504 MW Link Between Ireland and Great Britain Begins Commercial Operations
As Ireland targets 80% renewable electricity by 2030, Greenlink complements existing links to balance intermittent supply.

Image for illustration purposes.
Greenlink Interconnector Goes Live: Powering Ireland-UK Energy Exchange
The £500 million Greenlink Interconnector, a 504MW subsea electricity link between Ireland and Great Britain, has commenced commercial operations. Spanning 200km beneath the Celtic Sea, this high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable connects County Wexford’s Great Island substation to Pembroke in Wales, reinforcing energy security and renewable integration across both markets.
Technical Overview
- HVDC Technology: Voltage source converters (VSC) at converter stations in Ireland and Wales enable bidirectional power flow, minimising transmission losses.
- Cabling: Four 200km submarine cables, buried 3 metres deep to avoid fishing activity, paired with 18km of underground land cables.
- Capacity: Transfers enough electricity to power 380,000 homes annually.
Project Timeline
- 2021–2023: Construction by Prysmian (cables) and Siemens Energy (converters). Final cable laying concluded in May 2023.
- Q4 2023: Trial operations confirmed system stability under varied load conditions.
- March 2024: Full commercial operation approved following regulatory tests.
Strategic Benefits
- Renewable Optimisation: Facilitates surplus wind energy exports from Ireland (40%+ grid wind share) to Britain during peak generation.
- Price Stabilisation: Reduces reliance on volatile gas markets by enabling cross-border arbitrage.
- Grid Resilience: Provides backup capacity during extreme weather or generation shortfalls.
Challenges Overcome
- Environmental Safeguards: Protected spawning grounds for herring and cod through seasonal work bans.
- Geotechnical Risks: Advanced ploughing tech mitigated rocky seabed risks off the Welsh coast.
Source: Offshore Energy
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