EirGrid's East West Interconnector project has been chosen as the winner of Engineering Project of the Year in the Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards.

The East West Interconnector runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath. Approximately 260km in length, the link has the capacity to transport 500 megawatts in each direction – enough energy to power 300,000 homes.

The Award recognises engineering excellence and projects of lasting impact and celebrates the contribution of engineering generally to wider society.

Already there is evidence that the East West Interconnector is exerting downward pressure on prices in the wholesale electricity market on the island.

-- Advertisement --

Commenting on the success, John Fitzgerald, Director Grid Development at EirGrid, who was Project Director for the East West Interconnector said:

"As an Island nation, Ireland relies upon linkages to trade, transport, and communication with our customers and markets in neighbouring states in the UK, Europe and beyond. The East West Interconnector significantly enhances our linkages and connectivity in terms of energy and communications.

"It was a complex project to deliver involving both on-land and marine elements using cutting edge engineering across all the disciplines. In operation, it is aiding competition and exerting downward pressure on electricity prices in Ireland. It has also provided Ireland with greater energy security and will be a key enabler in helping Ireland meet ambitious targets for the generation of power from renewable energy sources and ultimately in the export of renewable energy from Ireland.

"In total, 3,700 people worked on the project working 2.2 million hours with an exemplary safety record."

(CD/IT)