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The Local Electricity Project at a glance
- Project name: Dunmanway - Skibbereen 38 kV Overhead Project.
- Location: Existing ESB 110/38 kV Substation at Dunmanway (in Townland Ballyhalwick) and Skibbereen (in Townland Gortnaclohy) both County Cork. (See map).
- Purpose: – Electricity network reinforcement, increased network resilience, improved local power supply capacity and reliability in the local area.
- Key benefits: – To improve the local electricity supply networks in the greater Skibbereen 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
This new 38 kV Circuit is essential for several reasons:
To increase capacity: As our communities grow, so too does the demand for electricity. This new 38 kV Circuit 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 Circuit will greatly enhance the reliability of our local electricity supply. By adding this infrastructure, we can help reduce the risk of future long outages and ensure a more stable power supply into the future.
Support renewable technology: The new Circuit 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 Circuit is designed to help the local Network, support future technological advancements and meet the need for 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 our Projects. This new circuit is a local project for local communities.
Within the Skibbereen Network area, the existing electricity network was built for past needs and today does not have enough capacity or resilience to meet future demands or the likely expected growth in the years ahead.
To address this expected local electricity demand, ESB Networks is investing in the Area, and we are planning to design and build this critical new 38 kV distribution circuit between the existing stations at Dunmanway and Skibbereen. This proposed new overhead circuit will connect into the existing local substations to provide a much more reliable connection and reinforcement between the two existing 38 kV substations. This will greatly benefit west Cork and indeed the wider Supply Network and enhance the electricity supply in the area.
Study area map
Dunmanway Skibbereen Study Area Map
Dunmanway Skibbereen Study Area Map
Latest news
We are at Stage One – announcing this critically important project and trying to help everyone understand the project needs, the goals and greater benefits to the local community.
Local Newspaper Notices will be posted in September 2026.
Community benefits
This new 38 kV Circuit will help meet local needs and distribute a much more reliable power supply to the area around Skibbereen and west Cork feeders. 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 Circuit in Q4, 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 Dunmanway and Skibbereen to support the electricity infrastructure in West-Cork.
Is it the same as other ESB Networks lines in this area?
Yes, it will be a typical 38 kV local distribution type of circuit, same as those all-around Ireland. See typical structure outline booklet – Sample Images of 38 kV Structures
ESB Networks already operates thousands of kilometres of 38 kV (Medium Voltage – MV) lines all around 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 a fully underground cable technology provide a better and more reliable connection between these two stations?
Unfortunately not, as fully undergrounded cables tend to be less reliable, over longer distances, and most especially for important and vital backbone local supply and connection circuits. They are more costly to install and tend to have more local impacts during the installation phases on communities (with road closures and diversions etc.). From an ESB Networks optimum systems 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. All options will be explored during Stage One.
What are the next steps?
ESB Networks project team is currently gathering all relevant design information, and consulting with the local community, public bodies and gathering any 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, circuit technologies and to fully assess the areas to review the suitability for this new circuit. Our aim is to design this important 38 kV circuit to have the least impact on people, land use and the environment. All factors being important during the planning and construction stages. 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). Initially One month consultation (first week in September to first week in October 2026) but will be ongoing. From public issue.
Stage Two – Corridor Assessment and Evaluation. (Est. Two months)
How are power circuit corridors and routes selected?
The answer is with great care and planning, and we try to have the least impact on people, land use and the environment. This particular technology (at 38 kV) has some good design flexibility, where all technical possibilities, reasonable cost options will be considered, and consultation will take place with affected landowners and other stakeholders where technically possible and consultation will take place with affected landowners and stakeholders.
Guidelines will be based on best powerline 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 new circuits 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. Allowing safe working practices during construction, operation and future maintenance. Take account public safety, durability, robustness, maintainability, planning and environmental considerations, and appearance. Be economically viable and compatible with ESB Networks system requirements. These requirements shall be achieved by careful design, choice of suitable technology, 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 38 kV Structures (PDF)
(*note some minor materials variation may occur from what’s shown - as part of the future competitive tendering and design improvement processes.)
Contact us
If you require assistance interpreting the maps, support in understanding any of the information presented, or would like to discuss the project, you can contact the ESB Networks project team using the details below.
Email: info.dunmanwayskibbereen38kv@esb.ie
Postal address (only):
c/o ESB Networks,
Reference: ESB Stage One – Dunmanway-Skibbereen 38 kV Circuit, East Gate Avenue East Gate Park Unit 6 Little Island, County Cork T45 YW71 Ireland.