The construction of a £532m electricity interconnector between Ireland and Wales was this week approved by planning chiefs at An Bord Pleanala.

Ireland’s planning agency granted energy firm EirGrid the green light to build the 500-megawatt interconnector.

The 260km underwater cable will stretch from north County Dublin to North Wales. There would also be about 45 km of underground cables buried along public roads from Rush to a converter station in Woodland, County Meath; and a link from Barkby beach to a station at Deeside.

The two-way interconnector would allow the countries to import and export electricity supply as needed.

Swedish engineering firm ABB is expected to start building the major new link next year, with construction to complete in 2012.