoffmanypartsofIrelandonaccountofvariousdevelopmentsincludingtheexploitationofoffshorerenewableresources(windandwave),interconnectorswithotherEUMemberStatesandtheparticipationofIrelandinapan-Europeanoffshoregrid.Allofthesehavesignificantimplicationsforgriddevelopmentandpotentialforsignificantinteractionswithinshoreandterrestrialenvironments.

TheSEADirective11requirestheidentificationofarangeofenvironmentaleffectsincludingthosewhichareindirect.InterconnectionacrosswaterandrenewableenergygenerationinfrastructureenabledbytheIP,forexample,cancausepotentialindirectandcumulativeeffectsonboththeonshoreandoffshoreenvironments.Currentlyavailableoffshoreenvironmentaldataisnotsufficiently

completetofacilitateacomprehensiveevaluationoflikelyimpactstothetransitionzonebetweenterrestrialandmarineenvironments.TheOREDPwillbereviewedandupdated,andintegrationwillbecomemoreapparentwithtime.ItisanticipatedthatimprovedoffshoredatawillbecomeavailableintheperiodfollowingthisSEA,particularlyasaresultoftheSEAwhichiscurrentlybeingundertakenforoffshorerenewableresources.ThisdatawillbetakenintoaccountintheEnvironmentalAppraisalReportsforforthcomingannualTDPsandintheSEAsoffutureiterationsoftheIP.

Figure5.1illustratesaqualitativeindicationofgeneral,potentiallocationsforland/seaconnectionswheretherearelesssensitiveonshoreenvironmentsinthevicinityofcoasts.Thisqualitativeindicationwasdeterminedbythesensitivityofonshoreenvironmentsinthevicinityofcoasts,asillustratedbytheOverallDevelopmentPotentialRatingmappingforthevariousregionstowhichGrid25relates,aswellasrelevantcorrespondingdata–includingthatrelatingtolandscapeandecologicalconstraints–forNorthernIreland.Itwouldbeusefulifoffshoregridsgenerallyaimedtomakelandfallintheseareasanditwouldbedesirableforsuchdecisionstoconsidercomparable,equivalenton-shoreandoffshoredata.

Anyconsiderationofalternativeroutes/locationsforland/seaconnectionswillberequiredtoconsiderspatialandenvironmentalalternativesatthenextlevelofenvironmentalassessment–i.e.thatoflowertierplans,multipleorindividualprojects–asisrequiredbymitigationmeasureEMM4,whichhasbeenintegratedintotheIP.


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Figure 5.1 Less Sensitive12 Areas for Land/Sea Connections (identified in yellow)

12Presenceoflessenvironmentalsensitivities

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APPENDIX A - Network Reinforcement Projects, Demand Customer and DSO Connection Projects, and Generator Connection Projects, identified in EirGrid’s Transmission Development Plan 2010

CP No. Project Title & Description Major New Equipment

Project Justification ECD Phase

CP0217a Blake-Cushaling-Maynooth 110 kV Line - Loop into Newbridge 110 kV station

ExistingCushaling-Maynooth110kVcircuittobeloopedintoNewbridge110kVstationbetweenBlakeTandCushaling.

110kVbays:2110kVline:14km

Toimprovethequalityofsupplytothe110kVstationsinthisareabypreventinglowvoltagesandlineoverloadsundercertaincontingencies.

Jun-10 Complete

CP0241a Lodgewood 220kV Project - New 220kV Station

AnewLodgewood220/110kVstationinCo.Wexford,connectedintotheArklow-GreatIsland220kVlineandlinkedwithanewCrane-Lodgewood110kVline,througha250MVA220/110kVtransformer

220kVStation

220/110kV250MVATrafo:1

220kVbays:5

110kVbays:5

Inotherstations

110kVbays:1

New Line 220 kV line:1km

110kV:7km

Toprovidesupporttothe110kVnetworkinthisareaandbypreventinglowvoltagesandlineoverloadsundercertaincontingencies.

Dec-10 Complete

Table A1

Network Reinforcement Projects

A1 Network Reinforcement DevelopmentsThesecomprisedevelopmentprojectsthataredrivenbygenericdemandgrowthandthedeepreinforcementsresultingfromgeneratordemandandinterconnectorconnections.

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CP0264a Finglas 220kV Station:

5th 250MVA 220/110 kV Transformer (T2105)

Installationofafifth250MVA220/110kVtransformerandcoupler

220kVbays:2

110kVbays:2220/110kV250MVATrafo:1

TomaintainshortcircuitlevelswithinstandardsandtoalleviatepotentialoverloadingoftheMaynooth-Ryebrook110kVlineundercertainmaintenance-tripconditions.

Feb-10 Complete

CP0379 Carrigadrohid-Kilbarry 110 kV Line Uprate

Upratelineandbusbarstoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVline

33.6km

Refurbishmentrequiredduetoconditionofline,uprateindicatednecessarybystudiesforGate2wind.

Dec-10 Complete

CP0451 Dungarvan-Knockraha 110kV Line Uprate

Upratelineto430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVline:54km

Thisuprateisnecessarytoavoidunacceptableoverloadingofthe110kVduringcertaincontingenciesasaresultofnewgenerationinthesouthwest

Theupratingofthelinehasbeencompleted,workiscurrentlybeingcarriedouttoupratetheremoteendstoenablefulloperatingcapacityofthecircuit.

Dec-10 Complete

CP0512 New Capacitors at Kilkenny

Onenew30MvarcapacitoratKilkenny110kVstation

110kVstation.

110kVbays:1

Caps:1x30Mvar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheKilkennyareacontinuetocomplywithstandardsandtominimisetheriskofvoltagecollapsefollowingthetrippingoftheKilkenny-Kellis110kVline.

Mar-10 Complete

CP0515 New capacitor at Drumline:

One new 15 Mvar capacitor at Drumline 110 kV station.

110kVbays:1

Caps.:1x15MVar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheDrumlineareacontinuetocomplywithstandards.

Oct-10 Complete

CP0528 New capacitor at Kilteel

Onenew30MvarcapacitoratKilteel110kVstation

110kVbays:1

Caps.:1x30Mvar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheKildareareacontinuetocomplywithvoltagestandardsfollowingtheloopingofKilteelstationandtominimisetheriskofvoltagecollapse.

Nov-10 Complete

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CP0549a Shannonbridge-Dallow T-Portlaoise

110 kV Line Partial Uprate

Partiallineupratesothatallofthelineisequivalentto430mm2ACSR@80°C

Uprate110kVline:18.3kmof66.7km

Theneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoavoidpotentialoverloadsoftheline.

Sep-10 Complete

CP0562 Great Island-Waterford 110 kV Line Uprate

Upratelinetoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80°C

Uprate110kVline

11.8km


Oct-10 Complete

CP0576 Cathaleen’s Fall-Corraclassy 110 kV Line Uprate

Upratelinetoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80°C

61.3km TheneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoavoidpotentialoverloadsofthelineintimesofhighwindoutputfromDonegal

Nov-10 Complete

CP0584 Shannonbridge-Ikerrin T 110 kV Line Uprate:

Upratelinetotheequivalentrating

of430mm2ACSR@80°Canduprateallstationequipmenttothisrating.

Uprate110kVline:

54km


Sep-10 Complete

CP0590 Raffeen-Trabeg No.2 110 kV Line Uprate:

Upratelinetotheequivalentof430mm2

ACSR@80°C.

Uprate110kVline:

9.23km


Dec-10 Complete

CP0592 Aghada-Raffeen 220 kV Cable

Thenew220kVcircuitconsistingofasectionofcableandasectionofoverheadline.Theoverheadlineportionofthecircuithasbeencompletedin2006

220kVbays:2

220kVcable:7km

220kVline:8km

TheincreasedgrowthinbothdemandandgenerationintheCorkareahasplacedalargestrainonthenetworksinthisarea.

Jun-10 Complete

56

CP0626 Killonan-Knockraha 220 kV Line Uprate:

ReplacetheexistingconductorwithaHighTemperatureLowSag(GAP)conductortoachieveahigherrating.

Uprate220kVline:

82km

Conditionassessmentidentifiedtheneedforrefurbishment.Thelinewasreplacedwithoneofahigherratingwhichadherestocurrentstandards.

Dec-10 Complete

CP0175 Charleville-Killonan 110 kV Line Uprate

UprateLineto430mm2ACSR@80°C

Uprate110kVLine:

36.9km

Theneedforupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoavoidpotentialoverloadsoftheline.

Theupratingofthelinehasbeencompletedandworkiscurrentlybeingcarriedouttoupratetheremoteendstoenablefulloperatingcapacityofthecircuit.

Jun-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0197a Cushaling-Thornsberry 110kV New Line

ConstructionofanewCushaling-Thornsberry110kVlineasa2ndconnectiontoThornsberry110kVstation

110kVbays:2

110kVline:30km

Toimprovethequalityofsupplytothe110kVstationsinthisareabypreventinglowvoltagesandlineoverloadsundercertaincontingencies.

TheDSOhasrequestedasecond110kVlinetotheDSOstationatThornsberrytoimprovethesecurityofsupply.

Sep-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0211 Srananagh 220 kV Station and Line:

AnewSrananagh220/110kVstationconnectedbyanew220kVlinetoFlagford

220kVstation;

110kVworknowcomplete

220 kV Station:


220kVbays:3

New Lines:220kV:56km

ThisdevelopmentisneededtoreinforcethenetworkintheNorth-Westareabysupportingthevoltageandreducingtheriskoflossofsupplyduringthewinterpeaksandthesummermaintenanceoutages.

Itisalsorequiredtofacilitatetheexportofrenewablegenerationfromthenorthwest.

Dec-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0218 Gorman-Navan No. 3 110 kV line:

AthirdlinefromGorman110kVstationto

Navan110kVstationwillbeconstructed.

110kVbays:2

110kVline:4km

ToalleviateunacceptableoverloadsofeitheroftheexistingGorman-Navan110kVlinesfrom2012undercertaincontingencies.


57

CP0246a Tarbert-Tralee No.2 110 kV New Line

AsecondlinefromTarberttoTraleeconstructedat110kV


Thisisneededtoovercome110kVlineoverloadsandvoltagecollapseintheTraleearea.

Nov-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0254 Cashla loop-in of the Dalton-Galway 110 kV line:

LoopingoftheDalton–Galway110kVlineintotheCashlastation,creatingtheCashla–DaltonlineandtheCashla–GalwayNo.4110kVline.ThislinewillthenbeextendedouttothenewSalthill100kVstation,creatingaCashla-Salthill110kVline.RefCP0543inDSOsection.


ToavoidoverloadingtheexistingCashla-Galway110kVlinesduringcertaincontingenciesbyremovingtheDaltonloadconnectionandprovidinganadditionalcircuitintoGalway.


CP0265 Cullenagh - Great Island 220 kV Line Uprate

Upratelinetoequivalentof600mm2HTLSACSR@80oC

Uprate220kVLine

23km

Theupratewillavoidunacceptableoverloadingofthelineduringcertaincontingencies.

Oct-12 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0292a Gorman-Meath Hill 110 kV New Line

Anew110kVlinewillbeconstructedbetweenGormanandMeathHill110kVstations


TheDSOhasrequestedasecondconnectiontoMeathHill110kVstation.


CP0374a Arva-Shankill No.2 110 kV New Line

Anew110kVlineconstructedbetweenArvaandShankill110kVstations.


Toalleviateunacceptableoverloadsofanumberof110kVlinesintheareaforcertaincontingencyconditions.Thisreinforcementisassociatedwithgenerationconnection.


CP0371 Ballydine - Doon 110 kV Line Uprate (inc of Ballydine busbar) (11.4km)

Upratelinetoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVline:11.4km



58

CP0406a Cashla-Cloon 110kV Line Uprate





CP0421 Binbane-Letterkenny 110 kV New Line (Donegal Reinforcement)

Anew110kVlinebetweentheexistingBinbaneandLetterkenny110kVstationsinCountyDonegal;thisnewlineisloopedintoanew110kVswitchingstation,Tievebrack,eastofGlentiestofacilitateDSOconnectiontoArdnagappary.


TheDSOhasrequestedasecond110kVconnectiontoBinbane.TheBinbane-LetterkennylinemeetstheDSO’sneedswhilefacilitatinggenerationexportsfromDonegalduringlowdemandperiodsandmeetingtheincreasingelectricitydemandinthearea.


CP0467a Louth 220kV Station - Reactive Compensation

Installationofa30Mvarre-deployablecapacitorunitatthe110kVbusbarinLouthstation.

Louth 110 kV

Bays:1

Caps:1x30Mvar

Toresolvetemporaryandlongtermvoltageproblemsinthenortheast.


CP0511 Killonan 220kV Station

Installationofa4th220/110kVTransformer.Theunitwillhavearatingof250MVA.


Requiredtoavoidoverloadingtheexisting63MVAtransformerswhenthe125MVAtransformerisoutofserviceandoneoftheremaining63MVAtransformerstrips.


CP0513 Carrickmines 220kV Station

Installationofa3rd250MVA220/110kVTransformer

220/110250MVATrafo:1

110kVbays:1

220kVbays:1

Necessarytoavoidunacceptablevoltagelevelsintheareawhenonetransformersisoutofserviceandthesubsequentlossofthesecondtransformer.


CP0514 Ardnacrusha 110 kV Station Reactive Compensation

Installationofanew30MvarcapacitoratArdnacrusha110kVStation.

110kVbays:1

Caps.:1x30Mvar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheArdnacrushaareacontinuetocomplywithstandards.


59

CP0523 Inchicore 220kV Station - 4th 250MVA 220/110kV Transformer

Connectionofanew250MVA,220/110kVdoublewoundtransformer(T2103)inInchicore220kVstation;extensionoftheexistingGIS220kVbusbarandbuilding;installationofanew220kVtransformerbay,linebayandcoupler.

220kVbays:3

220/110250MVATrafo:1

Thiswillmaintainsecurityofsupplyandalleviateexisting220kVshortcircuitproblems.


CP0529 New Capacitor at Thurles

Onenew15MvarCapacitoratThurles110kVstation

110kVbays:1

Caps.:1x15Mvar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheThurlesareacontinuetocomplywiththeTPCandtominimisevoltagedropviolations


CP0537 Limerick-Moneteen 110 kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVline

6.4km

Theneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoavoidpotentialoverloadsoftheline

Aug-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0551 Cahir-Doon 110 kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVline

6.4km



CP0552 Athlone-Shannonbridge 110 kV Line Uprate

Upratelinetoequivalentratingof430mm2ACSR@80oC




CP0575 Corraclassy-Gortawee 110 kV Line Uprate

RefurbishmentandfullupratingoftheCorraclassy-Gortawee110kVlinetoanequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVline

10.9km

AconditionassessmentoftheCorraclassy–Gortawee110kVlinewascarriedoutandshowedtherequirementtoreplacetheconductor.TheneedforupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoavoidpotentialoverloadsonthislineintimesofhighwindoutputfromDonegal

LineWorknowcomplete,Awaitingbayconductoruprate

Mar-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

60

CP0586 Knockraha 220 kV Station

Installationofa3rd250MVA220/110kVtransformer

220/110kVtrafo:1

220kVbay:1

110kVbays:1

110kVcable:1

TwonewCCGTsinCorkdrivetheneedforadditionaltransformercapacityinKnockraha220kVstation.


CP0593 Aghada 220 kV AIS Station

Replacementandupgradingofexistingstation

220 kV Station

Theincreasedgrowthinbothdemandandgenerationisplacingalargestrainonthenetworksinthisarea.Theconditionoftheplantandapparatusduetoageisalsoafactor


CP0594 New Capacitors at Mullingar

Twonew15MvarcapacitorsatMullingar110kVstation

110kVbays:2

Caps:2x15Mvar

ToensurethatvoltagesintheMullingarareacontinuetocomplywiththeTPCandtocaterforincreasingdemand


CP0618 New Capacitors at Lisdrum

Installationoftwo15MvarfixedcapacitorunitsatLisdrum110kVstation

110kVbays:2

Caps:2x15Mvar

Toresolvethetemporaryandlongtermvoltageproblemsinthenortheast

Apr-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0587 Glanagow-Raffeen 220 kV Underground Cable Circuit

Anew220kVcircuitconsistingofasectionofcableandasectionofoverheadline.

220 kV Cables

Underground:4km

Undersea:4.5km

220kVbays:2

ThisisnecessarytofacilitatetheexportofgenerationfromtheCorkharbourarea

Jul-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0620 Arva-Gortawee 110 kV Line Uprate

RefurbishmentandfullupratingoftheArva-Gortawee110kVlinetoanequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVline:

30.6km

AconditionassessmentoftheArva-Gortawee110kVlinewascarriedoutin2008.Theneedforrefurbishmentwasidentifiedbythisassessmentwhilesystemstudiesindicatedtheneedtoupratetoavoidunacceptableoverloading.


61

CP0517 Coolroe - Kilbarry 110 kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVLine

14.5km



CP0518 Coolroe - Inniscarra line uprate (inc Innicscarra busbar)


Uprate110kVLine

2.74km



CP0559 Butlerstown - Killoteran line uprate (inc of busbars)


Uprate110kVLine

2.7km



CP0560 Cullenagh - Waterford 110 kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVLine

12.5km



CP0637D Portlaoise busbar uprate-Athy Carlow Line Works

Busbars,sectionalisersanddisconnectorstobeuprated.

110kVStation:BBuprate:1

Theneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoenabledevelopmentofthenetwork.


CP0656 Arklow - Crane 110 kV Line Uprate incl busbars in Arklow & Crane


Uprate110kVLine

41.8km



CP0659 Arva - Navan 110 kV Line Uprate & Line Works


Uprate110kVLine

65.5km



62

CP0667 Inchicore - Maynooth 1 & 2 220kV Line (double cct)- Uprate with HTLS

Uprate220kVLine

2x19km



CP0687 Dunmanway - Macroom 110kV Refurbishment

Newlineequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC

Uprate110kVLine

26.2km

ConditionAssessmentindicatesrequirementforlinerefurbishment.Existinglinetobeupgradedaccordingtocurrentpolicy


CP0689 Ennis 110kV station - Busbar Uprate

110kVStation:Busbaruprate:1

Theneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoenabledevelopmentofthenetwork


CP0694 Athlone 110kV Busbar Uprate 110kVStation:Busbaruprate:1

Theneedofupratinghasbeenidentifiedtoenabledevelopmentofthenetwork


CP0696 Marina - Trabeg 1 110kV Cable Uprate

110kVCableuprate3.3km



CP0698 Prospect - Tarbert 220kV Line Uprate (7.7km)

Uprate220kVline

7.7km



CP0701 Cullenagh - Dungarvan 110 kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVline

34.32km



63

CP0702 Butlerstown - Cullenagh 110kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVLine

14.5km



CP0660 Cashla-Ennis 110 kV Line Uprate

UprateLinetoequivalentof430mm2@80oC

Uprate110kVLine

54.3km



CP0466a&CP0469

North-South 400 kV Interconnection Development

Anew400kVlineconstructedbetweentheexistingWoodland400kVstation,insoutheastCo.MeathandTurleenaninCo.Tyrone

Woodland 400 kV

Bay:1

400kVline:140km

Toincreasetransfercapacitybetweenthetwosystemsinbothdirectionsandavoidsituationswhereasingleeventcouldleadtosystemseparation.Alsotoprovidenetworkreinforcementinthenortheast

Dec-14 PublicPlanningProcess1

CP0399 Moneypoint-Tarbert 220 kV New Cable

AnewsubmarinecableconstructedacrosstheShannonEstuaryfromMoneypointinCo.Claretoanew220kVstationwestofTarbertinnorthCo.Kerry;installationofanew400/220kVtransformerinMoneypoint

400kVbays:1

220kVbays:1

500MVATrafo:1

220kVcable:10km

Toprovideanalternativerouteforpowerintoandoutofthesouthwestaswellasanadditionallinkbetweenthe400kVand220kVnetworks.

Jul-13 PublicPlanningProcess2

CP0682 Woodland 400 kV Station - 2nd 400/220 500MVA Trafo

400kVStation:1

500MVATrafo:1

RequireddeepreinforcementforEast-WestInterconnector.


CP0683 Dunstown 400kV Station - 2nd 400/220 500MVA Trafo

400kVStation:1

500MVATrafo:1

RequireddeepreinforcementforEast-WestInterconnector.


1ThisprojectwasoriginallysubmittedasanapplicationforApprovaltoABP,butwaswithdrawnpriortoitsdetermination. TheprojectiscurrentlyatOutlineDesignorEIA2IncludingenvironmentalreportandAAscreening3Thisprojecthassubsequentlybeenapproved,andisnowatdetaileddesignandconstructionphase4Thisprojecthassubsequentlybeenapproved,andisnowatdetaileddesignandconstructionphase

64

CP0647 Tarbert Redevelopment Project

New220/110kVstationtothewestoftheexistingTarbertStation.Allexisting110kVcircuitsconnectedintoTarbert220kVstationwillbedivertedtothisnewstation

220/110kVStation:1

220/110kVTrafos:3

220kVBays:12

110kVBays:12

RequiredtoaccommodateplannedgenerationinthesouthwestandtherefurbishmentoftheexistingTarbert220kVstation.Thenew110kVpartofthestationwillallowfortheexistingTarbert110kVequipmenttoberemovedforacleanupoflinesinthearea.AlsotherouteaccessintoTarbertisrestricted,thenewstationwillimprovethis


CP0501 Clashavoon-Dunmanway 110 kV New Line

Constructionofanew110kVlinefromClashavoontoDunmanwaystationandassociatedstationsworks

110kVline:35km

110kVbays:2

TheconstructionofaClashavoon-Dunmanway110kVlinewillimprovesecurityofsupplyforwestCorkandfacilitaterenewablegeneration


CP0580 Carrickmines 220 kV GIS Development

Replacementofexistingair-insulatedswitchgearwithgas-insulatedswitchgear(GIS);

Installationofanew4th220/110kVtransformer.

220kVsubstation:1

220kVbays:1


Therequirementtochangetheswitchgearisduetotheassets’conditionandexpansionneeds.The4th220/110kV250MVAtransformerisnecessarytoavoidunacceptablelowvoltagelevelsintheareawhenonetransformerisoutformaintenanceandafaultoccursonasecondtransformer


CP0585 Laois /Kilkenny Reinforcement New Station & Associated Lines & Station Works

New400/110kVtransmissionstationinCo.Laois.ThestationwillbeloopedintotheexistingDunstown-Moneypoint400kVlineandCarlow-Portlaoise110kVline.

Anew110kVcircuitfromthenewstationtoKilkennyusingtheexistingBallyragget-Kilkenny38kVlinewhichisbuiltto110kVstandards.

Anew110/38kVstationatBallyraggettocaterforlossoftheKilkenny-Ballyragget38kVline.[DetailstobefinalisedwithDSO].

400kVStation

400kVbays:5

400kVbusbar

110kVStation:

110kVbays:7

110kVbusbar

Inother110kVstations

110kVbays:5

110kVOHL:30km

Thiswillprovideastronginjectionfromthe400kVnetworkintothe110kVnetworknearPortlaoise,andwillsignificantlyimprovethequalityandsecurityofsupplyincountiesLaois,CarlowandKilkennyandprovideforlongtermgrowththroughouttheregion.


5IncludingenvironmentalreportandAAscreening

65

CP0596 New 110kV Circuit To Mullingar

Constructionofanew110kVcircuittoMullingar110kVstationfromeitherKinnegadorDerryiron110kVstations

110kVbays:2

110kVLine:30km

RequiredtoensurevoltagelevelsatMullingarremainwithinstandardsduringcertaincontingenciesandallowforeconomicgrowthinthearea


CP0597 Reinforcement of the Ardnacrusha & Ennis Area

UpratingoftheMoneypoint-Tullabrack-Booltiagh-Ennis110kVcircuittoequivalentof430mm2ACSR@80oC.DependentonMoneypoint400/220/110kVGISDevelopment,seeCP0688

Uprate110kVline:53.1km

ToalleviatelowvoltagelevelsintheArdnacrushaandEnnisareasduringthesummermaintenanceofcertainexistingoverheadlinesinthearea


CP0674 Tralee 110 kV Station

NewCoupler

110kVCoupler:1

RequiredtoimprovesecurityofsupplyinKerry


CP0688 Moneypoint - New 400/220/110kV GIS development

400,220,110kVstation

Requiredtocomplywithbusbarpolicyandsecurityofsupplystandards.Alsofacilitatedevelopmentoftransmissionnetwork


CP0699 Cathaleen’s Fall - Srananagh 1 110kV Line Uprate


Uprate110kVLine

52.7km

110kVBay:1



CP0709 Dunmanway 110kV Station Upgrade

100kVStation:

TrafoBay:1

BB/coupler:1

Requiredtocomplywithbusbarpolicyandsecurityofsupplystandards.Alsofacilitatedevelopmentoftransmissionnetwork


CP0707 Barrymore 110kV station extension - Loop into Cahir - Knockraha 110kV line

NewLines:110kV:

0.3km

DSOhasrequestedconnectionofof2nd110/38kVtransformer.Thisdrivesneedforfull4bayloopedinstationtocomplywithtransmissionstandards


CP0619 New Capacitors at Shankill

Installationof15Mvarand30Mvarre-deployablecapacitorunitsatShankill110kVstation

110kVbays:2

Caps:1x15Mvar

1x30Mvar

Toresolvethetemporaryandlongtermvoltageproblemsinthenortheast

OnHold

OutlineDesignorEIA

67

CP No. Project Title & Description Major New Equipment ECD Phase

CP0489 Castlebar 110 kV Station - New 110 kV Line bay for Carrowbeg

Carrowbegisthenameforanew110kVstationnearWestport,Co.Mayo,tailfedfromCastlebar.Installationof110kVequipmentinanexistinglinebayinCastlebar110kVstation.

Itisproposedthatthenewstationwillsupply1MVAofnewloadandaccommodatethetransferof22MWfromCastlebar

110kVbay:1 Jun-10 Complete

CP0535 College Park 110 kV Station - 3rd Transformer bay

Connect1X20MVA,110/10kVtransformer(T103)inCollegePark110kVstation.

ItisproposedthatthenewtransformerwillenableCollegePark110kVstationtoaccommodateanincreaseinMICof24MVA

110kVbay:1 Mar-10 Complete

CP0628 Doon 110 kV Station NewTransformerBay

110kVTrafobay:1 Dec-10 Complete

Table A2

DSO Connection Projects

A2 Demand Customer and DSO ConnectionsMostdemandconnectionstothetransmissionsystemaresoughtbytheDistributionSystemOperatorwhichappliesfornewstationconnections.TableA2liststhedevelopmentprojectsthatrelatedirectlytotheconnectionofnewTSO/DSOinterfacestationstothegrid,ortochangesinexistingconnectionarrangements.

68

CP0631 Waterford 110 kV Station - Uprate 2 bays to 63 MVA

Replacetheexisting2x31.5MVATransformersatWaterford110kVstationwith2x63MVAunits.

110kVTrafobay:2 Sep-10 Complete

CP0173b Banoge 110 kV New Connection

TheexistingArklow-Crane110kVlineloopedintoBanoge110kVstation,creatingnewArklow-BanogeandBanoge-Crane110kVlines.Thisstationhasalreadybeenbuiltandisawaitingconnection

110 kV station

110kVbays:4

110kVline:6km


CP0201a Athy 110 kV Station

TheexistingCarlow-Portlaoise110kVlineloopedintoanewAthy110kVstation,creatingnewAthy-PortlaoiseandAthy-Carlow110kVlines.

Stationiscompleteandenergised,butistee’dontoCarlow-Portlaoise110kVline.

Afurtheroutageisrequiredin2010toloopthisnewstationintotheexistingcircuit.

110 kV station

110kVbays:5

110kVline:18km


CP0507 Arklow 220/110 kV Station –

New2x20MVADSOTransformers(T2101/T2102)tobeinstalledtoaccommodategrowingloadinthearea

110 kV bays: 2 Mar-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0543 Salthill 110kV Station - New Station

Newlooped110kVstationwillbebuiltonsiteofexistingSalthill38kVstation.SalthillwillbeconnectedtoGalway110kVstationandtoCashlabyre-directingtheproposedCashla-Galway110kVNo.4linetoSalthill,whichwillbecomeCashla-Salthill110kV.ThisprojectalsoincorporatesabayinSalthillfortheDSOconnectiontoScreeb

110kVlinebays:5

110kVtrafobays:3

110kVcable:12km


CP0630 Carlow 110 kV Station - Uprate 2 bays to 63 MVA

Replacetheexisting2x31.5MVATransformersatCarlow110kVstationwith2x63MVAunits

110kVTrafoBay:2 Oct-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0646 Finglas 110 kV Station

New 35 bay 110 kV GIS Station to replace existing 110 kV AIS.

110kVStation

Bays:35


6Thisprojecthassubsequentlybeenapproved,andisnowatdetaileddesignandconstructionphase

69

CP0437a North Dublin 220kV Project - New 220kV Station

A new 220 kV station in the Balgriffin area and associated networks. The development is part of a wider TSO/DSO agreed reinforcement strategy to enhance the network in the northern fringe of Dublin city. The station will be tail fed from Finglas 220 kV using cable and constructed with GIS.

The process of acquisition of a new site for this project is currently underway.

220kVStation(GIS):1


220kVbays:1

Inotherstations

220kVbays:1

220kVcable;15km


CP0506 Finnstown 220kV Project

(Adamstown) - New 220kV Station

Finnstown 220 kV station, south of Lucan, a new 220 kV station looped into the Inchicore-Maynooth No. 1 and No.2 220 kV lines. The station will be initially a single transformer 220 kV station, but allow final development for a four transformer station. Due to space restrictions on potential sites an entirely GIS station is proposed.

220kVGISstation

Trafobay:4

Line/cablebays:4

Couplerbay:3


110kVGISStation

Doublebusbar:1

Trafobay:4

Line/cable/MVtrafobays:8

GIScouplerbay:3


CP0644 Bracklone 110 kV Station and Loop In

New 110 kV station to be looped into Portlaoise-Newbridge 110 kV line. Replaces existing Portarlington 38 kV Station.

110kVstation

linebays:2

TrafoBays:2


CP0649 Drumline 110 kV Station Works

Two 20 MVA Transformers supplying 12.2 MW New load and 11.4 MW transfered load from existing Drumline transformers.

110KVBays:2 Jun-13 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0627 Bandon 110 kV Station

New Transformer Bay.

110kVTrafobay:1 OnHold

OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0075 Ballycummin 110 kV New Station

New station looped into the Limerick-Moneteen 110 kV line.

110kVlinebays:5

110kVline:0.2km

OnHold

OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0629 Monread 110 kV Station

New Transformer Bay

Cancelled – included in Minor Capital Works instead Jan 10)

110kVTrafoBay:1 Dec-10 Cancelled

71


CP0563 IPP62 Garvagh Connection

Installation of Garvagh 110 kV bay in Corderry 110 kV station (IPP build)

Bays:1(locatedatCorderry110kV)

Line:7km

Apr-10 Complete

CP0599 IPP048E Coomagearlahy Wind Farm Extension

A new bay in the existing Coomagearlahy 110 kV station to facilitate an extension of the wind farm (IPP Build)

110kVBay:1 Feb-10 Complete

CP0614 IPP142 Edenderry Peaker Project

A new 110 kV bay at the existing Cushaling 110 kV station to connect a new 116 MW distillate generator

Bays:1(atCushaling110kV) Apr-10. Complete

CP0555 IPP111 Castledockrill Connection

A new 110 kV station connected to Lodgewood station, see CP241 in Table 4-2. This will facilitate connection of DSO windfarm. (IPP Build).

110kVstation

110kVbays:2

110kVCable:6.6km

Dec-10 Complete

Table A3

Generator Connection Projects

A3 Generator ConnectionsThissectionoutlinestheprojectsunderwaythatrelatedirectlytoconnectionofgenerationtothetransmissionsystemortochangesinexistinggenerationconnectionarrangements.Someoftheseconnectionsare“contestable”,i.e.thegeneratorhasdecidedtobuildtheconnectionassetstoTSOspecifiedstandards.Itshouldbenotedthatthisisdependentonprogressbytheapplicant.

72

CP0479a IPP055 Athea Phase 1 Connection

A new Athea 110 kV station connected to the existing Trien 110 kV station for the connection of Athea Windfarm (IPP Build).

110kVGISStation

Bays:7(inc.1bayatTrien110kV)

Line:13km(toDromada)


CP0595 Glanagow 220 kV Station

A new 220 kV GIS station for the connection of a new CCGT plant. (Already generating, with temporary connection via AIS station)

New220kVStation:1 Jul-11 DetailedDesign&Construction

CP0500 North Kerry Project

A new 220 kV station looped into the existing Clashavoon-Tarbert 220 kV line. The work includes connection works for Athea, Dromada and Cloghboola windfarms

220kVStation:1

250MVATrafo:1

Bays:2

110kVStation:1

Bays:5

Line:15.2km


CP0603 IPP088 Mulreavy Connection

Connection of a new 110 kV station for connection of new windfarm.

110kVStation:1

110kVBays:5

110kVLine:7.7km


CP0608 IPP119 Cloghboola Wind Farm

Connection of a new windfarm into the existing Trien 110 kV station.

110kVStation

Bays:3

Line:13km

Trien110kV

Bays:1


CP0615 Glenree 110kV Station

Connection of a new 110 kV station, looped into the existing Cunghill-Moy 110 kV line. This station will facilitate the connection of new DSO windfarms.

110kVStation

Bays:3

Sectionaliser:1

Line:1.4km(2x0.7km)

Sep-11 OutlineDesignorEIA

CP0648 Garrow 110 kV Station

Extension Works for a new 110 kV transformer bay for the provision of renewable energy.

110kVstation

110kVLineBays:3

110kVTrafoBay:1

110kVCoupler1

110kVbusbarextension


CP0650 Millstreet 220/110 kV station

New 220/110 kV station looped into the existing Clashavoon-Tarbert 220 kV line for the connection of wind farms.

220/110kVStation

220/110kVTrafo:1

220kVBays:2

110kVBays:1


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CP0651 East Kerry & North West Cork 220 kV Station

A new 220 kV station looped into the existing Clashavoon-Tarbert 220 kV line for the connection of wind farms. Two new 110 kV lines will be constructed, one to Glenlaraand the other to the planned Cordal station in Co. Kerry. Knockacummer connection into Glenlara is also part of this project.

220/110kVStation

220/110kVTrafo:1

220kVBays:2

110kVBays:2


CP0602 IPP044 Keelderry Wind Farm

Connection of a new windfarm to a new station, looped into the existing Agannygal-Derrybrien 110 kV line.

110kVStation:1

Bays:3


CP0641 IPP118 Nore Power Station

Extension works in the existing Kilkenny station for the connection of a new OCGT.

110kVstation


110kVCableBay(atKilkenny)


CP0669 IPP159 Cuilleen Power Shallow Connection

Connection of a new OCGT into the existing Athlone 110 kV station

Athlone110kVstation

LineBay:1

110kVCoupler


CP0670 IPP112 Suir Power Shallow Connection

Connection of a new OCGT into the existing Cahir 110 kV station

110kVStation


110kVCableBay:1(atCahir)


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CP0652 East-West Interconnector

Shallow connection of East-West Interconnector into Woodland

400 kV station from new HVDC/HVAC Converter Station at Portan, near Woodland in Co. Meath

400kVbays:1

400kVtailedconverterstation:1

400kVcable:500m


Table A4

Interconnector Connection Projects

A4 Connection of InterconnectorsThissectionoutlinestheprojectsthatrelatedirectlytotheconnectionofinterconnectorstothetransmissionsystem.ThesearelistedinTableA4.

TheCable-layingvessel‘Nostag’atworkonEastWestInterconnectorinWales

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AsextractedfromSection9oftheEnvironmentalReportoftheSEAaccompanyingthisIP.

EMM8 Other Measures Integrated into the IPMitigationmeasuresdescribedbelowhavebeenwordedtofacilitatedirecttranscriptionandincorporationintotheImplementationProgramme.

NotethatthefollowingmitigationmeasureswillbeextendedandaugmentedbytheoutputfromtheEnvironmentalBenchmarkingStudiesandEvidence-BasedDesignGuidelinesdescribedabove.

EMM8A Biodiversity and Flora and Fauna

EMM8A(i) Designated European and National Sites of Nature Conservation Interest

Everyeffortwillbemadetoavoiddesignatedsitesofconservationimportance.However,wherethisisnotpossible,routingwillbeselectedtoensurenosignificantimpactsontheintegrityofthesite.Restrictedworkingareaswillbeimposedtoensureminimaldisturbancetosensitivehabitats.

Sensitiveconstructiontechniqueswillbeusedsuchastheuseofbogmatsformachineryaccess,particularlyifundergroundcablesareproposedorinremoteboglandareas.Aerialaccesswillbeconsidered–forbothmaterialsandworkforce–inexceptionallysensitivesites.

Ecologicalmonitoringwillbeundertakenatsensitivesitesduringconstructionasappropriate.Suchsiteswillbeidentifiedonacasebycasebasis.

EMM8A(ii) General Habitat Loss and Disturbance

• Wherepossible,directhabitatlosswithindesignatedsiteswillbeavoided.

• Whenconstructionoccurswithinadesignatedsite,sensitiveconstructiontechniqueswillbeusedsuchastheuseofbogmatsformachinery

access,particularlyifundergroundcablesareproposedorinremoteboglandareas.Aerialaccesswillbeconsidered–forbothmaterialsandworkforce–inexceptionallysensitivesites.

• Useofbog-matstominimisetheimpactofheavymachineryonvegetationandsoils.

• Minimiseextentofworksareas.

• Re-distributevegetationandsoilstrippedfromtheconstructionareastoprovideaseedbankanddonotre-seedwithPerennialRyegrass.

• Landwithintheworkingareawillbereinstatedasnearaspracticaltoitsformercondition.

EMM8A(iii) Bogs and Peatland areas

• Areasofdeepandactivepeatshallbeavoided.

• Detailedpeatslipriskassessmentsshouldbecarriedoutforallproposeddevelopmentsinareaswherepeatsubstratesoccur.

• Constructionmachineryshouldberestrictedtositeroadsanddesignatedaccessroutes.Machineryshouldnotbeallowedtoaccess,parkortraveloverareasoutsidedevelopmentconstructionzones.

• Peatexcavatedduringconstructionactivityshouldnotbestored(temporarilyorotherwise)onareasofadjacentmirehabitatsornearflushesordrains.Temporarystorageofspoilmaterialexcavatedduringtheconstructionphasedevelopmentsshouldbestoredatsuitablelocationsawayfromsurfacewatercourses.

• Allspoilmaterialexcavatedduringtheconstructionphaseshouldbereinstatedfollowingthecompletionoftheconstructionphaseofaproposeddevelopment.

• Wheredisturbanceofpeatsoilscannotbeavoided,thereshouldbesomeconsiderationgiventopossiblere-seedingwithnativespeciestostabilisethepeatandacceleraterecoveryofthevegetation.

APPENDIX B - Environmental Mitigation Measures

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EMM8A(iv) Birds

• Wherefeasible,siteclearanceinvolvingthecuttingordestructionofvegetationandhedgerowsshallnottakeplaceinthebirdbreedingseasonbetweenMarch1standAugust31stinclusive.

• Intheeventthatsiteclearancedoestakeplaceduringthebirdnestingseason,theappropriatelicencewillbeappliedfor.

• Ontheadviceofrelevantornithologicalexpertsandagenciesbirdwarningdevicesshallbeputinplacewherecrossingsofsensitiveflightcorridorscannotbeavoided.

EMM8A(v) Bats

• Theremovalofbatcommutingandforaginghabitatshallbeavoidedwherepossibleduringtheconstructionandoperationphaseofinfrastructure.

• Wheretheremovalofcommutingorforaginghabitatcannotbeavoidedalternativehabitatshouldbeestablishedpriortosuchhabitatremoval.

• Treesscheduledforfellingaspartofsiteclearanceshallbecheckedbyabatspecialistforthepresenceofbats.

• Wherebatsarenotedtobewithinatreepriortofellingoperations,itwillbenecessarytopostponefellingtocreatetheopportunityforbatstoceaseusage.Ifbatsdonotleaveatreeorbuildingwithinareasonabletimeframe,itmaybepossibleforabatspecialisttoseektoexcludethebats(orotherwiseremovethemtosafety).ThisshallbecarriedoutbyaqualifiedbatspecialistwithwrittenpermissionfromtheNationalParksandWildlifeSectionoftheDepartmentofArts,HeritageandtheGaeltachtbywayofalicencetoderogatefromtheprotectionaffordedbatsbyIrishandEUlaw.Alllicencesshallbeinplacepriortofellingproceduresastodestroyaroostwithoutalicenceisanoffence.

EMM8A(vi) Otters

• Destructionofactiveotterholtsshallbeavoided

• Noworksshallbeundertakenwithin150mofanyholtsatwhichbreedingfemalesorcubsarepresent.

• Nowheeledortrackedvehicles(ofanykind)shouldbeusedwithin20mofactive,butnon-breeding,otterholts.Lightwork,suchasdiggingbyhandorscrubclearanceshouldalsonottakeplacewithin15mofsuchholts,exceptunderlicence.

EMM8A(vii) Other protected species

• Thebreedingandrestingsitesofprotectedspeciesshallbeavoidedduringtheappropriateseasons.

• Heavymachineryshallnotbeusedwithin30mofanoccupiedbadgersett.

• AderogationlicencefromtherespectiveWildlifeActs13shallbesought–andworksshallnotbecommencedwithoutsuchconsentwhereitappearsthatprotectedfloraandfaunaspeciesarelikelytobeunavoidablydisturbed.

EMM8A(viii) Protected Surface Water or Riparian Habitats

Inallcaseswhereworkshavethepotentialtoimpactonprotectedsurfacewaterorriparianhabitats,theInlandFisheriesIrelanddocumentRequirementsfortheProtectionofFisheries Habitat during Construction and Development Works at River Sitesshallbeadheredto.DevelopmentoftransmissioninfrastructureadjacenttodesignatedfisheriesshallbecarriedoutinconsultationwithInlandFisheriesIrelandtominimisethepotentialeffectsondesignatedsurfacewaters.


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EMM8A(ix) Freshwater Pearl Mussel Catchments

• ActionmeasuresasoutlinedintheSubBasinManagementPlansshallbetakenintoaccountwheredevelopmentisconsideredadjacenttoareasassociatedwithFreshwaterPearlMussels.

• InthevicinityofwatersthatsustainpopulationsofFreshwaterPearlMusselsthefollowingadditionalmitigationmeasuresshallbeemployed:

• Thereshallbenostreamcrossingbymachinery.

• Siltywaterwillbecollectedinsettlementponds priortodischargetowatercourse.

• Bufferingstripswillbeprovidednear watercourses.

EMM8A(x) Fisheries

• AllworksadjacenttodesignatedfisherieswaterswillbedoneinconsultationwithInlandFisheriesIreland.

• AllworksinvolvingopencutcrossingsshallbeconductedduringtheperiodMaytoSeptembertoavoidinterruptionofsalmonidspawningruns,spawning,incubationofeggsandtheearlydevelopmentalstages.

• Whereappropriateandpractical,bankvegetationandbedmaterialwhichhasbeenremovedshallbestoredtofacilitateitsreplacementwhenchannelworkshavebeencompleted.

• Worksinthevicinityofawatercourseshallbecarriedoutwithreferencetoawaterqualityprotectionplanforeachsitewhichshallensurethat:

• Allnecessarymeasuresshallbetakento minimisethegenerationandreleaseof sedimentsintoallwatercourses.

• Levelsofsuspendedsolidsintherivershallbe monitoredduringthecourseoftheworks.

• Precautionsshallbeputinplacetoavoid spillagesofdiesel,oilorotherpollutingsubstances.

EMM8A(xi) Mature Trees

Whereconstructionworkisrequiredclosetotrees,theNationalJointUtilitiesGroup‘GuidelinesforthePlanningInstallationandMaintenanceofUtilityServicesinProximitytoTrees’(NJUG10)willbefollowed.

EMM8A(xii) Hedgerows

Alldisturbedhedgerowswillbere-plantedassoonaspossibleafterconstruction,usingIrishnurserystockandindigenousspecies.Plantingwillbemaintaineduntilvigorousre-growthhasbeenestablished.Wherehedgesofparticularvalueareencounteredtheextentanddurationoftheworksshallbeminimised.Forspecies-richbanks,turfwillbestrippedandstoredseparatelyforreplacementorre-instatement.

EMM8B Water Resources

EMM8B(i) Accidental spillage of fuel chemicals or sewage causing pollution to water or ground

• Develop,implementandenforceaWaterPollutionPreventionandEnvironmentalEmergencyResponsePlanforallworksites.ThisshouldincludegoodsitepracticesasdescribedintheGoodPracticeGuidancenotesproposedbyEA/SEPA/EHS.

EMM8B(ii) Suspended solids & sediment deposition

• Precautionsshallbeputinplacetoavoidorminimisethegenerationandreleaseofsediments14intoallwatercourses.

EMM8B(iii) Physical Damage to watercourses

• Develop,implementandenforceacodeofbestpracticeforconstructionandreinstatementmethodstobeusedforunavoidableconstructionworksinthevicinityofwatercourses.

14Sedimentsinthisinstanceincludeallsoilsincludingpeat.

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EMM8B(iv) Flooding

• Withinknownfloodplains,measuresshallbetakentoavoidanypotentialimpactofconstructionorexistenceoftheworksonthecapacityforfloodwaterstorage.

• Damagetoanyflooddefenceembankmentsshallbeimmediatelyrepairedtoastandardequaltoorbetterthantheexistingembankments.

• EirGridshallcarefullyexaminedevelopmentproposalstoensureconsistencywiththerequirementsofThe Planning System and Flood Risk Management: Guidelines for Planning Authorities(DEHLG,2009)15.

• EirGridshallengagewithplanningauthoritiesatanearlystage,utilisingarrangementsforpre-planningapplicationconsultationwithregardtoanyfloodriskassessmentissuesthatmayarise.

• EirGridshallcarryoutasite-specificfloodriskassessment,asappropriate,andcomplywiththetermsandconditionsofanygrantofplanningpermissionwithregardtotheminimisationoffloodrisk.

EMM8C Soils and Geology

EMM8C(i) Geological Features

• Siteinvestigationsshallbeundertakenatintervalsandspecificlocationsalongthepowercircuitroute.Thisinformationshallbeusedtoplansiteworkoperationstoanticipate,avoidorminimiseconstructionimpactsarisingfromdisturbanceofsub-surfaceconditions.

• Cutandfilloperationsshouldbeavoidedunlessabsolutelynecessary.

• RouteselectionandlowertierassessmentsshouldconsultGeologicalSurveyofIrelandasappropriateinrelationtogeologicalheritagesiteseitherrecommendedforNHAorCountyGeologicalSitedesignation.

EMM8C(ii) Soil

• Heightofstockpilesshouldbelimitedtolessthat3mandstoragetimewillbeminimised.

• Materialhandlingandreinstatementoperationsshouldfollowgoodpracticetoavoidinadequateorovercompactionofthematerials.

• RouteselectionandlowertierassessmentsforpeatlandareasshouldconsiderrelevantgovernmentguidelinesondevelopmentintheseareasaswellasrelevantdatasetsincludingtheGeologicalSurveyofIreland’slandslidedatasetandTeagasc’ssubsoilsdataset.

EMM8C(iii) Mineral Resources

Thepowercircuitshallberoutedtoavoiddisturbancetoexistingorplannedoperationsofareasofextractionandlicensedmineralreserves.

EMM8C(iv) Contaminated Land

• Agroundinvestigationmaybeundertakentosurvey,analyseandassesstheareaswherethereisapotentialforthisrisktoarise.

• Followingthis,methodstatementsshallbepreparedtodealwithanyareaofcontaminatedground.

EMM8C(v) Bedrock

• RouteselectionandlowertierassessmentsshouldconsiderGeologicalSurveyofIreland’sbedrockdataasappropriateinordertoanticipateengineeringdifficulties.

• RouteselectionandlowertierassessmentsshouldconsiderIrishNationalSeabedSurveydataandINFOMARsurveydataasappropriatetoanticipatethenatureanddepthofstablesubstrateforoffshoreprojectsfoundationsandconnectiontoonshoregrid.


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EMM8D Cultural Heritage• Wheretheproposedrouteisincloseproximityto

archaeologicalsitestheworkingareashallbekepttoaminimum.

• Pre-constructionworksshallbecarriedoutinthoseunrecordedareasidentifiedashavingarchaeologicalpotential.

• TherewillbefullimplementationofanArchaeologicalPlanincluding,pre-constructionworks,watchingbriefandexcavation.

• Wherepreviouslyunrecordedfindsareuncoveredduringconstruction,adequatearchaeologicalinvestigationandrecordingwillbecarriedoutbeforeconstructionworksintheseareasarecontinued.

EMM8E Landscape and Visual

Routesshallbeselectedaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:

• Avoidanceofareasdesignatedasbeingofscenicsensitivityorsignificance.

• Avoidanceofareasthatwoulddisproportionatelyimpingeuponsensitivelandscapefeatures–suchasprominentskylineridges,shores,rivercrossings.

• Avoidareasthatwoulddisproportionatelyimpingeuponsensitiveareasorsitesofculturalorhistoricsignificance–includingmonuments,listedandprotectedstructuresandtheircontextsandsites.

• Routeselectionandlowertierassessmentsshouldconsider(asappropriate)datafromthelandscapecharacterassessmentscontainedinthedevelopmentplansoflocalauthorities.

EMM8F Noise

Inrelationtonoisesensitivereceptors,theconstraintsmappingidentifiedareasofhighbuildingdensityandthereforeanyroutecorridorsselectedshallattempttominimiseimpactsonbuiltupareas.

EMM8G Liquid Effluent and Spillages

Portabletoiletswillbeprovidedatthesiteoffices.Theywillbeemptiedregularlybyaspecialistcontractorasappropriate.

EMM8H Solid Wastes

WasteManagementPlanswillbepreparedaspartoftheoverallprojectdesign.Thiswillidentifylikelywastearisings,approximatequantitiesandappropriatehandlinganddisposalmethods.

EMM8I Construction of New Substations and Extension of Existing Substations

EMM8I(i) Theconstructionofnewsubstationscanhaveasignificantimpactparticularlywheretheareaisundeveloped.Siteselectionneedstoensuresensitivelandscapesandhabitatsareavoided.Opportunitiesfornaturalscreeningfromtopographyandvegetationshouldbemaximisedandusedwhereverpossibleasthiswillprovidethebestopportunityforintegratingthefacilityintotheexistinglandscape.

EMM8I(ii)Itwillbeimportanttoensurethatsubstationsarenotlocatedwithinthefloodplainofmajorwatercourses,whichcouldimpactontheaccessandfunctioningofthesubstation.Also,itwillalsobeimportanttoensurethatnewsubstationlocationsavoiddesignatedconservationsitesandsensitivehabitatswherepossible.

EMM8I(iii) Whereexistingsubstationsneedtobeextendeditwillbeimportanttoensuretheextensiondoesnotimpactonanynearbybuiltupareasandthattheextensionisappropriatelydesignedtoensureadequateintegrationwiththeexistingenvironment.Thescaleoftheextensionshouldbesuitedtothesurroundingareaandshouldnotbeinappropriategiventhesizeoftheexistingfacilityanditssurroundings.

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EMM8J Reinforcement of the Transmission System in the Regions16

EMM8J(i) Midlands Region TheMidlandsRegionistransectedbymanykilometresofmajorandminorgridinfrastructureaswellashavingasignificantconcentrationofjunctionsandsubstations–manyassociatedwithexistingorformerpowerstations.Theseroutesandsitesofferstrongprecedentthatshouldbere-usedwhereverpossible.Itshouldberecognisedthatlargeareasofcut-overpeatlandsmaynotbesuitablelow-resistanceroutingoptionsasmanyofthesesitesarenearingtheendofproductionandmostifnotallwillshortlybereinstatedaspeatlandsitesthatarelikelytobedeemedtobesensitive–ifnotprotected–habitats.

NewmajorgridprojectsinthisRegionwillbechallengedwhentryingtoidentifyoptimumcrossingpointsoverthesensitiveShannonsystem.Existingcrossingpointsshouldbere-usedorintensifiedwhereverpossible.Suchcrossingpointsshouldbeidentifiedandsecuredinregionalandcountydevelopmentplansasamatterofurgency–theyarenationallysignificanteconomicassets.

EMM8J(ii) South-East Region LargerscalegriddevelopmentsintheSouth-EastRegionshouldparallelcoastalplainsandmajorriversystems–ideallyoccupyingthetransitionalfoothills–withoutencroachingoneitherthemoresensitiveuplandsortheimmediateenvironsofriversandcoasts.

Mostmajorrouteswithinthisregionfollowthetransitionbetweenuplandsandlowlandsandcauselittleadverseenvironmentaleffect.Iffuturedevelopmentcontinuesthisgeneralpatternthereisalowpotentialforsignificanteffectstoarise.

EMM8J(iii) Mid-West Region MajorgriddevelopmentworksintheMid-WestRegionshouldre-useorcloselyfollowestablishedroutingsorareaswithestablishedprecedentoflarge-scaleinfrastructuralandindustrialdevelopment.Newworksshouldparallelthecoastsandrivers–whichcontaindensecorridorsofancientlyestablishedsettlement–whileavoidingmoresensitiveuplandinteriors.Highlevelsofruraldwellingsinsomeareasmayrequiresub-optimalproximitytosomeenvironmentalsensitivities,suchasculturalheritage.

EMM8J(iv) South-West Region IfnewgriddevelopmentcontinuespatternsoffollowingthestronglyEast-WesttrendingrivervalleysintheSouth-WestRegionthereisalowpotentialforsignificantadverseeffectsontheenvironment.Majorgriddevelopmentsshouldbeconfinedtothemoreenvironmentallyrobustcentreandeastofthisregion.

ThedevelopmentofnewtransmissionlinesbetweenMoneypointandCorkCitywouldneedtocarefullyconsiderecologicalandvisualimpactissues,especiallyinuplandareas.Alternativesshouldconsiderthereuseofexistingpowerandtransportlinks.

EMM8J(v) Dublin & Mid-East Region ItwouldbeusefultointegratewithDevelopmentplans–bothatRegionalandCountylevel-toidentifyinfrastructurecorridors–ideallyparallelingtheexistingandemergingmajorroadandrailcorridorsthatwilldevelopintheDublinandMid-EastRegionduringtheperiodto2025.Itwouldalsobeofmerit,forworkinginexistingandemergingurbanandperi-urbanareas,toclearlyidentifycriteriathatwouldleadtodeterminingwhenandwheretoundergroundelectricityinfrastructure.

16NotethatnospecificmeasurearestatedherefortheBorderandWestRegions;allothermitigationmeasuresapplyasrelevant.

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LandUsePlansforUrbanAreasshouldbeencouragedtospecificallyzonelandforsub-stationsandtoprotectexistingstrategiccorridorsfrominappropriatedevelopment.

EMM8K National and EU Legislation and Plans/Programmes

Wheregridrelateddevelopmentisproposed,EirGridwillseektocontributetowardstheprotectionofenvironmentalfeatures,asrelevantandappropriate

toEirGrid’sresponsibilitiesandobligationsundernationalandEUenvironmentallegislationandincludingthosewhichrelatestospecificregional/nationalplans/programmesforparticularaspectsoftheenvironmente.g.CatchmentFloodRiskAssessmentandManagementStudyPlans,RiverBasinDistrictManagementPlansandFreshWaterPearlMusselSubBasinManagementPlans.

TheOval,160ShelbourneRoad,Ballsbridge,Dublin4.

Tel +353(0)1677 1700Fax +353(0)1661 5375

[email protected]

PRNA11/0158

TheOval,160BótharShíolBhroin,DroicheadnaDothra,BaileÁthaCliath4.

Tel +353(0)1677 1700Fax+353(0)1661 5375

Environmental Impact Services2ndFloor,TheCourtyard,25GreatStrandStreet,Dublin1.

2011 - 2016...implementation programme 2011 - 2016 grid25 implementation programme 2011 - 2016...

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