Grid Link Electricity Transmission Project

RPS was appointed by EirGrid in February 2012 to provide planning, engineering, environmental and communications consultancy services for their Grid Link Electricity Transmission project. The multi-disciplinary RPS team will facilitate the implementation of a new high voltage power line linking the provinces of Leinster and Munster.

The Grid Link Project is the single largest project within Grid25, EirGrid’s development strategy, and consists of a 400 kV transmission circuit. The estimated €500 million project will reinforce the transmission network in the south and east of Ireland to meet the future electricity needs of the region and it will facilitate further electricity interconnection with the European grid. It will help ensure that the most efficient electricity generators in the region are utilised in the most effective way and it will facilitate the integration of renewable energy onto the transmission system helping Ireland meet its target of 40% electricity demand from renewable energy sources (it is estimated that the project will facilitate supply of enough wind energy to power 750,000 homes).

RPS will be responsible for securing all necessary consents to facilitate construction of the 400 kV circuit and the associated infrastructure. The team will ensure that all works are carried out in a safe, secure, reliable, economical, efficient and environmentally sensitive manner and will engage pro-actively and constructively with stakeholders throughout. Public consultation started in April 2012.

The RPS team is providing the following services on The Grid Link Project:

• Planning consents and permits
• Project Management
• Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment
• Public and Stakeholder Consultation and Project Communications
• Landowner engagement
• High voltage transmission (electrical) engineering
• Civil/Structural engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electricity transmission route design and sub-station site selection

The anticipated timeframe for the project will see the submission of a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in mid 2015.

For further information on this project, visit http://www.eirgridgroup.com/projects/gridlink.