EirGrid has a pivotal role to play in meeting this challenge. As the developer and operator of the national grid, it has been set a task by the Government – to transform the electricity system in anticipation of a future without coal, oil, peat and, ultimately, gas-based generation. Specifically, it has been asked to prepare for 70 per cent of Ireland’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030, up from the current 40 per cent.
EirGrid has embraced this challenge and has set out how it can be met through the publication of Shaping Our Electricity Future report in March.
On Monday, March 8th, EirGrid and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD launched a nationwide consultation on the report and are asking everyone interested in Ireland’s energy future to consider four new approaches to developing the grid, provide feedback and be part of this decade of change.
Minister Ryan said: "Climate change is one of the starkest challenges we face, and Ireland is currently lagging far behind on our emissions targets. In the coming decades we will be electrifying large parts of our economy, including our heating and transport systems, so building a grid that can handle a high level of renewables will be critical to our success. Shaping Our Electricity Future will go a long way towards Ireland's goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and I look forward to seeing the outcome of the public consultation."
Moving large amounts of electricity around Ireland requires over 6,600km of overhead lines and underground cables. This is the grid and it has been safely bringing power from generators to users for decades.
The grid will require unprecedented change in the next 10 years. Over this time, EirGrid projects that Ireland will need to connect up to 10,000 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable generation. This power will have to be generated, connected to the grid, and delivered throughout the island.
In 2020, demand for electricity was twice the amount used in 1990. Yet that demand will increase again – potentially by 50 per cent – in the next 10 years. These projections are based on the increasing use of electricity for transport and heating. But it also reflects the increasing demand for electricity from high-volume users. These include pharmaceutical plants, high-tech manufacturing and data centres.
There are several ways to approach these twin challenges, and they have different outcomes. Shaping Our Electricity Future is about finding a balance between the benefits and potential impacts of each approach.
EirGrid has identified four draft approaches and is canvassing the views of industry and the public in order to help shape the final strategy.
- Generation-led: Put clean generation close to where most power is used.
- Developer-led: Let developers decide where to locate clean generation.
- Technology-led: Try new ways to move clean power across the country.
- Demand-led: Put large electricity users close to sources of clean power.
Each of the four approaches requires numerous investments in network development projects throughout the country, with costs ranging up to €2 billion. There are some foundation projects that are common to all four approaches and the final plan is likely to include elements of all approaches, strongly led by one of them.
One thing is clear, the electricity grid needs to be made stronger and more flexible. This requires a decade of grid development projects. Without this work, Ireland won’t be able to rely on a secure supply of electricity and will not have 70 per cent of this power coming from clean sources by 2030.
Preparing Ireland's grid for the future of clean electricity will be one of the largest projects in the history of Ireland's power system
Mark Foley, EirGrid Group chief executive, said: “The grid requires unprecedented change in the next 10 years. This transition to green electricity will affect everyone in Ireland and will unquestionably be difficult, however the benefits will be truly transformational at both a societal and an economic level. That is why we are hosting a nationwide consultation to find an agreed approach to reach the 2030 targets. We want to collaborate with the public and all stakeholders.”
Preparing Ireland’s grid for the future of clean electricity will be one of the largest projects in the history of Ireland’s power system. It will have costs running to hundreds of millions of euro – but the scale of the final cost will depend on the approach taken.
EirGrid will play a key role but cannot deliver this goal on its own. This is a target that will require developments across the entire electricity sector. From generators, from the regulator, from government, and from large-scale energy users.
All key players will need to work together, and there will need to be flexibility and innovation from all. In fact, some of the four draft approaches proposed are dependent on what other organisations can do to make this target possible.
Because of this, and of the complexity of this 10-year transition, the four draft approaches are not standalone solutions. Given the scale and challenge of this task, the final plan is likely to include elements of all four approaches, led by one of them.
Over March, April and May, EirGrid is holding a series of workshops, meetings and fora across the country, online and, if possible, in person to inform people and gather feedback that will directly influence the final roadmap. The consultation material has been prepared with the support of the National Adult Literacy Agency to ensure the language is accessible to non-technical audiences.
In addition to this, EirGrid has launched a new consultation portal, consult.eirgrid.ie, that will host the consultation material and act as an accessible platform for people to submit their views.
The consultation period will be supported by a range of traditional and innovative engagement and participation activities which include a Deliberative Dialogue (modelled on Ireland’s Citizens Assembly), complemented by national fora involving industry, civil society and youth. In addition to this, EirGrid will engage at grassroots level with rural communities, local businesses and young people.