Rathlin Island Subsea Cable
Island LinkOperationalGB33 kV10.4 km2008
Also known as:Rathlin Island Interconnector cable, Rathlin (Ireland)
Status:Operational
Project Company:
SUBSEA CABLE LIMITED
Type:island link
The Rathlin Island subsea cable is a domestic submarine electricity link providing mainland grid supply to Rathlin Island (County Antrim, Northern Ireland). Installed in 2007, it connects the island to the Northern Ireland distribution network via a shore-to-shore route from the Ballycastle area and is operated within the Northern Irish...
Supply Chain (1)
Project Timeline (3)
26 Jun 2008First Power
On 26 June 2008, Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy officially switched on the new 10.4 km subsea electricity cable between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island, allowing electricity from the mainland network to flow to Rathlin for the first time. The energisation of this Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) cable marked the start of mains power transmission to the island community via the submarine connection.
2007Cable Installation Complete
Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) completed installation of a new subsea electricity cable between Ballycastle on the County Antrim mainland and Rathlin Island in 2007, laying around 6 miles (10.4 km) of underwater cable to provide the island’s first mains electricity connection and replace its previous reliance on generators and wind turbines. The connection was formally inaugurated the following year when NI Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy officially switched on the 10.4 km subsea cable, marking completion of the grid link and delivering a more dependable electricity supply to Rathlin’s homes and businesses while underpinning future development on the island.
1 Jun 2006Cable Route Engineering
Environmental engineers Metoc plc were appointed by Northern Ireland Electricity (Powerteam) as marine consultants for the proposed submarine power cable connection between Rathlin Island and County Antrim, tasked with supporting marine survey work and final route selection for a cable of 11–17 km in length, marking a key step in detailed cable route engineering for the Rathlin Island subsea link.