MaresConnect Interconnector will provide infrastructure to support energy security, put downward pressure on consumer energy prices and help facilitate the transition to a low carbon energy future for Ireland and Great Britain.
Note: The number of homes is based on the annual average household consumption of 4,200kWh (CRU’s decision paper published in March 2017 following its review of typical consumption figures (CER17042)) and an annual total of electricity transmitted via MaresConnect of approximately 2,400,000MWh.
Infrastructure for energy security, lower consumer energy prices and the transition to a low carbon energy future for Ireland and Great Britain
Infrastructure for energy security, lower consumer energy prices and the transition to a low carbon energy future for Ireland and Great Britain
bringing benefits to the community
MaresConnect will foster the integration of further, substantial renewable energy sources to support the Irish and UK governments’ 2030 green energy targets and achieve their Net Zero goal. Further interconnection between the two nations will increase security of supply. Interconnection creates downward pressure on wholesale energy prices, leading to savings for energy consumers.
The project is expected to result in approximately €860 million of private capital investment in Ireland and Wales and will create long-term jobs in construction and operations. In addition, the project has the potential to bring further benefits with the inclusion of a high-speed direct fibre optic communications link between Ireland and Great Britain.
Latest Project News and Updates
Ryan welcomes electricity interconnector cable project
The decision by UK energy regulator Ofgem to approve two new electricity interconnectors between Britain and the island of Ireland has been welcomed by outgoing Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan. One interconnector project, LirIC, will link Scotland with Northern Ireland via a 142km subsea cable and deliver 0.7 GW of additional electricity capacity. The other, MaresConnect, is a 190km subsea cable between Wales and the Republic of Ireland which will ...
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MaresConnect welcomes positive decision from Ofgem on initial project assessment (IPA)
Dublin, 12 November 2024 Ofgem announced today its minded to decision to award Cap & Floor regulation to the 750MW MaresConnect interconnector project as part of its Initial Project Assessment of the third Cap & Floor application window for electricity interconnectors. Ofgem’s review recognised MaresConnect for its potential to support cross-border energy security, renewable integration, and enhanced system flexibility within Great Britain and Ireland. Ofgem has approved a further 6GW ...
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Ireland, Belgium and the UK increase their cooperation on interconnection and renewables
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, along with his Belgian and UK counterparts, Minister Tinne van der Straeten and Andrew Bowie, have signed a Joint Statement in Bruges, Belgium today, which paves the way for greater cooperation on renewables and interconnection opportunities between the three countries. Minister Ryan spoke about how a multilateral approach is the only way to address Europe’s collective climate responsibilities. For Ireland ...
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Public Consultations to be held in Wales to discuss the MaresConnect Electricity Interconnector
North Wales, 13 February 2024 Public consultations to discuss MaresConnect, the proposed 750MW electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales, have been announced by the developer MaresConnect Limited. Tom Brinicombe, Planning and Permitting Manager for MaresConnect commented: “We are pleased to announce a series of public consultation events designed to introduce and discuss the project with local communities and stakeholders. “MaresConnect is intended to create a link between the Irish and ...
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MaresConnect: Public Consultation Announcement
MaresConnect is a proposed 750MW electricity interconnector designed to link the Irish and British electricity transmission networks, enabling electricity transmission in both directions between Ireland and Wales. In Wales, MaresConnect will include a converter station near the existing Bodelwyddan substation in Denbighshire and underground cabling, which will be routed within the local road network and agricultural land. The proposal is in the early stages of development, and members of the ...
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UK fossil fuel electricity ‘at lowest level since 1957’
The amount of UK electricity generated from fossil fuels fell 22% year-on-year in 2023 to the lowest level since 1957. Analysis from Carbon Brief has revealed that the 104TWh generated from fossil fuels in 2023 is the lowest level in 66 years. Electricity from fossil fuels has now fallen by two-thirds (199TWh) since peaking in 2008, according to the analysis. Within that total, coal has dropped by 115TWh (97%) and ...
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