Celtic Interconnector

Laying of the undersea portion of the cable began in August 2025. ==Route==

The cable is due to run between the Knockraha substation in County Cork, Ireland, to the La Martyre substation in Finistère, France. Of its total length of , will pass through Irish, British and French waters of the Celtic Sea. ==Technical specification==

The electrical interconnector, which will be the first between the two countries, has a planned capacity of 700MW. The project also includes plans for a direct fibre optic communications link between Ireland and France. ==Project promoters==

The project is a joint venture between the Irish transmission system operator (TSO) EirGrid and French TSO Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) for the purpose of improving security of supply, reducing consumer electricity costs and supporting the development of renewable energy. ==Project economics==

In 2016 the interconnector had an initial expected cost of €1billion. According to the then Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, "The Celtic Interconnector will bring tangible benefits to the citizens of both France and Ireland by promoting the use of renewable energy, bringing down electricity prices, and helping ensure security of energy supply". ==Project history==

In July 2016, after completion of a feasibility study the two countries agreed to proceed with a two-year planning phase. In May 2018, the project was granted a foreshore license to begin marine surveys for the potential landing sites at Ballinwilling, Claycastle and Redbarn beaches, County Cork. In 2018, the project was given preliminary approval for European Investment Bank funding as part of preparations by Ireland for Brexit, for €530million. By 2019, the project had been designated a European Project of Common Interest as part of the European Super Grid. Three potential landing sites on the Cork coast were identified and six locations (Ballyadam, Leamlara, Knockraha, Pigeon Hill, Kilquane and Ballyvatta) were under consideration for the HVDC converter station. By 2019, due to the potential impact of Brexit on electricity trading over the existing Ireland UK HVDC interconnectors, planning for the Celtic Interconnector had accelerated. In December 2020, EirGrid and RTE signed a €520million European Commission funding agreement for the Celtic Interconnector. As of 2021, the cable was expected to be operational in line with the original schedule, by 2026. In August 2021, the project was at step five in the planning process and was expected to continue until 2022. In May 2022, An Bord Pleanála granted permission for the onshore portion of the project while in August 2022, the Department for Housing Local Government and Heritage granted the project a foreshore licence, an important permit for the undersea work involved. On 14 September 2022, the UK Marine Management Organisation granted a licence for the project to proceed. This was the last major license required before Step 6 construction could start in late 2022. In January 2025, with the project having been underway for about 15 months, EirGrid announced the opening of the next phase of community benefit sharing for the Celtic Interconnector project. By July 2025, the expected commissioning date for the project had slipped to spring of 2028. ==Consequences==

On 19 March 2024, the existence of the Celtic Interconnector is taken into account in ACER Decision No 04/2024. The Celtic Interconnector will be included in an electricity capacity calculation region (CCR). This CCR previously named Core Europe should become Central Europe. ==See also==