EirGrid advances construction on Celtic Interconnector in Ireland

EirGrid has marked another year of progress on the Celtic Interconnector, the subsea electricity project connecting East Cork, Ireland, with France.

Construction has now passed its two-year milestone, with over 60% of the high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable installed and the first 84 km of marine cable laid.

Four transformers, each weighing 240 tonnes, were recently delivered to the Ballyadam converter station near Carrigtwohill. In addition, the vessel Seapiper transported 13,500 tonnes of rock for subsea rock installation, highlighting the scale of engineering and construction work underway.

The Celtic Interconnector is being developed jointly with France’s Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE), aiming to strengthen electricity grid interconnection and support energy security across both countries.

The project has also contributed to local communities through the Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund. Over €1.6 million has been distributed to community and not-for-profit groups so far, with €820,000 awarded in the second phase alone.

Michael Behan, Chief Financial Officer of EirGrid, said: “We have seen significant progress on the project over the last two years thanks to the collaboration of contractors, partners and especially to the communities of east Cork who have cooperated with us throughout each phase since the project began construction.”

Behan added: “We look forward to continued advancements and milestones on the Celtic Interconnector throughout 2026.”

The project continues to drive significant construction activity in East Cork while delivering measurable community benefits, illustrating the operational scale and societal impact of major energy infrastructure initiatives.

See full project details and updates on the Celtic Interconnector in the full story.

Photo credits to EirGrid’s official website