Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade
The Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade project involves the installation of a new high-capacity 400 kV underground electricity connection between Dunstown substation in County Kildare and Woodland substation in County Meath, in the east Ireland.
The new transmission line will close the loop by connecting the two existing 400 kV overhead lines which are currently death-ended and transmit power from the southwest of Ireland, specifically from the Moneypoint substation, in County Clare in the west, to respectively Dunstown substation in County Kildare and to Woodland substation in County Meath in the east. The project will enable the efficient transfer of electricity from renewable energy sources from the south and southwest of the country, where most of Ireland’s wind farms and modern power generators are located and enhance electricity transmission in eastern Ireland to meet growing demand of electricity. The initiative is strongly aligned with the objectives of the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plan, which aims for 80% renewable energy by 2030, including electricity generated from offshore installations.
Planning permissions were approved in March 2025, and the project is now focused on finalizing the construction plan while administering the Community Benefit Fund for local communities impacted by the development.
EirGrid’ s community engagement approach has been instrumental in securing public support and accelerating the energy infrastructure development by putting communities central to decision-making, providing local knowledge to the project EirGrid team, as well as build collaboration with other local groups and organizations. A Community Forum for the project was established in July 2021 and will be kept active until the completion of the project. The forum provides a structured space for continuous dialogue between the company and local stakeholders throughout all phases of project development - from project needs assessment and technical solutions’ evaluation to the permitting phase and construction. The Forum is coordinated by an independent facilitator representing the territory, and it gathers locals from the communities living in proximity to overhead lines, underground cables and transmission substations, including, among others, landowners, local NGOs, and members of the Kildare and Meath County Councils. The regular meetings provide participants with the opportunity to get updates from EirGrid team and advise the company on effective communication of feedback and key milestones to the wider community. Concerns and recommendations have been collected and addressed by EirGrid and have been included in different consultation reports accessible on the project website. Moreover, EirGrid’s consultation strategy also included onsite engagement in the project area, targeted outreach to stakeholders, online webinars, advertising across multiple channels, and a dedicated project website.
Complementary to this broad public engagement strategy, EirGrid has committed 3% of cables’ costs to a Community Benefit Fund meant to provide compensation grants to the communities living around the new transmission infrastructure. The fund, which is overseen by the Community Forum was launched in November 2025, has a total value of €4,610,000 and will be disbursed in three tranches: at the beginning of construction in 2026, at mid-project, and upon project completion. In January 2026, local community and voluntary groups were invited to participate in multiple consultation meetings to identify key priorities and needs of the territory. The fund will support projects that create a lasting legacy, focusing on three main areas: initiatives which strengthen community cohesion, wellbeing, and education; sustainability projects that transform how communities generate, use, and perceive energy; and biodiversity initiatives aimed at enhancing the natural environment, leaving the Kildare-Meath area in a better ecological condition than prior to the project.
Sources
Boyle, E., Revez, A., Duffy, G., Farrell, A., Deane, A., Gallachoir, B. O., & Wittmayer, J. M. (2025). Public participation in the development of electricity grid infrastructure: Early engagements and community forums. Energy Research & Social Science, 120, 103878.
RGI Initiative (2024). Database Practice. EirGrid Community Forum. Retrieved from https://renewables-grid.eu/database/eirgrid-community-forum/ Accessed 19.02.26
EirGrid (2023, March). Kildare -Meath Grid Upgrade - CP966. Summary of engagement with the public and stakeholders in steps 1-5. Retrieved from https://cms.eirgrid.ie/sites/default/files/publications/2023-04-CP0966-KMGU-Engagement-Report.pdf Accessed 19.02.26
EirGrid. Website Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade project website at https://www.eirgrid.ie/community/projects-your-area/kildare-meath-grid-upgrade#project-updates
