North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update
Summer 2020 The EirGrid Liaison Team are ready to keep the conversation flowing.
Agricultural Liaison Officer Community Liaison Officer Aidan Naughton Eoghan O’ Sullivan 086 172 0156 087 247 7732
Proper infrastructure is key to Ireland maintaining its international competitiveness. We must maintain an environment that is conducive to doing business – and adequate commercial energy capacity is central to that. IDA Ireland welcomes EirGrid’s stated aim of transitioning the electricity sector to low-carbon, renewable energy.
The North Connacht project is an important part of that strategy, providing the necessary electricity infrastructure required by industry across North Connacht through renewable energy means, ensuring security of supply for customers and businesses across Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon.
Martin Shanahan, IDA Ireland CEO. Who are EirGrid – and what do we do? EirGrid is responsible for a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity – now and in the future. We develop, manage and operate the electricity transmission grid. This brings power from where it is generated to where it is needed throughout Ireland. We use the grid to supply power to industry and businesses that use large amounts of electricity. The grid also powers the distribution network that supplies the electricity you use every day in your homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and farms. As part of our role, we look at ways of improving regional electricity infrastructure to ensure it is able to meet the increasing demand and support the growth of regional industry.
About this update EirGrid is legally obliged to The need is for a 110 kV project connect those who generate and there are a number of This update is for stakeholders, electricity. This means we must possible technology options communities, landowners and develop the grid in response to consider. The project will members of the public who to plans for new electricity be either a 110 kV overhead want to find out more about this generation, such as the line or an underground cable. project. aforementioned wind farms. If an overhead line is used the majority of the line will be The purpose of this document The North Connacht project carried on timber twin pole is to provide information on the also supports Mayo County sets, with steel angle masts North Connacht 110 kV project Council plans to boost business where required, which is no and to support the Step 4 public and investment in the region. different to the existing national consultation process. The region will also play host electricity infrastructure which to the recently approved measures in the region of This document provides up-to- Government backed Strategic 5,000km. The start point for the date information on the project Development Zone (SDZ) at North Connacht 110 kV project including what has been learned Ireland West Airport Knock. This will be at Moy substation near on the project so far, and how demonstrates the regional plans Ballina, Co. Mayo. The end point you as a stakeholder can get to drive the regional economy. will be at Tonroe substation involved. near Ballaghaderreen, Co. What is the North Roscommon. There will also Why is the North Connacht Connacht project? be 32km of upgrade works on project needed? the existing line from Tonroe to Our original proposal was the Currently, just 30% of the Flagford (Carrick-on-Shannon). Grid West project in 2012, a electricity that we use comes During Step 4, technology large scale development to from renewable energy. Last and corridor options will be facilitate the level of renewable year’s Government’s Climate assessed. The best performing generation planned at that time. Action Plan 2019 has set the technology option and route However, by June 2017 the target of achieving 70% of corridor will be identified. amount of planned renewable electricity consumption via generation in the region had renewable energy sources by dropped by half and Grid 2030. At present a large amount West was no longer required. of electricity is generated We anticipated then that the by wind farms in the North reduced amount of renewable Connacht region with more energy could be met through a planned over the coming years. smaller scale of development. That remains the case and we The level of renewable are now progressing with the generation is far greater than the North Connacht 110 kV project. capacity of the local electricity network. This means we have to look at ways of improving the electricity infrastructure in the region.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 3 Study Area for North Connacht 110 kV Project
[ Legend ^_ Moy Substation
Easky (! (! Sligo ^_ Tonroe Substation Ballycastle (! (! (! Sligo Towns Killala Inniscrone (! ! (! Substation Tawnaghmore ( (! Rail Network CAVAN Study Area
Bellacorrick 220kV Overhead Line Moy (! SLIGO ^_(! LEITRIM 110kV Overhead Line (! Ballina Ballymote National Roads Crossmolina (! Regional Roads Tubbercurry (! County Boundary
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Service Layer Credits: National Geographic, Esri, Garmin, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, increment P Corp.
Currently, just 30% of the electricity that we use comes from renewable energy. Last year’s Government’s Climate Action Plan 2019 has set the target of achieving 70% of electricity consumption via renewable energy sources by 2030.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 4 Key Facts
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Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Constru tion Current Step e planning pro ess energisation and ene it s aring
September 2017 Summer 2018 to January 2019 2014 - 2016 The project timeline will depend on the to Summer 2018 December 2018 to June 2021 option brought forward to Step 5
Six-step approach Coming out of Step 3 Step 4a report can be viewed in related documents at: We follow a six-step approach to EirGrid considered two http://www.eirgridgroup.com/ planning electricity grid projects. potential project end points; NorthConnachtProject Ballaghaderreen, Co. This approach guides how we: Roscommon and Srananagh • Engage and consult Co. Sligo. Ballaghaderreen was with stakeholders and identified as the best performing communities option. Both overhead line and • Explore options fully underground cable technologies • Make more informed were explored, and a consultant decisions engaged to review the constraints in the region. The North Connacht project is now in Step 4 of this process. Areas of opportunity and corridors able to accommodate both sets of technologies were produced and available for consideration during public consultation.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 o do e at at s t e ere e a tl ppl or Constru t identi uture te nologies est option s ould e planning energise needs o t e an meet and at area uild permission ma e li e ele tri it t ese needs ma e and s are grid a e ted ene its
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 5 Opposite page top left: 110 kV OHL Double Poleset with Earth Wires. Opposite page top right: 110 kV OHL Angle Mast View. Opposite page bottom left: Constructing Underground Cable in road. Opposite page bottom right: Constructing Joint Bay in Road. k
Assessment Criteria We studied the responses received during Step 3 and We studied the responses to the evaluated the short-listed Step 3 consultation. This allowed technology options. This process us to understand the concerns confirmed that they were all still people raised, and to assess viable. new information about the proposed options.
We carefully considered this information, alongside our analysis. We then decided which options to take forward.
Respondents raised several common themes: • The need for swift project completion • Route & corridor options and starting points • Preservation of wildlife • Damage to the countryside’s natural beauty • Noise concerns • Impact on property values
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 6
Study Area for North Connacht 110 kV Project Overhead Line Technology Options
(! (! Inniscrone Killala Legend Corderry [ 1$Tawnaghmore Study Area 1$
Srananagh 1$ ^_ MLoEyI TSuRbIsMtation
^_ Tonroe Substation G1$arvagh Indicative Overhead Line Corridor A ^_ Moy Indicative Overhead (! SLIGO Clunghill Glenree Line Corridor B Ballina 1$ (! 1$ Indicative Overhead Crossmolina Line Corridor C (! Indicative Overhead Ballymote Line Corridor D Indicative Overhead Line Corridor Links (! B-C and C-D Tubbercurry River Moy Area 1$ Other Substations (! Towns Rail Network Rivers (! National and Foxford (! Regional Roads MAYO Charlestown (! Boyle Local Road Network within Study Area (! Existing 220 kV Swinford Overhead Line Existing 110 kV Overhead Line ^_ Tonroe Cumulative (! Constraints Weighting Ballaghaderreen Overhead Line More Significant/Difficult/Risk Castlebar 1$ Less Significant/Difficult/Risk (! ROSCOMMON Castlebar (! Kiltimagh (! Elphin
0 5 10 Kilometers © Mott MacDonald Ltd. This document is issued for the party which commissioned it and for specific purposes connected with the captioned project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or used for any other purpose. Service Layer Credits: Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this document being relied upon by any other party, or being used for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties. Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community Ordnance Survey Ireland Licence Number 0090319 (! Client Rev Date Drawn Description Ch'k'd App'd Title Drawn P Chambers More detailedSouth Blo cmapsk are available. Contact us if youP1 13/0 2need/2020 PC one.Initial Overhead Line Corridor Options DH DH North Connacht 110 kV Project Checked D Hassett Rockfield, Dundrum Step 4A Approved D Hassett Dublin 16 Initial Overhead Line Corridor Options Scale at A3 D16 R6V0 Ireland 1:200,000 T +353 (0)1 291 6700 Drawing Number Security Status Rev W www.mottmac.ie There are 4 OHL route corridor options to consider. These options are highlighted229100591-MMD-00- XinX-D Rcolour-N404-0034 SonTD thePRE P1 below map. The 4 presented options have minor variations that allow for an additional 2 options to be considered.
The map identifies the areas with the capacity to accommodate the OHL. This is referred to as a ‘constraints map’ with the areas in dark blue representing the areas least likely to be able to accommodate the technology. The areas in light green/yellow are those areas most able to support the OHL technology.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 8 Study Area for North Connacht 110 kV Project Underground Cable Technology Options
(! Legend Inniscrone [ Killala Study Area Corderry 1$Tawnaghmore County Boundary1$ 1$Srananagh ^_LEITRIMMoy Substation
^_ Tonroe Substation 1$Garvagh Moy 1$ Other Existing Substations ^_ SLIGO (! Towns Ballina Clunghill Glenree 1$ National and (! 1$ Regional Roads Crossmolina Local Road Network within Study Area Ballymote Rivers Rail Network Existing 220 kV Tubbercurry Overhead Line Existing 110 kV Overhead Line Underground Cable Corridor Option 1 (! Underground Cable Corridor Option 2 MAYO Foxford Charlestown Underground Cable Corridor Option 3 Boyle Route in the vicinity of these towns and Swinford villages to be assessed during the Tonroe next stages of the project ^_ Cumulative Constraints Weighting Ballaghaderreen Underground Cable More Significant/Difficult/Risk 1$Castlebar Less Significant/Difficult/Risk ROSCOMMON Castlebar (! Kiltimagh Elphin 0 5 10 © Mott MacDonald Ltd. Kilometers This document is issued for the party which commissioned it and for specific purposes connected with the captioned project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or used for any other purpose. Service Layer Credits: Sources: Esri, HERE, Garmin, Intermap, increment P Corp., GEBCO, USGS, FAO, NPS, NRCAN, GeoBase, IGN, Kadaster NL, Ordnance Survey, Esri We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this document being relied upon by any other party, or being used for any other purpose, Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community Ordnance Survey Ireland Licence Number 0090319 or containing any error or omission which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties.
Client Rev Date Drawn Description Ch'k'd App'd Title Drawn P Chambers DH DH North Connacht 110 kV Project Checked D Hassett More detailedSouth Block maps are available. Contact us if youP1 14/02/2020 needPC one.Initial Route Options Underground Cable Rockfield, Dundrum Step 4A Approved D Hassett Dublin 16 Initial Corridor Options for Scale at A3 D16 R6V0 Underground Cable Ireland 1:200,000 T +353 (0)1 291 6700 Drawing Number Security Status Rev W www.mottmac.ie There are 3 underground cable route options to consider. These options 229100591-MMD-00-XX-DR-N404-0035are highlighted in colourSTD PRE on P2the below map.
As with the OHL route corridor options above, the map identifies the areas with the capacity to accommodate the underground cable technology on the ‘constraints map’ with the areas in dark blue representing the areas least likely to be able to accommodate the technology.
The areas in light green/yellow are those areas most able to support the underground cable technology.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 9 Community fund
EirGrid will work with a specialist These could be: grant-making organisation in • Community walkways like order to determine how this fund the one we did in Moyvane, should be managed and spent. Co. Kerry; This will ensure that EirGrid • Education initiatives like IT is a participant in the process equipment for local schools; rather than a decision maker. It • Environmental initiatives like will allow us to work closely and installing beehives; collaboratively with communities • Youth facilities like a while the fund is facilitated by an playground; independent body. We welcome • Sports facilities like a play all and any ideas about how a pitch; and more. community fund can best be applied in the community. We will seek your views on how to use the community funds we We encourage you to think have for projects that would about how your locality could benefit your community. benefit from the North Connacht Community Fund. This will Prior to the fund being released help to inform our process of EirGrid will publish a set of appointing the specialist grant guidelines and will host a launch making organisation. The final evening to open the fund for value can only be determined applications. For more info once Step 4 of our process is please visit: complete. www.eirgridgroup.com/about/ in-the-community/community- The focus is often on projects to fund/ help the community.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 10 Step 1 How do we identify the future needs Step 4 At a glance of the electricity grid? Recap How can I get involved? Following a number of studies carried The initial period of public out in Step 3, EirGrid identified two consultation in Step 4a will last technology options (overhead line 12 weeks. During this time, we are Step 2 What technologies and underground cable) that would holding Public Consultation Events can meet these needs? address the need in North Connacht. online. These were assessed on five criteria. EirGrid identified the best performing If you would like further information technology option as being the on this project, or have any questions Step 3 What’s the best overhead line from Moy to Tonroe. or comments, please don’t hesitate to option and what area However as a commitment to the or get in touch via the contact details may be affected? Framework for Grid Development, listed on this brochure. EirGrid is carefully assessing the underground cable technology option What have we decided at the in addition to the overhead line end of this step? Step 4 Where exactly option. We have developed a refined should we build? study area for the proposed new 110 At the end of Step 4 we will have kV circuit and we have developed selected the best performing corridors for both the overhead line technology option and associated and underground cable options. route corridor. We now seek feedback from the Step 5 The planning process community and stakeholders in North We want to hear from you. If you would Connacht on the route corridor and like to feedback on this project, or find technology options. out more information contact: +353 (0)1 677 1700, or [email protected] Step 6 Construction, How long will this take? energisation and Until the end of 2020 and early 2021. You can also contact our Community benefit sharing Liaison Officer, Eoghan O’Sullivan What can you influence? on: +353 87 247 7732 or eoghan. You will be able to influence our choice [email protected] or our of technology, and the route corridor Agricultural Liaison Officer, Aidan which will be ultimately chosen to Naughton on: +353 86 172 0156 or develop the project. You can also [email protected] influence the project by highlighting any relevant information not captured to date. Next steps Feedback We will assess and compare the different What’s happening on technology options and route corridors against the five criteria outlined on page 6. Following our the project now? assessment process, we are seeking feedback on the possible route corridors for both overhead We now have two possible technology options line and underground cable options. Stakeholders and associated route corridor options on which and the public can also influence the project by we are seeking your views. highlighting any relevant detail not captured to date, such as any environmental or heritage As a part of this process, you will have an information and existing amenities including opportunity to give feedback to the team at public popular walking routes or local areas of historic consultation events which will be held throughout significance etc. This process will ultimately 2020. These will take place in towns within the identify the best performing technology option study area. and associated route corridor. You can also contact us directly via email Feedback at this stage of the project is essential [email protected]. for EirGrid to understand the various issues and concerns of all stakeholders.
North Connacht 110 kV Project Step 4 Consultation Update • Summer 2020 • Page 12 North Connacht 110 kV Project/EirGrid Capital Project 0816
Small-scale grid infrastructure is being proposed for North Connacht after a review of the region’s renewable energy plans.
During August 2020, EirGrid conducted a survey across the study area to understand the types of engagement the residents wished to receive. As a result, EirGrid has increased the number of View project information ways the public can speak with the North and documents online Connacht Project Team.
2020 has presented a number of challenges for us all. We will continue to follow government guidelines and ensure strict Heath & Safety measures Sign up for webinar are in place and adhered to. EirGrid prioritises the safety of our stakeholders and are willing to adapt our consultation methods to meet the needs of stakeholders at this difficult time.
For more information please visit: Take a virtual tour http://www.eirgridgroup.com/ of our Open Day NorthConnachtProject
Complete the Questionnaire online and speak with a member of our team remotely Get in touch Throughout September to Mid November, the These events are scheduled to take place for the North Connacht Project Team will be available following towns with dates to be confirmed: to share information with the public and take feedback. Ballina, Foxford, Ballaghaderreen, Tobercurry, Charlestown, Swinford & Carrick-on-Shannon. Project advertisements will be placed throughout towns across the study area during September Please see www.eirgridgroup.com/ and October 2020. NorthConnachtProject for up to date information on the North Connacht project events. EirGrid will conduct both public meetings and online events during October and November. People are encouraged to attend the online events, and where this is not possible, public meetings will be held that follow strict HSE guidance and protocol.
Contact Details for North Connacht 110 kV Project
Phone: +353 (0)1 677 1700 Email: [email protected] Project Manager, North Connacht 110 kV Project, The Oval, 160 Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin D04 FW28, Ireland Or Chapel House, 3 Upper Chapel Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 PF85
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