Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations and supplementary materials.

I have a few practical questions. We have heard that projects of common interest in the EU would have preferential access to the grid. Is that the witnesses' understanding? What measures will ensure that renewable energy will have preferential access?

I am concerned about the context of the four options. I read the detail of the consultation. The witnesses have told us that the options are not set against one another, but they seem to be in the way the consultation is framed. We are told that one option will lead a certain way but that it will not be available if another option is chosen. There might be a sense of playing different elements against one another. Will the witnesses give us a reassurance in this regard? I am particularly concerned that policy is one of the four options. While this relates to demand and policy driving where projects are situated, it would be good to provide a stronger understanding of the fact that policy is the context within which whatever we do will operate, for example, our environmental protections and so forth. Marine protected areas are due to be designated. Do the witnesses anticipate that the part of their map that maps out where they expect energy will be produced in 2030 will change as a consequence of that designation? Will their planning respond positively to that or could the two be at odds? It is positive that there is consultation, but the policy elements that will exist regardless of what drives the locations are important, as are our planning infrastructure and the importance of access to justice.

Will the witnesses comment on the issue of storage? Are we hitting the right balance currently between investing in storage versus focusing on potential carbon capture technologies? How can we scale that up? Do the witnesses anticipate Ireland having a national renewable energy reserve at some future point, perhaps by 2030, to replace our national oil reserve? Could that happen?

I wish to comment on the question of large energy users.

Specifically, we are talking about data centres and that is clear from the graphics. Is there a concern that, if we have heavy demand from data centres, that could affect us reaching the target of 70% by 2030? What are EirGrid's plans if the requirement moves up? We have seen the scaling up. The exit from peat and coal is happening more quickly. How will EirGrid scale up past 70% if that is required?