Electricity supplies could be "tight" this winter and everyone must be careful in the use of energy to ensure supply meets demand, Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan has warned.
He told Fine Gael spokesman on energy, Simon Coveney, that EirGrid, the electricity transmission operator, forecast capacity as sufficient to meet demand. There could be "reduced capacity margins at times during the winter peak period".
"However, it remains EirGrid's assessment that there will be sufficient capacity on the system to ensure security of electricity supply this winter."
Mr Coveney said that assessment "means we have been given fair warning that there is a significant likelihood of power cuts this winter". Mr Ryan replied that "as with any power generation system, it is not possible to give guarantees that adequacy will always be maintained".
Assessment by EirGrid "assumes a peak demand this winter of 5,250 megawatts [ MW]". Peak demand last winter was 5,035MW and generating capacity of 5,930MW would be available this year, compared to 5,836MW last year. Wind capacity was also set to reach 900-1,000MW by year's end.
Mr Coveney asked: "Can the Minister assure businesses and households that there will be no power outages this winter?"
Mr Ryan said: "We should have proper supply. However, it is tight ."
