The first ever electricity connector between Ireland and Britain will be officially opened today.

The East-West Interconnector project was developed by EirGrid.

It is stationed in Batterstown in Co. Meath and will allow electricity to be bought and sold between Ireland and Britain.

It is around 260 kilometers long and will link the Irish power system to the electricity grid in Britain by undersea and underground cables.

It has the capacity to transfer 500 mega-watts of electricity which is enough to power 300,000 homes

The semi-State company Eirgrid developed the project at a cost of around €600 million and it will allow electricity to be bought and sold between Ireland and the UK.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be joined by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte at an event in Meath later when the interconnector will be officially switched on.

The project was co-financed by the European Union.

The Interconnector will represent an investment of €600 million with loan of up to €300 million  from the European Investment Bank.

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