'Step forward' for Scotland-NI electricity link

The company behind a new electricity link between Scotland and Northern Ireland has said it has taken a "significant step forward".

It comes after the Utility Regulator for Northern Ireland awarded the licence for the new project last month.

A few weeks earlier, Great Britain's energy regulator Ofgem decided to support the project through its "cap and floor regime".

Transmission Investment says its project, known as LirlC, aims to provide up to 700MW of capacity between the Irish Single Electricity Market and the Great Britain wholesale electricity market.

The company said this would improve security of supply at a time when Northern Ireland's electricity system is set for major change.

It is planned for completion in 2032.

Transmission Investment said the receipt of this licence provided the fundamental regulatory licencing requirements, reduced project risk and allowed the project to move forward with confidence.

Project director Keith Morrison said it marked a "significant step forward" for the proposals.

The scheme would involve building two converter stations, one in Northern Ireland and one in Scotland, and a cable of about 80 miles (129km) linking the two, depending on the final route.

Interconnectors which include a link to Great Britain are developed under Ofgem's "cap and floor" regime, which provides a guarantee of how much money they will make.

It gives developers a minimum return (floor) and a limit on the potential upside (cap) for a 25-year period.