A transmission licence application has been submitted in Northern Ireland for a proposed new electricity interconnector, which will connect Northern Ireland to Scotland by the end of the decade.

The initiative, funded through private investment, aims to reduce the likelihood of power outages by improving access to alternate electricity markets. Consequently, it will mitigate the emission of substantial levels of harmful greenhouse gases.

Transmisson Investment, one of the UK's leading independent transmission companies, is leading the £700 million endeavour to design, build and manage the new subsea infrastructure linking Northern Ireland and Scotland.

LirIC will provide up to 700MW of further capacity between the Irish Integrated Single Energy Market and the GB wholesale electricity market, allowing power from renewable energy sources to be supplied in either direction, displacing the need for power generation from polluting sources.

Keith Morrison, LirIC Project Director, Transmisson Investment said: "The application for a Transmission Licence is an early milestone in a long process, but it‘s significant in that it moves us one stage closer towards delivering this very exciting project.

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"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those with whom we have had very positive engagement so far, including the relevant government agencies, and the local political parties. Over its lifetime, this project will bring real benefits to Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

"LirlC will increase the opportunities for home-grown renewables to export power to other markets, reduce the curtailment of wind generators, lower the wholesale power price in wholesale markets, which on average is forecast to be higher in Northern Ireland, as well as deliver social economic welfare benefits. This interconnector will help balance out the system so that power can be imported or exported according to market requirements. There’s a long way to go in the process, but we are pleased that we have reached this milestone".

LirIC will consist of two converter stations, one situated in Northern Ireland and another in Scotland, with an interconnecting cable stretching approximately 130km, subject to final route determination. Thorough studies are underway to assess potential routes and locations, prioritising minimal disruption to the environment and nearby communities.

Transmission Investment, which is developing a similar scheme between England and France, submitted the application for a transmission licence to the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation on 17 May 2023.

Mr Morrison highlighted that the company was committed to supporting the energy transition in Northern Ireland and Great Britain and enabling renewable energy. He said: "This project will be able to transmit up to 700MW, which is over 40% of the winter peak demand in Northern Ireland.

"LirlC will help reduce Northern Ireland’s carbon emissions, and therefore will directly support the delivery of the national emissions reduction target of net zero by 20250. If all goes well, LirIC will be online around the end of the decade."

Martin Doherty of the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy stated:

"It is vitally important that NI strengthens its interconnectivity with our partners both in GB and Ireland. This development is a key step on the path to providing NI with the clean power to transform our economy over the next decades. The level of investment clearly demonstrates a confidence within the private sector that NI is on the correct course with its ambitious plans for moving away from a reliance on fossil fuels."