PB Appointed Employer's Representative For EirGrid East West Interconnector Project

January 6, 2009, Ireland -- EirGrid plc has appointed international engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) as Employer's Representative on the East West Interconnector Project, an HVDC (high voltage

direct current) power interconnection between Ireland and the UK. PB will perform the role

with its alliance partner, marine environmental design and risk management specialist, Metoc

plc.

Linking the electricity grids of Ireland and the UK, the subsea interconnector is being

developed, and will be owned, by EirGrid, the independent Irish electricity grid operator,

working closely with the Commission for Energy Regulation in Ireland. The 500 MW

interconnector will increase security of supply and competition in the Irish electricity market,

and is due for completion in 2012.

EirGrid's Project Director, John Fitzgerald, commented on PB's appointment, saying, “We in

EirGrid look forward to working with Parsons Brinckerhoff in the coming years to meet the

challenges of delivering this critical infrastructure.”

PB has been involved in the development phase of the Interconnector project, both as

Technical Advisor and Civil Engineering Consultant, advising on issues relating to

procurement, system integration and the UK civil aspects of the project. This new contract,

signed on Dec. 15, will see PB heavily involved throughout the implementation phase,

managing the EPC contractor on behalf of EirGrid.

Tenders are currently being received from major EPC contractors to manufacture, install and

commission HVDC converter stations, land and subsea cables, and the necessary power

infrastructure to connect the 400 kV grid in Ireland, where EirGrid is the Transmission

System Operator and ESB Networks is the Transmission Asset Owner, with the UK 400 kV

grid operated by National Grid.

A 400 kV connection at the 400 kV Woodland substation outside of Dublin will be linked to an

HVDC converter station. From there it will connect via cable to a landing point on the Irish

coast. A subsea cable will be laid on the bed of the Irish Sea, to be landed on the North

Wales coast, from where there will be a cable connection an HVDC converter station linked

to a 400 kV connection at the Deeside substation in North Wales.

This is the first project undertaken by PB with its alliance partner Metoc plc, who will provide

project management, technical support and installation representation for all marine

activities. PB will be supported by two further specialist subconsultants, AndersenPES

(HVDC technology) and PowerSure Technology (cable technology), who also worked with

PB during the development stages of the Interconnector.

PB's cable, overhead line and substation experts have extensive experience in projects of

this nature, including roles on the Caprivi HVDC Link Interconnector between Namibia and

Zambia, and the Basslink HVDC subsea interconnector between northern Tasmania and

mainland Australia.

The scope of PB's services comprises: