- Strategic upgrade at the Pallas 38 kV Station in Portlaoise by ESB Networks is enhancing electricity network capacity for housing and economic growth in the Midlands.
- Upgrade at Pallas 38 kV Station will provide enough additional installed transformer capacity to support approximately 2,500 homes, including facilitating the electrification of heating and transport.
ESB Networks is due to complete a significant capacity upgrade at the Pallas 38 kV Station in Portlaoise, Co Laois, strengthening the electricity network to support growing demand across the region.
The Pallas 38 kV station is being uprated from two 5 MVA transformers to two 10 MVA transformers, doubling the capacity available to serve homes, businesses, and local industry in the wider Portlaoise area.
Once commissioned, the final upgrade will deliver a total of 10 MVA additional installed transformer capacity, strengthening the network in Laois and supporting future residential, commercial, and industrial demand.
To put this in context, the upgrade will provide enough additional installed transformer capacity to support approximately 2,500 houses, including facilitating the electrification of heating and transport.
James Finn, Capacity Deployment Manager, ESB Networks, said:
"This upgrade at the Pallas 38 kV Station is an important step in accelerating additional capacity for Portlaoise and the wider region, helping to support new homes, business growth and the continued development of local communities.
"By increasing the capacity of the existing network, through targeted strategic interventions, ESB Networks is enabling customers to connect sooner, while also preparing the system to support increasing electrification, including heat pumps and electric vehicles as Ireland progresses with its climate ambitions."
These works form part of ESB Networks’ wider programme of investments under Price Review 6 (PR6), to strengthen and build out the electricity network across the country, ensuring it can meet increasing demand while supporting Ireland’s housing and climate ambitions.
Watch a video outlining this project here: