Public consultation opens on new electricity project

EirGrid has begun public consultation on a range of options for a new electricity project that will reinforce the network across Kildare and Meath.

The company is writing to 57,000 homes across the two counties seeking feedback on five technical solutions for the Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade project.

The project will add a high-capacity electricity connection between Dunstown substation in Kildare and Woodland substation in Meath. These are the end points for large amounts of power that is transported across the country on high-voltage power lines from Moneypoint in Clare.

The five options under consideration are connecting and up-voltaging two existing 220 kilovolt (kV) overhead lines; a 400 kV overhead line; a 220 kV underground cable; a single 400 kV underground cable and 400 kV underground cables along two separate routes.

The public consultation begins on 6th October and runs until 14th December.

Mr Mahon added: “The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic presents challenges to us in how we engage with people due to social distancing restrictions.

“To address this, we are sending a questionnaire to 57,000 homes near the project and we will also provide a mix of traditional and innovative, online methods for anyone interested in the project to provide feedback to us.