Cluden to Brighouse Bay
The project concerns the twinning of the southwest Scotland onshore gas system.
The project
A new 50km gas pipeline between Cluden and Brighouse Bay in Scotland was completed in December 2018. The commissioning of this pipeline completes the full twinning of the two gas interconnectors between Ireland and the UK.
The second Scotland to Ireland Gas Interconnector is an important project for the Irish economy as it reinforces security of energy supply across Ireland and the UK, facilitating the transport of additional gas supplies from Beattock, South West Scotland, to Gormanstown in Co. Meath.
Twinning of the on-shore section, which feeds the two subsea pipelines in place since 1993 and 2004 respectively, secures this vital link to the UK gas market.
The pipeline will also boost the operational flexibility of the Irish gas network which is essential to providing backup to intermittent renewable electricity generation.
Natural gas, as the cleanest and most flexible fossil fuel for power generation, is an ideal partner to renewables as Ireland seeks to meet its energy and climate change targets.
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How Irish Natural Gas System connected to Scotland
The Irish Natural Gas System is connected to the National Grid system in the UK at Moffat in Scotland.
From the connection with the National Grid system at Moffat, the Scottish onshore system consists of a compressor station at Beattock which is connected to Brighouse Bay by two pipelines from Beattock to Cluden and, with the completion of this project, two pipelines from Cluden to Brighouse Bay.
A second compressor station at Brighouse Bay compresses the imported gas into the two sub-sea Interconnectors.
From Brighouse Bay there are two interconnector pipelines connecting Ireland to the UK gas network. One has been in operation since 1993, with the second interconnector has been operational since January 2003.
The Irish Natural Gas System is connected to the National Grid system in the UK at Moffat in Scotland. The interconnection point at Moffat currently flows in one direction (uni-directional) with gas flowing from the United Kingdom to Ireland. Gas Networks Ireland was allocated funding by the EU Commission for feasibility studies for physical reverse flow at Moffat (Project PCI 5.1.1), making the interconnection point bi-direction – i.e. two way flow. Following a successful application through the EU Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). Funding of 50% of the total budget for the feasibility studies was granted under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the maximum grant allowed for studies. This Feasibility is ongoing.
Pipeline Length: 49.6 km
Pipeline Diameter: 900mm (36 inch)
Pipeline Material: Steel pipeline
Pipeline Design Pressure: 85 barG
With the completion of the Cluden to Brighouse Bay gas pipeline, the technical capacity of the fully twinned gas interconnectors between Ireland and the UK has increased from 31 million standard cubic meter per day (mscm/d) or 341 Gigawatt Hour per day (GWh/d) to 35 mscms/d or 385GWh/d.
Published documents relating to the Cluden to Brighouse Bay Project
Pipeline Construction Authorisation by the Scottish Ministers
On the 21st of June 2016, the Scottish Ministers granted a Pipeline Construction Authorisation (PCA) to GNI(UK) Ltd. in respect of the application dated 14 August 2015 under section 1 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962, and made a direction under section 5 of that Act for deemed planning permission for 7.2km of Gas Pipe-line between Cluden and Lochfoot. A copy of the decision letter can also be found on the Scottish Government website.
Documents submitted to Scottish Government on 14 August 2015
2015 Environmental Impact Assessment
Part 1 (PDF 6.7MB) - Part 2 (PDF 8.3MB) - Part 3 (PDF 8.1MB) - Part 4 (PDF 7.3MB) - Part 5 (PDF 8.9MB) - Part 6 (PDF 9.5MB) - Part 7 (PDF 3.7MB) - Appendices (PDF 4.7MB)
Project of common interest
The project has been identified as a Project of Common Interest for the purpose of EU funding within the CEF-Energy programme, pursuant to the terms of Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013 ("the TEN-E Regulation").
The Project was entered into the first union list of projects of common interest as published by the EU Commission on 14 October 2013. On 21st November 2014, the EU Commission has published the list of actions selected for receiving financial assistance under CEF-Energy. The project has been included in the list and identified as being eligible for funding up to the sum of €33,764,185.
Disclaimers excluding Agency responsibility
Funding Statement
PCI 5.2 (Cluden to Brighouse Bay) is the recipient of European funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)PCI 5.2 (Cluden to Brighouse Bay) is co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) On 14th May 2015 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities granted final approval to progress the project.
EU Funding
The project has been identified as a Project of Common Interest for the purpose of EU funding within the CEF-Energy programme, pursuant to the terms of Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013 ("the TEN-E Regulation").
Permitting process
The Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure EU 347/2013 (TEN-E Regulation) stipulates the rules for the timely development and interoperability of energy networks in European Union Member States and the European Economic Area (EEA). The TEN-E Regulation sets out guidelines for streamlining the permitting processes for major energy infrastructure projects that contribute to European energy networks. Ofgem in the United Kingdom has produced a document to guide applicants through the procedures for applying for consents for PCIs.
Some of the requirements contained with the Manual of Procedures and how these are being addressed are shown in the table.
On 14th May 2015 the Commission for Regulation of Utilities granted final approval to progress the project and Pipeline Construction Authorisation (PCA) was granted in 2016 in respect of a c.7km reroute of the original 50km PCA received in 2002. The documents submitted as part of this application can be viewed here.
Contact us
For any queries in relation to this project, including requests for documents or providing responses or comments to public consultations please use any of the details provide below.
Address:
Cluden to Brighouse Pipeline
GNI (UK) Limited
Lochmaben Road
Beattock Compressor Station
Beattock
DG10 9RL