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Spain & Ireland Power Link: EU Energy Future?
21 Apr
Summary
- Spain and Ireland ministers to sign power link agreement.
- Link aims to boost renewable energy exchange between nations.
- Spain seeks stronger grid connections to meet EU targets.
Energy ministers from Spain and Ireland are scheduled to sign a preliminary agreement on Thursday. This pact will initiate an assessment of the viability for an undersea power connection between the two countries. Such a link would enable enhanced power exchange, supporting their increased renewable energy production and aligning with Europe's strategic focus on supply security and decarbonization efforts.
Spain has long expressed frustration over its insufficient power connections with the rest of Europe. Current EU targets mandate that by 2030, each member state should possess sufficient power interconnections to import at least 15% of its electricity production. Spain's existing interconnection capacity falls significantly short, representing less than 3% of its production, with an unprecedented blackout last year further highlighting this vulnerability.
The memorandum of understanding provides a framework for analyzing the project's feasibility and economic aspects. Meanwhile, Ireland and French electricity grid operators are actively constructing a separate power connection between Ireland and continental Europe, expected to commence operations in 2028. This project will mark the first interconnector between Ireland and the European mainland.
