Irish energy group Mainstream Renewable Power has signed a memorandum of understanding with Britain’s National Grid and Portuguese energy supplier REN to complete a pre-feasibility study into its plan to connect Irish wind farms to the British grid.

The Energy Bridge project intends to create a 5,000mw electricity transmission system exporting wind energy from Ireland to Britain by 2017.

Mainstream says it will take the power under the Irish seabed and into Britain which will be independent of Ireland’s existing electricity network. It says it has already secured an offer for 5,000mw of grid connection to Britain. It intends to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála by 2015.

Portugal’s REN is 25 per cent owned by the state grid of China. It manages both electricity and natural gas networks.

Mainstream’s chief executive Eddie O’Connor said it was putting together a team of experts to conduct feasibility studies and a business plan.

“This will be the precursor to the companies forming a joint venture to develop, build, finance, own and operate the system,” he said.