Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask a few questions about the Baringa report which states: "The Renewable Energy scenario assumes a linear increase in

energy market battery capacity from zero to 1.7 GW installed battery capacity from 2020 to 2030." The report did not mention pump or water storage. Ireland has a history of managing such installations. Should we explore such technology in terms of how to manage grid capacity? Should we erect a large pump storage facility or a number of facilities around the country that can deal with renewable energy? Can we keep them going as well as manage the grid and its difficulties?

I was very interested in what Mr. Foley outlined about offshore wind and the Irish Sea. He outlined a number of problems. He referred to the centralised model for offshore wind and recommended that EirGrid manage it owing to the ongoing connections. Has this been proposed to the Government? What reception has the proposal received? Where is the decision to be made? This is vital in making progress on offshore wind, particularly when one notes the amount of offshore wind being developed everywhere except here. It is down to the decision-making and planning processes. Could Mr. Foley expand on that? With regard to the west coast, how possible or feasible is it to take the power from a windfarm using direct current, converting it to alternating current and connecting it to the grid at a point where it is developed for this purpose? Rather than having to take the alternating current connectors to the west coast, one can take the direct current in to the system and convert it to alternating current at the end. How practical is that? Has it been considered?