Dr. Liam Ryan:

I will focus on the future element. The energy transition is actually happening. In addition to the infrastructure progress Mr. Mahon talked about, we are changing how we operate the power system. Currently, we can operate the power system where 75% of the instantaneous electricity is delivered by non synchronous renewable sources such as wind and solar.

We have reduced the number of must-run thermal plants on the system from five units to four, we are scheduled to execute contracts for the provision of low-carbon inertia services in quarter 2 of this year and we are concluding our recommendations paper to the CRU and the DECC following the EirGrid call for evidence on long-duration energy storage. We are changing how we plan the system and looking at anticipatory investments in collaboration with third parties in the ecosystem – under the well-established contestability approach - to accelerate the energy transition and unlock the renewable energy and storage potential.

Aligned with Government policy, offshore wind is planned to be a key contributor to delivering the renewable ambition. Strong progress is being made to set the required regulatory frameworks and connection principles and methods in place. The initial focus leading up to 2030 is on developments on the east and south coasts, placing the generation close to the largest centre of demand and thereby reducing network constraints and the scale and quantity of network reinforcements required. As detailed in Shaping Our Electricity Future, further interconnection with neighbouring power systems in addition to EWIC, Celtic and Greenlink is required. This will provide additional flexibility to operate the system and will help to maximise the use of surplus renewable generation.

Our ability to deliver the network needed by the target dates is dependent on co-operation, collaboration and support from the wider energy ecosystem. We require planning decisions and offshore licences to be granted in a timely manner, we require availability of sufficient outages to facilitate the delivery of the required infrastructure, the road network will need to be available for the routing of underground cable infrastructure, and suitable land must be available for strategic network investments as well as access to sites for necessary site investigations. In addition, for onshore infrastructure, once consents are achieved, EirGrid hands the project over to ESB Networks, which will build the infrastructure.

We recognise that 2030 is a milestone on the ultimate journey to a net zero energy system. In December, we and SONI, the System Operator for Northern Ireland, opened and held a consultation, entitled "Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios 2023", to outline our long-term energy scenarios for Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our scenarios consider how electricity demand and generation might evolve from 2035 to 2050 and considers electricity demand, generation, storage and interconnection supported by different technologies coming on the system. TES 2023 will enable us to continue to support the Government and the regulatory authorities in the development of energy policies and market design development required to achieve a net zero system.

In recent days, the offshore network development plan was published by ENTSO-E, the association of transmission system operators in Europe. It calls out the need for further interconnection, including hybrid interconnection, between Ireland and Great Britain and between Ireland and France to unlock our offshore potential and assist in the European decarbonisation journey, mainly focused on the 2040 and 2050 time horizons, which aligns with the work on Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios 2023.

The committee can see that we are planning in all time horizons to ensure that policymakers are better informed on the transition from now to 2030 and then on to 2050 and beyond. We are also focusing on delivering the targets for the 2030 time horizon. We have taken measures over the past two years to secure the system and we now need to ensure the right types of generation are delivered and the necessary network is in place. We have delivered the roadmap in the form of Shaping Our Electricity Future. It is essential that the energy ecosystem play its role in the delivery of EirGrid and the Government's climate action targets. The role of the Government and elected representatives in supporting our journey is critical. Support from local elected representatives for projects and activity is important and welcome. Trusted leaders in communities are essential as we seek to work together to build a cleaner energy future.