Ireland and Northern Ireland governments and gas companies are to study feasibility of building a natural gas pipeline to link gas networks in the north and south of the island.
Meanwhile, companies in Northern Ireland plan to build power plants to burn alternative fuels for supply of electricity to Belfast monopoly utility NIE plc.
Gas grid link study
A study will be completed early in 1997 by Ove Arup & Partners Ireland, Dublin, in association with National Economic Research Associates Inc., New York, and Pipeline Engineering GmbH, Essen.
The study was commissioned by Ireland's Department of Transport, Energy & Communications, the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development, Irish utility Bord Gais Eireann, and Belfast's Phoenix Natural Gas. It will be half-financed by the European Union.
A gas pipeline has been built to take gas from the U.K. supply grid in Scotland to a point north of Dublin.
A separate link is being completed to take gas from Scotland to supply a power plant at Ballylumford, under conversion from oil-fired to gas-fired, and a residential supply grid for Belfast.
Security of supply
Ove Arup said connecting the southern gas grid to the Scotland/ Northern Ireland pipeline would provide an alternative supply source in the unlikely event of a subsea failure in the interconnector from Scotland to Ireland.
"At present," said Ove Arup, "the new Ireland/U.K. gas interconnector provides security of supply should there be an interruption in supplies of gas from Kinsale Head and Ballycotton fields.
"These indigenous sources of natural gas will be depleted within the next 7 years, and unless further discoveries are made, the Ireland/U.K. interconnector will then be the sole supply source for the south."
An official at Ireland's energy department said the study will examine potential routes for the new link, what capacity might be required, and whether a link is even necessary.
Ove Arup said that, besides guaranteeing security of supply, a new link could bring natural gas to industry and communities in the border region between Belfast and Dublin.
Alternative plans
Two landfill methane extraction schemes are to proceed: a 4,550 kw unit to be built by Belfast city council, and a 1,700 kw plant by U.K. Waste Management Ltd. in County Antrim.
Also in County Antrim, McGuckian Bros. Ltd. is to build a 250 kw biogas power plant at its hog farm. And two cogeneration units burning wood chips from sawmills are expected to be built.
Government is promoting use of fast-growing willow as a fuel in such units.
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