Frank Smyth

In 2014, EirGrid as part of their Grid25 programme, indicated the needed to build the 'Grid Link' Project - a new 400 kV line from Cork to Dublin to export renewables from the West of Ireland up to Dublin. The project was shelved on the back of public backlash and instead EirGrid adopted an approach of 'maximising what we have', which was fine to get us to 2020 but how we wish we had a project like this in play today to help drive decarbonisation and future industrial development accross the country. Roll forward to 2025 and Uisce Eireann are building a 170km long water pipeline from Limerick to Dublin, a potentially once in a lifetime project where all landowners are in process of being signed up and it begs the question, when will we ever get a chance in our lifetime to secure that length of land for an infrastructure project again? It seems like a no brainer to take the time to include additional ducting and services along this corridor to future proof our electricity system and our economy. There are various Government Working groups looking at this question of 'How do we build linear infrastructure quicker in Ireland?' I think we need to start by working more collaboratively. That means all agencies of the state, state land owners, willing investors in the energy, water, housing, roads or wider infrastructure sector working together to deliver infrastructure collaboratively - not on a piecemeal basis. Why go to the effort of securing wayleaves from landowners for a water pipeline or gas pipeline and not include ducting for future electrical transmission corridors. Why open up roads or motorways or plan new major road or rail infrastructure projects and not include other key services such as electricity, fiber or gas. Joined up thinking on infrastructure can make such a huge difference. 💡 "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

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EIRSAT-1, Ireland’s first satellite, has successfully tested an advanced onboard control system that allows it to orient itself accurately in space. The breakthrough was achieved using a payload called Wave-Based Control (WBC), a software platform designed by a team at University College Dublin School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering to test new satellite manoeuvring techniques while in orbit. Engineering Manager for EIRSAT-1, and UCD Control Systems expert, Dr David McKeown said: “This achievement marks a major milestone for the group in deploying advanced control systems in space. The team has demonstrated that a novel control strategy can operate reliably in orbit and pave the way for developing satellite orientation control for missions with tight constraints, such as optical communications.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ebGvakuP UCD College of Engineering & Architecture NovaUCD MBRYONICS Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Enterprise Ireland Research Ireland Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

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MBRYONICS, a Galway-based leader in photonic satellite optical communication networks, has opened its new Photon-1 volume manufacturing facility in Dangan and announced the creation of 125 new jobs over the next two years in Galway.    MBRYONICS currently has a headcount of 100 employees and these new roles will be in the areas of production, engineering, sales and marketing support. This represents a major step forward in its mission to deliver the “internet in space” and strengthen Ireland’s role in the global space economy.    Read more RTE https://shorturl.at/ikkzr

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