The LirIC Interconnector Project is a proposed new HVDC subsea electricity interconnector between the Belfast region in Northern Ireland and the Ayrshire region in Scotland.

The main parts of the project include:

Scotland

• One HVDC converter station located in Hunterston.
• One 320kV HVDC onshore cable circuit of approximately 3km that connects the converter station to the offshore cables at the landfall.
• One 400kV HVAC underground cable of approximately 2km that connects the converter station to the existing Hunterston East substation at Hunterston.

Offshore

One 320kV HVDC offshore cable circuit (two cables in a circuit) of approximately 142km from Hunterston, Scotland to Kilroot, Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland

• One HVDC converter station located in Kilroot.
• One 320kV HVDC onshore cable circuit of approximately 3km that connects the converter station to the offshore cables at the landfall.
• One 275kV HVAC underground cable of less than 1km that connects the converter station to a new NIE substation adjoining the converter station location in Kilroot.

The Project will provide up to 700MW of further capacity capable of being transmitted in both directions between the Irish Integrated Single Energy Market (I-SEM) and the GB wholesale electricity market. LirIC is a unique project in that it will connect between the European and British electricity network but exists wholly within the UK. 

Increased interconnection between transmission networks results in a larger energy market enhancing grid stability, lowering energy costs, and facilitating the transition to renewable energy through cross-border trading. Developing a new interconnector with Great Britain is required both from the developer and societal perspectives. Furthermore, it supports the achievement of Ireland’s 2030 energy objectives and de-risks offshore wind development.

NI currently has one interconnectors, Moyle, allowing it to export and import electricity to and from Scotland, with the North-South interconnector, connecting NI to the Republic of Ireland (RoI) in the development stage, though much delayed.in . The Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) is also supported by the East West Interconnector between Wales and RoI. The need for further interconnection between the I-SEM and other markets has been recognised in several studies to date, in particular the need for further interconnection to Great Britain. 

Increased interconnection between transmission networks results in lower energy costs for consumers and businesses. More specifically, the overall benefits across Scotland, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland can be quantified as follows:

• 33TWh of reduced wind curtailment.
• 3m tonne reduction in carbon emissions.
• £912m in consumer welfare benefit in social Net Present Value (NPV) terms.
• £1.23bn socio economic welfare benefit (excluding the costs of LirIC) in NPV terms,
• £1.76bn system cost benefit (excluding costs of LirIC) in social NPV terms, which includes the wider benefit to society of decreased carbon emissions.

Specifically for Northern Ireland the benefits were estimated to be nearly £600m in socio-economic welfare benefit, positive (£150m) consumer benefits (from lower wholesale prices), reduced emissions and lower wind curtailment. 

For the onshore works in Scotland, the Project will apply to North Ayrshire Council for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended). For the onshore works in Northern Ireland, the Project will apply to Mid and East Antrim Council for planning permission under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.

For the offshore works in Scotland, the Project will apply to the Marine Directorate - Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) for a marine licence. For the offshore works in Northern Ireland, the Project will apply to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) for a marine licence. 

The project will take approximately 4 years to build, with the aim to be operational by 2032.

Any local disruption during construction will be minimised to ensure no significant impacts on local communities with comprehensive mitigation and management measures. For example, construction traffic and working hours will be managed using a Construction Traffic Management Plan that will be reviewed and approved by the Local Planning Authority.

A full Environmental Impact Assessment is being undertaken as part of the consent applications which will present any mitigation that will be incorporated into the construction management plans. Any construction and operational noise will be subject to rigid control and mitigation measures in compliance with industry construction standards such as BS 5228 and BS4142.

Employment creation is expected to be at its maximum level during the construction phase of the project where it is expected there will be approximately 500 full time roles. During the operational phase, there are expected to be around 10 full time roles as part of the ongoing operation and maintenance of the interconnector.