Fingal to East Meath Grid Reinforcement Project

East Meath and Fingal are among the fastest growing areas in the country (as per Census 2022), and with this growth comes a greater requirement for electricity. EirGrid is planning new infrastructure to meet this need, so that electricity supply can be adequately futureproofed.

The Fingal to East Meath Grid Reinforcement is a proposed project to accommodate the continued growth in electricity demand in the region, which is being driven by several sectors.

This includes:

The existing electricity infrastructure is at risk of reaching its capacity limit. To address this need, new infrastructure is required to ensure a reliable, sustainable electricity supply to communities, residents, schools and businesses in the area.

Key to this project is the development of a new transmission interface substation and associated connecting circuits in the vicinity of North Dublin which will connect to a substation in East Meath. 

This project is a critical addition to the electricity network, providing connectivity to the proposed CP1021 East Meath-North Dublin 400 kV underground cable and the East Meath 220 kV substation. 

The primary function of this substation is to facilitate power flows between the transmission and distribution systems to enable power to be distributed to where it is needed.

The development of this project follows EirGrid’s 6-Step approach to Grid Development (see below) which sets out the steps to be taken to identify and implement the best performing solution that meets the needs outlined.

EirGrid’s Framework for Grid Development is a 6-step process for all EirGrid’s grid development projects, from their conception i.e., identification of a need to develop the electricity transmission grid through to their eventual construction and subsequent energisation.

The graphic below provides an overview of the 6 steps of the Framework Grid Development.

Key to this project is the development of the new Ward 400 kV Substation and future connecting circuits in the Fingal area, to the west of Swords.

In October and November 2024, EirGrid held a public consultation campaign to help determine the location and technology of this substation. This consultation, along with stakeholder and landowner engagement, environmental, economic, and technical factors, determined the most appropriate zone as ZE1, as presented in the map below, and Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) substation technology, which was announced in February 2025.

Gas-insulated substations (GIS) are housed indoors in dedicated buildings, making them compact and less affected by environmental conditions, while air-insulated substations rely on open air around their equipment, so they are larger and more exposed to weather.

Potential sites were identified within ZE1 and a high-level risk assessment was carried out to confirm which sites might be suitable for the development of the Ward 400 kV Substation. A list of five potential sites was identified, shown as A-E in the map below.

Further engagement, a comprehensive MultiCriteria Assessment (MCA) process, site investigations and surveys has resulted in the identification of Site E as the best performing option for the construction of the Ward 400 kV Substation.

A webinar was held on 19 May and can be viewed below.