Dr. Liam Ryan:

We have carried out some studies on this. We are aligned around 2 GW for solar energy coming into the system. The key is that it has to be complemented. We have pushed the barrier and envelope to get to a figure of 65% renewable instant penetration. We will push that further in the coming year or so to increase the proportion to 75%. To push it to an average of 70% is a challenge. We will work our way through it. Renewables and solar will form a key part. A figure of 2 GW is a reasonable estimation to achieve the target. Regarding how it will happen, be it from the larger solar farms or from domestic sources, EirGrid is very open. The key is to determine how to control and manage the energy as it enters the grid. It is a question of storing it and being able to use it at the appropriate times.

There will be times when we will have a lot of solar and other types of renewables coming into the system at the same time but we will only have a certain amount of demand. Part of the solution will be interconnection whereby we can export the excess at certain times and import at others. There has to be a holistic solution in order to make this happen. We are now starting on the journey of trying to work on the steps we need to take in order to make that new target a reality. We believe that we will be able to find a solution to it and work our way through it.