EirGrid

EirGrid plc is Ireland’s state-owned electricity transmission system operator, responsible for planning, developing and operating the national high‑voltage grid. Established in 2006 and owned by the Irish Government, it manages the flow of power from generating stations to large energy users and to the ESB Networks distribution system that supplies every electricity customer in the country. EirGrid operates the Irish wholesale power market through the Single Electricity Market Operator in joint arrangement with SONI, the transmission system operator for Northern Ireland, and holds licences as a nominated electricity market operator. The company is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and operates within Ireland’s broader Climate Action Plan and electricity policy framework. EirGrid’s asset base includes thousands of kilometres of overhead lines and underground cables and close to 200 bulk substations, and it connects more than a hundred generation units including extensive wind, solar, hydro and grid‑scale battery capacity. It owns and operates the East‑West Interconnector and operates the Greenlink Interconnector to Great Britain, and, with French TSO RTE, is developing the 700 MW Celtic Interconnector between Ireland and France. Its mandate has been expanded to include ownership and operation of Ireland’s offshore transmission network, including new offshore substations and grid infrastructure to connect around 900 MW of offshore wind on the south coast. Through its Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap and large programme of onshore reinforcements and new projects such as the Powering Up Offshore South Coast and regional grid upgrades, EirGrid aims to make the grid “renewable ready” to carry up to 80% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources while maintaining a safe, secure and reliable power system.