The Irish Government plans to sign an agreement early next year with Spain to develop a new undersea electricity interconnector between the two countries, in what would mark a major step toward enhancing energy security and integration across Europe.
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien confirmed the development in an interview with RTÉ News, following discussions with his Spanish counterpart earlier this week. “Things will have to be worked through on exact locations and things like that, but we are working towards a memorandum of understanding in the spring,” he said.
The proposed interconnector would be the first direct energy link between Ireland and Spain. While technical and financial details are still being finalized, it is expected that Spain would primarily export energy to Ireland, given its frequent surpluses in renewable power generation — particularly from solar and wind sources.
Minister O’Brien said the overall costs of the project have not yet been determined, but construction is expected to be completed during the 2030s. The European Union may co-fund the project alongside the Irish and Spanish governments as part of its broader efforts to strengthen the continent’s integrated energy grid and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“This is a significant opportunity to expand Ireland’s access to clean and secure energy,” O’Brien noted, highlighting the project’s potential to complement the country’s existing network of interconnectors.
Currently, Ireland is connected to the British electricity market through two operational interconnectors — the East West Interconnector and Greenlink — while a third, MaresConnect, is scheduled to begin operations in 2030. In addition, the Celtic Interconnector, linking Ireland to France, is set to go live in 2027.
Energy interconnectors play a critical role in enabling countries to buy and sell electricity across borders, balancing supply and demand and ensuring more stable energy prices. By linking directly to Spain, Ireland would gain access to a broader pool of renewable electricity and improve the resilience of its power network against market shocks.
Minister O’Brien said initial discussions between Irish and Spanish officials have already taken place, and this week marked the first formal political talks on the proposal. “It’s still early days, but both sides are very positive about the potential,” he said.
If completed, the Ireland–Spain interconnector would represent a new milestone in Europe’s energy cooperation and a key component of Ireland’s long-term renewable energy strategy.
