September 2023
EirGrid has identified the Best Performing Option for the East Meath-North Dublin grid upgrade
This will see a high-capacity, 400 kV underground connection built between Woodland substation, near Batterstown in Co Meath, and Belcamp substation, near Clonshaugh in north Dublin.
These works are needed to strengthen the grid in order to cater for increased electricity demand in the region, due to economic development and population growth. It will also assist in reducing the use of, and reliance upon, fossil fuels for power generation.
After the prior announcement of the Emerging Best Performing Option in March of this year, further assessments have taken place, as well as continued engagement with landowners, communities and statutory stakeholders.
The resulting Best Performing Option is the refinement of that chosen route along the project corridor, which crosses the River Tolka, the railway at M3 Parkway, along with the M1, M2 and M3 motorways. The proposed route has an overall length of approximately 38km, with an off-road section of approximately 11 kilometres.
Further details can be found via our updated brochure for East Meath-North Dublin, available in English and as Gaeilge
There is also a full evaluation report outlining developments within the proposed upgrade.
The Best Performing Option map
A detailed map of the Best Performing Route Option is available here
Community Engagement
EirGrid will be hosting interactive events at the below dates to discuss the progress of this project. We will also be hosting a webinar which you can register for below.
- 21 September, 11am – 7pm: Hollystown Golf Club, Hollystown, Dublin 15, Co Dublin
- 28 September, 11am – 7pm: St Margaret’s GAA Club, Ballystrahan, St Margaret’s, Co Dublin
- 5 October, 11am – 7pm: Dunboyne Main Street, Dunboyne, Co Meath
East Meath-North Dublin Webinar: Postponed
27 September, 7-8pm (Postponed)
March 2023
EirGrid identifies Emerging Best Performing Option for East Meath - North Dublin Grid Upgrade
Following feedback gathered during an extensive public consultation process, on four possible route options for the East Meath - North Dublin Grid Upgrade, and based on further studies, we have identified Option A: The Red Option as the Emerging Best Performing Option (EBPO).
EirGrid is now in a position to confirm the Emerging Best Performing Option (English) (Gaeilge) for this project and has published a full evaluation report on this outcome.
The route, which is the shortest of the four options, is approximately 37km in length, with an estimated off-road section of nine kilometres.
It travels south from Woodland substation, near Batterstown in County Meath, to Belcamp substation near Clonshaugh, in north Dublin.
Over the coming weeks, the project team will carry out further technical and environmental evaluations, while continuing to meet and engage with landowners, community, business and statutory stakeholders. This will inform the final route, which we anticipate announcing during the summer of 2023.
The Emerging Best Performing Route Option map
A detailed map of the Emerging Best Performing Route Option is available here
Open Days and Community Cinics
EirGrid will be hosting in person events at the below dates to discuss the progress of this project, we will also be hosting two webinars which you can register for below:
East Meath-North Dublin Webinar 1
When: 13th April 2023, 7pm-8pm
East Meath-North Dublin Webinar 2
When: 11th May 2023, 7pm-8pm
September 2022
Public consultation - Have your say
EirGrid, is launching a 12-week public consultation on September 7 to seek the public’s input in identifying a route for the East Meath-North Dublin Grid Upgrade.
The 400kV underground cable circuit from Woodland substation, near Batterstown in County Meath, to Belcamp substation, near Clonshaugh in north Dublin, was identified earlier this year as the best-performing technical option.
The project is needed to address the increased electricity demand in east Meath and north Dublin, due to economic activity and population growth, while also reducing the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation.
When developed, the upgrade will improve electricity supply in the region.
EirGrid will consult with the public over the next 12 weeks to identify where the circuit should be built. The consultation will include information days, open days and webinars, where the EirGrid project team will provide information about four proposed route options.
To read the full press release click here.
East Meath-North Dublin Consultation Webinar #1
When: Sep 14, 2022 19:00 Dublin
East Meath-North Dublin Consultation Webinar #2
When: Oct 4, 2022 19:00 Dublin
East Meath-North Dublin Consultation Webinar #3
When: Nov 17, 2022 19:00 Dublin
Open days- 11am to 7pm
- Wed 28th Sep - Atrium County Hall, Swords , Co Dublin
- Thu 29th Sep - Coolquoy Lodge, North Road old N2, Dublin, Dublin 11
- Wed 12th Oct – Hilton Hotel, Malahide Road , Dublin 17
- Thu 13th Oct – Sweeneys, Kilbride Rd, Priest Town, Co. Meath
- Wed 26th Oct - St Margaret’s GAA , Ballystrahan, St Margaret's Co. Dublin
- Thu 27th Oct – Caffreys,Trim Road, Batterstown, Co Meath
Mobile Information Unit Days
- Tues 15th Nov
- Caffreys, Trim Road, Batterstown, Co Meath (10am-1pm)
- Coolquoy Lodge, North Road Old N2, Dublin, Dublin 11 (2pm-5pm)
- Wed 16th Nov
- Kinsealy Garden Centre, Malahide Road Dublin Co Dublin (10am-1pm)
- Sweeneys, Kilbride Rd, Priest Town, Co. Meath (2pm-5pm)
- Thu 17th Nov - Coachman’s Inn, Cloughran, Airport Road Dublin (10am-2pm)
July 2022
EirGrid is inviting expressions of interest from local community groups to join a community forum for the East Meath-North Dublin Grid Upgrade.
The purpose of the forum is to ensure that stakeholder and community views are understood and properly considered, and to provide feedback at key stages in the delivery of the project. The community forum will also co-develop a community benefit strategy with local stakeholders.
An online information evening will take place on Thursday, July 14 at 7pm to inform communities and stakeholders about the Community Forum and Community Benefit Fund. Please register here if you wish to attend the information evening.
More information about the community forum here.
May 2022
Public Webinars
EirGrid is improving the grid in the greater Dublin area by adding a 400kV underground high capacity electricity connection between Woodland substation in Co Meath and Belcamp substation in north Dublin.
To ensuring stakeholders have as many opportunities as possible to hear about project updates and to facilitate two webinars will take place on June 8th next.
Please click here to watch the public webinar.
Upcoming Information Days
As part of its ongoing awareness campaign on the East Meath-North Dublin Grid Upgrade, EirGrid, operator and developer of the electricity grid, will hold an information day in Swords this coming Wednesday, May 18.
The information day will take place in The Atrium, County Hall, Swords from 11am to 4pm and provide the public with the latest information on the proposed 400kV underground cable project.
The awareness campaign continues into next month with the EirGrid team and its mobile information unit:
- May 31 - Supervalu in Tyrrelstown, 11am to 5pm;
- June 1 - Kinsealy Garden Centre, 10am to 1pm and on to St Margaret’s GAA Club from 2pm to 5pm;
- June 2 - Caffrey’s Batterstown, Co Meath from 10am to 2pm;
- June 14 – Main Street, Dunboyne, 10am to 1pm and Sweeney’s, Kilbride, 2pm – 5pm;
- June 15 - Coachman’s Inn, Airport Road, 10am to 2pm;
Find out more details about the project in the related documents.
Eight-week awareness campaign
EirGrid has launched an eight-week awareness campaign for the East Meath-North Dublin Grid Upgrade.
The project will improve the electricity grid in the east of the country by adding a high-capacity connection between Woodland substation in Batterstown, County Meath and Belcamp substation in north Dublin.
To keep communities informed of the latest updates on the project, an awareness campaign will take place throughout May and June. The campaign will include a number of information days where EirGrid team members will be available at locations in the project area, along with public webinars where people can hear about project developments to date.
A public consultation, due to be held later this year will seek feedback on potential route options for this 400kV underground cable.
Full detail on project developments to date are available here.
October 2020
EirGrid has commenced public consultation to last eight weeks until 7th December on a new electricity infrastructure project that will strengthen the grid between East Meath and North Dublin.
The project will help meet the growing demand for electricity in the east of the country, specifically the east of Meath and north of Dublin, due to the increased economic activity in recent years.
It will also facilitate increasing amounts of renewable electricity that is generated by windfarms in the west and transported for use in the east of the country where fossil fuelled generators currently supply most of the power required.
The development, known as the East Meath to North Dublin Network Reinforcement Project, involves building a new electricity circuit that links the Woodland substation near Dunboyne to one of Corduff, Finglas or Belcamp substations in Dublin.
The existing electricity circuits in North Dublin and East Meath will soon reach capacity so we need to invest in reinforcing the electricity system in the region to meet growing demand and efficiently move the increasing amounts of renewable energy on the grid to where it is needed.
The project is at a very early stage of development. An EirGrid team of engineers is evaluating seven possible technology options, both overhead lines and underground cables, which could link the substations. The technology options will be evaluated against a set of five criteria: technical, economic, environmental, deliverability and socio-economic.
The public and other stakeholders can provide feedback to the project team, which will in turn feed into the overall evaluation. Based on this, a shortlist of options will be put forward for more detailed evaluation and analysis.
July 2020
The project is at a very early stage of development and we are currently evaluating a long list of options consisting of both overhead and underground technologies that link substations in East Meath and North Dublin.
The long list of reinforcement options has been developed to identify the best possible solution for this project. The options have been measured against both technical and economic criteria to reduce the list of options.
In September 2020, stakeholders can provide feedback to the project team, which will in turn feed into the evaluation of the options.