Positive
Project advancing - milestone achieved
High Impact
Major milestone or critical setback
DELAYED +3yr (Apr 2026): Original plans had first power around 2026, but EirGrid and SONI moved commissioning to spring 2028 due to submarine cable manufacturing and installation delays. The March 2026 EirGrid timeline now groups final marine installation, completion of converter commissioning, and “Trial operation & commercial operation” all in 2028, so a 2026 first‑power date is obsolete; shifting first power to late 2028 in line with the revised commissioning window. --- Electricity flows on the Celtic Interconnector are planned to begin in 2026, with the interconnector entering a trial operation period in which power will start to be exchanged between the grids of Ireland and France via the new HVDC link between Cork and Brittany.