Mr. Noel Cunniffe:

We can follow up with written statements; that is not a problem. One issue I will take now, because I know it is the topic of the meeting, relates to the grid. Deputy Devlin asked about the measures we need in order to reduce the number of dispatch-down instructions, given that that is a grid challenge with EirGrid coming in. There are two elements to dispatch-down, namely, constraints, which are a local area problem, and curtailment, which is a system-wide problem that deals with the inability of the system to manage securely the level of wind energy on the grid. To take the system-wide issue first, the main step we need to take over the next ten years is to substitute fossil fuel generators with clean, zero-carbon sources of providing services to the grid.

These services relate not only to energy but to stability as well. Examples include things like demand side response, battery storage and some of the newer technologies involved. The ESB announcement some weeks ago is relevant too. These factors will be really important. We see this as the primary way to make space on the grid for renewable energy.

We carried out some work with Baringa last year. It showed that if we can transition to these zero-carbon services, then we can remove 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the power sector. That is approximately one fifth of our emissions today. That does not require any new large-scale grid infrastructure. It can be done.

Another point is that we absolutely need investment in our grid infrastructure. We need to use the existing grid better. There are ways to do this and new technologies that can better utilise existing lines. One area in particular is hybrid connections. This was referenced in the 2019 climate action plan but it is not in the 2021 climate action plan goals for this year. We would like to see this improved. The idea is to better utilise hybrid connections and have existing grid connections with technologies like onshore, offshore and solar energy as well as battery storage all from the same part of the grid.