For emergencies:
Call 1800 372 999
The Local Electricity Project at a glance
- Project name: Bunclody - Shillelagh 38 kV Overhead Line Connection.
- Location: Greater Bunclody and Shillelagh areas in Co Wexford and Co Wicklow.
- Purpose: – Electricity network reinforcement, increased network resilience, improved local power supply capacity and reliability in the local area.
- Key benefits: – To improve the electricity supply in the greater Bunclody and Shillelagh areas, helping to sustain growth and meet current and future demands.
- Project Stage:
- Stage One – Announce the Project, explain the needs and start gathering relevant planning and design information (will take approximately one month).
Introduction
The new 38 kV Overhead Line technology is essential for several reasons:
- To increase capacity: As our communities grow, so too does the demand for electricity. This new proposed 38 kV line will increase our capacity to deliver critical power, ensuring that local homes and businesses have the energy that they need.
- Improve reliability: This new 38 kV line will enhance the reliability of our local electricity supply. By adding this infrastructure, we can help reduce the risk of outages and ensure a more stable power supply into the future.
- Support technology: The new overhead line will facilitate the integration of more renewable energy sources into our homes, farms and business. This is a crucial future step towards achieving Ireland’s sustainability ambitions and reducing our carbon footprint. (e.g. electric vehicles and more efficient heat pump technology).
- Futureproofing: Investing now in a modern resilient back-bone power supply infrastructure will help us to meet the local energy needs today, and tomorrow. This new 38 kV line is designed to support future technological advancements and any increased electricity demand.
Why do we need this 38 kV line?
Our electricity distribution networks and planning standards require that all new infrastructure is justified by having clear evidence of need, that it supports national planning policy, and is future-proofed for growth and decarbonisation.
ESB Networks stakeholder engagement emphasises transparency, clarity, and early engagement on project rationale. This is a local project for local communities.
In the Bunclody and Shillelagh areas, the existing electricity network was built for past needs and does not have enough capacity or resilience to meet future demands or the likely expected growth in the years ahead.
To address this local electricity demand, ESB Networks is investing in the area, and we are planning to design and build a new 38 kV (distribution line) from Bunclody to Shillelagh. This proposed new overhead line will connect into the existing local substations to provide a much more reliable connection and reinforcement between the existing Bunclody and Shillelagh 38 kV substations. This will greatly benefit the Bunclody and Shillelagh area and indeed the wider network and enhance the electricity supply in your area.
Latest news
We are at Stage One - announcing this important local area project and trying to help everyone understand the project needs and goals and greater benefits to the local community.
Local Notices posted in the Enniscorthy Guardian 01st April 2026 & Wicklow People 01st April 2026
Community benefits
This new 38 kV overhead line technology will help meet local needs and distribute a much more reliable power supply to the area around Shillelagh and Bunclody. It will help the area to meet its current and future forecast growth.
Proposed development timeline
It is anticipated ESB Networks will submit a planning application for this new 38 kV line in Q3, 2026. Construction will depend on planning consent; this will commence once planning permission is granted (*dates are preliminary at this stage).
FAQs
Why do we need this 38 kV project?
ESB Networks is committed to providing a safe, reliable, and efficient electricity supply to our communities. To meet the growing demand for electricity and the resilience of our power infrastructure, we are introducing the need for a new 38 kV overhead line, as the optimum solution to meet this growing demand, between Bunclody, Co Wexford, and Shillelagh, Co Wicklow, Stations.
Is it the same as other ESB Networks lines in this area?
Yes, it will be a typical 38 kV local distribution type of line, same as those all-around Ireland. See typical structure outline booklet – Download Sample Images of 38kv Structures ESB Networks operates thousands of kilometres of 38 kV (Medium Voltage – MV) lines in Ireland. MV Lines are already the backbone electricity supply to many of our towns and villages and ESB Networks has detailed design and maintenance standards for all 38 kV overhead lines, including mechanical design parameters, span lengths, and safe clearance requirements.
Can an underground cable technology provide a better and more reliable connection between these two stations?
Unfortunately not as underground cables tend to be less reliable, especially for important backbone local supply and connections. They are more costly to install and tend to have more local impacts during the installation phases on communities (road closures and diversions). From an ESB Networks perspective, faults on underground cables take much longer to find, and repair should a fault occur on an underground circuit. In contrast overhead line technology can be repaired relatively quickly.
What are the next steps?
ESB Networks is currently gathering relevant design information, and consulting with the local community, public bodies and gathering all the relevant constraints within this study area. We will try to balance the consultation, route selection and planning process. We will consider all local information as is relevant. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and traditional mapping will help to identify route options and fully assess the areas to review the suitability for this new overhead line. Our aim is to design this important 38 kV Line to have the least impact on people, land use and the environment. All factors being important. We welcome any local or community observations at this initial Stage One to help ESB Networks build a picture and a ‘heat map’ of likely constraints within this area.
What is the broad timeline?
Stage One – Information Gathering (public consultation / information phase). One month consultation. (March to April)
Stage Two – Corridor Assessment and Evaluation. (May to June)
How are powerline corridors and routes selected?
The answer is with great care, and we try to have the least impact on people, land use and the environment. This overhead line technology (38 kV) has some good design flexibility, where technically possible and consultation will take place with affected landowners and stakeholders.
Guidelines will be based on best routing criteria and industry and technology best practice.
- Considering, under others - the topography, landscape, housing, land use, environmental and ecological considerations (protected species, habitats, and potential mitigation measures) and the cultural heritage and any social factors.
- Safety and health, including full compliance with any relevant HSA and ESB Networks and international safety standards.
- Data protection and privacy in compliance with planning regulations.
Will stakeholder feedback influence the final route planning and design phase?
Yes. ESB Networks would like to reassure the community and landowners that all feedback will be carefully considered as part of the overall design, balanced planning, routing approach and consultation processes and outcomes.
Will ESB Networks publish landowner details?
No. Personal details will only be processed in line with legal regulations and in accordance with ESB’s Data Protection Policy and GDPR. For more information, see Data privacy.
What is the basis of this technology and design?
All overhead electricity lines shall be designed and constructed to perform reliably and in an economic manner for the range of design conditions specified in ESB Networks design standards. Allow safe working practices during construction, operation and maintenance. Take account public safety, durability, robustness, maintainability, planning and environmental considerations, and appearance. Be economically viable and compatible with ESB Networks business requirements. These requirements shall be achieved by appropriate design, choice of suitable materials and by specifying control procedures for the construction, operation and maintenance of the overhead network into the future.
What will the overhead line look like?
Please see sample of images here: Sample Images of 38kv Structures
(*note some minor materials variation may occur from what’s shown ,- as part of the future competitive tendering and design improvement processes.)
Contact us
You can reach out to the ESB Networks project team here by writing to the address below (project email address or postal address).
Email: info.bunclodyshillelagh38kv@esb.ie
Postal address (only):
c/o ESB Networks,
Reference: ESB Stage One - Bunclody – Shillelagh 38 kV Line. East Gate Avenue, East Gate Park, Unit 6, Little Island, T45 YW71 County Cork.