Spain and Ireland's energy ministers will sign a preliminary agreement on April 21 on assessing the viability of an undersea power link between the two countries, the Irish government said on Tuesday.
A connection would allow the exchange of power between the countries that have significantly increased renewable energy production and would be in line with Europe's broader focus on security of supply and decarbonisation.
For Spain, its lack of power connections with the rest of Europe has long been a source of frustration.
Under EU targets, by 2030 each European country should have enough power connections to allow it to import the equivalent of at least 15% of its electricity production. The capacity of Spain's interconnections so far is less than the equivalent of 3% of its production.
Madrid has long pushed to increase its power links with the rest of continental Europe, and an unprecedented blackout last year added urgency.
The memorandum of understanding establishes a general framework for analysing the project's feasibility and economics, according to a draft.
The Irish and French electricity grid operators are already building a power connection between the two countries. Expected to start operations in 2028, it will be the first interconnector between Ireland and continental Europe.
