New €70 million 110 kV substation planned for Portlaoise

The ESB has plans to build another €70 million 110kV substation in Portlaoise where negotiations are ongoing in relation to a site.

ESB Networks Area Manager for Laois and Kilkenny, Louise Kelly, revealed the plan during the official opening of the new 110kV substation at Bracklone in Portarlington.

She said the official opening of the ESB Networks 110kV Bracklone Substation is a really important day for the customers of Portarlington, Mountmellick, Portlaoise, and actually the wider Laois area.

“We have our plans set out for the next five years and beyond. Already, Bracklone isn’t just it. There is lots of other projects going on. Just last year in Portlaoise in our 110 station there, that went through a major overhaul and that freed up capacity for our customers inside there to grow and expand. Another one of our stations in Portlaoise is currently going through a major overhaul,” said Ms Kelly

She said the ESB was upgrading their overhead lines from 10kV to 20kV in and around the midlands area as well.

“A big thing that is coming down the tracks is a second 110 station similar to the one we are going to visit in Bracklone shortly. It is being built or is planned to be built on the outskirts of Portlaoise across the next five years,” she revealed.

When asked about Coolnabacky, Ms Kelly said, “Coolnabacky, that is due for delivery imminently. This is another station outside of that, another 110 station West Portlaoise it is actually called, or is the name that is put on to it when it is built. That is going through site acquisition right now, so it is at the early stages.”

Ms Kelly said “I understand it is an advanced stage of site acquisition” but she said she wasn’t in a position to comment too specifically on where the project is.

The Bracklone substation cost €70 million and took two and a half years to build. It is the first of 30 such stations the ESB is planning to deliver around the country in the next five years.

In relation to Bracklone, she said, “Whether you are a housing developer looking to come in to build houses in towns and villages around the midlands or you are a major customer looking to set up base in Portlaoise or Portarlington or wherever that may be. Or you are a domestic customer like myself looking to buy your first EV, that you have confidence in the system that the capacity is in the system to support your endeavour."