EIRGRID Substation Development
TOBIN Consulting Engineers, in our role as Project Manager and Lead Environmental Consultants, led the project team in the preparation of the planning application, for submission to An Bord Pleanála under the SID process.
In light of a significant increase in the demand for electricity in the Grange Castle area of Dublin, Eirgrid, our state-owned electric power transmission operator, put forward plans for a 220/110 kV Substation and Associated Works project in West Dublin. This project will see the development of a new 220/110 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear substation with associated underground cable routes and connections that will join this new substation to the grid. The new substation will connect to an existing 220 kV overhead line which runs from Inchicore to Maynooth.
TOBIN Consulting Engineers, in our role as Project Manager and Lead Environmental Consultants, led the project team in the preparation of the planning application, for submission to An Bord Pleanála under the SID process. TOBIN managed the project in accordance with the EirGrid project roadmap and prepared a Constraints Report, a Stage 1 Report (identification of feasible sites), a Stage 2 Report (identification of preferred sites) and a Stage 3 Report (identification of preferred substation location). We also prepared an Appropriate Assessment Screening Report and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening Report. In addition to this, we were also responsible for preparing an Environmental Report and a Planning Application for submission to An Bord Pleanála.
As part of the project, TOBIN determined the optimum project locations for the substation, two separate interface compound locations and a number of specific circuit routes. As part of this work, the public were continuously consulted with in relation to the design of the project and indeed all of the planned developments hereafter.
Throughout the project, TOBIN consulted extensively with landowners, statutory bodies and key stakeholders, including the public. As a result of this, valuable feedback was received in particular in relation to the existing overhead line. The existing 220 kV overhead line, currently runs along the Adamstown train track adjacent to a large number of houses, businesses and schools. As a direct result of this project, it is possible to decommission approximately 3km of existing overhead line along with 13 pylons.
In June 2016, An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for this crucial Strategic Infrastructure Development which is due to be operational in 2018/2019. This project offers many benefits to the local area. It will reinforce electricity supply and the improved infrastructure will create the potential for future development and job opportunities as well as providing significant benefit to the local community through the removal of a section of overhead cable.
