Mayo-Galway electricity uprate plans to come before local authorities
PROPOSALS for an uprate of the electricity line between Castlebar and Tuam will come before the local authorities in Mayo and Galway for planning approval.
EirGrid submitted a pre-application consultation request to An Bord Pleanála about the project, who ruled it comes under the remit of the local authorities, not being a strategic infrastructure development.
The proposal is for an uprate of the 110 kV circuit between Castlebar 110kV substation in the townland of Aghaluskey and the Cloon 110 kV substation in the townland of Cloonascragh, Tuam.
A report issued by an inspector with An Bord Pleanála notes that the current network in the northwest does not have the capacity to accommodate the expected future generation and maintain compliance with the Transmission System Security and Planning Standards (TSSPS), with this project part of a suite of uprates being progressed in the region to aid in the delivery of future renewable generation and alleviate some of the constraints on current connected generation.
The works are of a relatively routine nature comprising the uprating of an existing line and not the construction of a new line.
The applicants were of the opinion, therefore, that the works proposed would not constitute strategic infrastructure development, a view the board agreed with.
The board's ruling was that a planning application for the project should be made in the first instance to Mayo County Council and Galway County Council.
The proposed development is located along the existing 110kV circuit from Castlebar to Tuam, which traverses farmland for most of its route with peatlands and poor ground conditions along part of the line.
The proposed uprate includes the replacement of the following: 57.3km one phase Optical Phase Conductor (OPPC); 39 lattice steel towers; 21 anti-climbing guards; 53 wooden polesets; 50 crossarms; the bay conductors in both stations; and the c.175m cable section at the Castlebar 110 kV section to ensure a busbar to busbar summer/winter rating of 935A/1102A on the circuit.