New directions for interconnector research: drawing from social sciences and humanities perspectives to explore the Celtic Interconnector

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dc.contributor.authorRevez, Alexandra
dc.contributor.authorBoyle, Evan
dc.contributor.authorGoarzin, Anne
dc.contributor.authorByrne, Edmond
dc.contributor.authorPeterson, Jesse D.
dc.contributor.authorRogan, Fionn
dc.contributor.authorConnolly, Claire
dc.contributor.authorDeane, Aoife
dc.contributor.authorCuffe, James
dc.contributor.authorLatimier, Roman Le Goff
dc.contributor.authorDochartaigh, Caitríona Ó
dc.contributor.authorEspes, David
dc.contributor.authorGallachóir, Brian Ó
dc.contributor.funderConnecting Europe Facility, CEF
dc.contributor.funderNatural Capital Ireland
dc.contributor.funderEamon Maher
dc.contributor.funderTechnological University Dublin, DIT
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-05T10:59:02Z
dc.date.available2026-02-05T10:59:02Z
dc.date.issued2026-01
dc.description.abstractThe current discourse on interconnectors primarily centers on the technical and economic aspects necessary for delivering a stable grid infrastructure powered by renewable sources and for integrating energy markets. This article, therefore, explores opportunities to broaden definitions of energy grid interconnectivity beyond the techno-economic sphere. It considers multidisciplinary perspectives and presents novel exploratory viewpoints from the social sciences and humanities. It examines ideas of interconnection by drawing on the Celtic Interconnector, an Irish-French initiative, to explore the cultural, historical, political, and geographical dimensions of interconnectivity. Insights are derived from two workshops with academics in Ireland and France, encouraging a more contextual understanding of energy interconnections beyond their physical and economic dimensions. The article builds on these insights to set out an agenda for future research and reflect on frames of reference for describing, analysing, and engaging with emerging interconnector processes and the multiple stakeholders involveden
dc.description.sponsorshipAnderson's work on nationalism and his contribution to understanding identity and belonging provide an avenue for thinking on how infrastructure can offer substance to ‘imagined communities’ [ 51 ]. In the context of the EU, this concept can be applied to analyse how European citizenship and identity are formed not around traditional nation-states but through a transnational framework. Although the EU comprises several distinct countries, its members can envision a shared European identity rooted in common values, economic ties, and cultural exchanges. Anderson's imagined communities are not imaginary, but rather imagined in the sense that one can envision a shared set of identifiers and experiences, even if individuals have never met. The Celtic Interconnector combines a shared architectural and technical artefact with historical discourse between the two communities. The delivery of a subsea cable connecting both regions in and of itself – and through this project – is an intriguing example of how European Union infrastructure can reinforce regional identities and strengthen interregional connections through discourse and activities surrounding conceptions of shared heritage and experience. Indeed, the interconnector is partly financed by the Connecting Europe Facility, which ostensibly promotes transnational connectivity in energy, transport and digital services for public/private connections. Apart from the economic and security rationale, the Celtic Interconnector promises to facilitate political integration and intraregional community development at the sociocultural level as part of the wider European project to build cohesion and integration. We are thankful to Sinead Dooley and Michelle Walsh in EirGrid, the Irish Embassy in Paris, the French Embassy in Ireland. We thank the following contributors: Anne Groutel, Uni. of Paris
dc.description.sponsorshipBrendan Reidenbach, IEA
dc.description.sponsorshipDeirdre Lane, Natural Capital Ireland
dc.description.sponsorshipEamon Maher, TU Dublin
dc.description.sponsorshipEdwige Fusaro, Uni. of Rennes 2
dc.description.sponsorshipEmma Mooney, IEA
dc.description.sponsorshipFiona Keaney, The Glucksman, UCC
dc.description.sponsorshipHeather Laird, UCC
dc.description.sponsorshipJennifer Ahern, UCC
dc.description.sponsorshipJosselin Le Gall, Honorary Consul of France in Cork
dc.description.sponsorshipStefan Moal, Uni. of Rennes 2
dc.description.sponsorshipTadgh Crowley, The Glucksman, UCC
dc.description.sponsorshipValérie David-McGonnell, AF de Cork
dc.description.sponsorshipYves Coativy, Uni. of Brest.
dc.description.versionPublished Version
dc.format.extent9
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleid104473
dc.identifier.authororcidRevez, Alexandra§0000-0003-4289-448X
dc.identifier.authororcidBoyle, Evan§0000-0001-9117-0926
dc.identifier.authororcidGoarzin, Anne
dc.identifier.authororcidByrne, Edmond
dc.identifier.authororcidPeterson, Jesse D.§0000-0002-0634-8839
dc.identifier.authororcidRogan, Fionn§0000-0002-7050-6301
dc.identifier.authororcidConnolly, Claire§0000-0002-4528-5316
dc.identifier.authororcidDeane, Aoife
dc.identifier.authororcidCuffe, James§0000-0002-4344-8505
dc.identifier.authororcidLatimier, Roman Le Goff
dc.identifier.authororcidDochartaigh, Caitríona Ó
dc.identifier.authororcidEspes, David
dc.identifier.authororcidGallachóir, Brian Ó§0000-0002-6608-5997
dc.identifier.citationRevez, A, Boyle, E, Goarzin, A, Byrne, E, Peterson, J D, Rogan, F, Connolly, C, Deane, A, Cuffe, J, Latimier, R L G, Dochartaigh, C Ó, Espes, D & Gallachóir, B Ó 2026, 'New directions for interconnector research : drawing from social sciences and humanities perspectives to explore the Celtic Interconnector', Energy Research and Social Science, vol. 131, 104473.
dc.identifier.issn2214-6296
dc.identifier.journaltitleEnergy Research and Social Science
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-4528-5316/work/198620193
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-6608-5997/work/204880511
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-0634-8839/work/204880893
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0003-4289-448X/work/204881223
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-4344-8505/work/204881356
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0002-7050-6301/work/204881376
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-9117-0926/work/209069787
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/18507
dc.identifier.volume131
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd
dc.relation.urihttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024352035
dc.rightsPublisher Copyright: Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.rights.licensenameAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectCeltic Interconnector
dc.subjectFrance
dc.subjectGrid infrastructure
dc.subjectIreland
dc.subjectSocial science and humanities
dc.titleNew directions for interconnector research: drawing from social sciences and humanities perspectives to explore the Celtic Interconnectoren
dc.typeArticle (peer-reviewed)
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