Ensuring Ireland reaches its net-zero energy targets requires the building out of large-scale energy infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Infrastructure projects can be challenging, and this often manifests itself in planning delays. Recent research from KPMG shows that in fact people in Ireland are largely supportive of, and indeed committed to, the delivery of the infrastructure required to support decarbonisation, if they can see that it will benefit local communities and create jobs.
Compelling vision
That’s good news because it makes clear that one of the most important elements in powering Ireland’s energy transition will be our ability to bring citizens on the journey with us.
To secure Ireland’s energy future, we need a compelling vision of what this will mean to people in terms of their homes, their communities, and their job prospects.
That requires all of us to look at all the levers that will enable that to happen. It includes not just the electricity grid, but the gas grid, and water supply too, all of which need to work in tandem if Ireland is to rise to the challenge ahead of it.
Valuable data
One of the first things to do is make better use of the rich data now available right across the energy ecosystem.
For example, there are now multiple generators feeding into the electricity grid, beyond what might typically be considered a generator, and each one of these holds valuable data about exactly how it operates under different conditions. Every wind farm has multiple turbines, each of which can be individually measured. The same goes for each individual panel on a solar farm, and every heat pump and battery in use across the country.
Let’s fully leverage the fact that we can now gather data with unprecedented granularity, right down to household level. It’s a treasure trove of information just ripe for artificial intelligence. Energy is an area in which AI is of enormous practical use, so let’s use it.
By applying a model with today’s computational power, we can analyse enormous amounts of data far quicker than previously imaginable, enabling decision makers across the energy sector to act with unprecedented speed, whether to critique scenarios, undertake risk assessments, or model various trade flows and trading strategies in real time.
That’s an action that is going to become even more valuable when Ireland reconnects to Europe through the Celtic Interconnector, an undersea cable project which will allow the exchange of electricity between Ireland and France, which will go live in early 2027.
Suddenly, Ireland will be linked directly back into Europe for the first time since Brexit, not just through Britain to Europe. Having trading strategies that take account of that, and the tools that help the industry to understand dynamics in multiple markets, is going to be an enormous enabler for the wider energy sector.
Positive future
Ireland has ambitious targets for the build out of renewable energy that are far beyond our own domestic needs. It is therefore important that we have electricity demand on the island that can consume more of our renewable resource when we are not exporting it or using it for other purposes. Efficient and flexible energy demand from industry can be part of Ireland’s plan for the energy transition. An increase in electrification to support the growth of the economy while becoming more energy efficient overall can help us reduce carbon emissions and increase flexibility.
Through all of this it will be vital that the wider community understands that by decarbonising the overall energy system, Ireland can provide for the increased electricity demand required to support future economic growth, while at the same time meeting our renewable targets.
It is important that our citizens understand that putting the right infrastructure in place is what guarantees our future. We have the potential to create opportunities for our citizens to be part of energy markets from home by using the energy their homes produce. The generation embedded in homes (rooftop solar, etc) will be one of the game changers if we can enable it in the right way. That starts with measuring it and understanding it, once you do that you can use it while rewarding citizens for the part they play from home.
Global green energy powerhouse
Indeed, in doing so Ireland has an opportunity to be a global exemplar in terms of how to build out a renewable system designed to support economic growth. That’s a future that everyone will feel the benefit of, both in terms of their own participation but also in terms of increased jobs and economic opportunities.
We know there is positive sentiment towards this. KPMG’s Powering Tomorrow survey found that people really do want to participate in the transition, but need to feel they are deriving benefit from it personally.
It’s why now, more than ever, we need to help consumers understand that it’s essential we have the right energy infrastructure to allow them play their part in the energy transition. They also need to understand that, if we don’t build out the grid, the negative impact on them as customers will be significant.
The fact is, Ireland has everything required to become a global green energy powerhouse. If the entire system works together – Government, industry, the relevant authorities and the people at home – we have can have a successful energy transition.
Educating and engaging citizens is essential so that people fully understand how the energy transition will provide us with decarbonised electricity, secure and resilient energy supply, and empowered customers.
That’s a hat trick worth playing for. So let’s start by showing them that vision more clearly.
Rodney Doyle is managing director of energy transition for KPMG. Prior to his current role, he was COO of EirGrid with responsibility for the operation of the electricity grid, interconnectors and markets. To get more energy insights, visit our Energy Exchange Hub