The electricity system has suffered 19 dangerous "amber alerts" this year because ageing power stations were not available to produce energy, it has emerged, writes Emmet Oliver.
Despite spending €25 million on two emergency mobile generators last year, the system has come close to experiencing serious problems as recently as this summer. Power from the interconnector with Northern Ireland has been vital in heading off a potential crisis.
The Irish Times understands that, in mid-May, 1,100 megawatts (mw) of electricity, the equivalent of three to four power plants, were unavailable to the national grid due to breakdowns and maintenance. This triggered the most serious of the 19 "amber alerts".
Amber alerts are a warning to electricity grid operators that supply has become seriously tight and the system is only one power station away from severe problems.
The system has increasingly become reliant on the coal-fired plant at Moneypoint in Co Clare, which generates about 900 mw of power.
The ageing group of ESB stations is believed to be a major cause of the problem. The ESB chief executive, Mr Pádraig McManus, recently acknowledged that, due to the huge demands on the system in recent years, necessary maintenance work had to be deferred.
He said the commissioning of two new stations at the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick and at Tynagh in Co Galway would make a difference in the future. However, neither plant will be ready next year, according to sources.
The traditional view in the electricity industry is that electricity shortages only kick in during the winter months. But in the Republic supply is so tight that problems are being encountered even during hot weather when energy consumption usually drops.
However, responsibility for the stability of the system rests with ESB National Grid, which is ringfenced from the ESB Group. The grid company has warned previously that the unavailability of so many stations is causing major problems.
Availability is believed to be about 75 per cent, which is significantly below international standards. If this availability figure could rise to about 82 per cent, sources say that would be the equivalent of two major power stations.
The system was at its most unstable in mid-May, when grid staff managed to ensure there were no power cuts. Their work was supplemented by large quantities of power coming through the north-south interconnector. This was operating at full capacity at the time.
The shortages have occurred despite recent investments in extra electricity capacity. Last year, the ESB shipped in two mobile generators to alleviate the problems. One is located at the ESB station at Aghada, Co Cork, while the other is the former Asahi plant near Killala, Co Mayo.
The ESB also has a deal to take 170 mw of power from the Ballylumford generating station near Larne, Co Antrim.
