Mr. Jim Gannon:

I can start on a couple of those questions and I ask Mr. Melvin to correct me if I get anything wrong. With regard to batteries, more than 300 MW of batteries were secured in the latest auction in January so, in terms of an economic signal being sent, we are getting batteries through the capacity auctions.

We also know that it tends to be easier to deploy batteries in the country. The question we are actively asking ourselves now at the SEM committee relates to derating factors, that is, what utility or service we believe batteries will provide us and how that should be reflected in the auction process. This is really looking at longer-run batteries, for example, and considering what economic signal would be set for them in the upcoming auction, the parameters for which will start to be set towards the third quarter of the year. A work package has started on that at the SEM committee. Again, it is looking at that economic signal in respect of batteries.

As regards demand-side units in the capacity auction, for example, we know we have more than 550 MW of demand-side units with capacity contracts but we tend to have just a little over 150 MW of that 550 MW declared as available to participate. Last year, we had an open consultation, as well as dialogue with industry in the middle of summer. A piece of work was brought forward to the start of the year and has now commenced at the SEM committee between the two regulatory authorities to look at the economic signal and to explore two questions. First, how we can find a way to make people declare themselves available more so we utilise that 550 MW more, and, separately, how we attract more of that type of service because demand-side has a significant service and part to play in delivering some system services but also in delivering that peak shaving that we know we need and will need quite soon.

The first piece, relating to batteries and the derating factors, should be in place to influence the next capacity auction. Separately, the piece in respect of demand-side units is intended to start having an influence in advance of winter. That is the target.

As regards system services, to give a flavour, in March last year we published the high-level design at the SEM committee. Work and consultation with industry was ongoing thereafter in respect of a more detailed auction for system services in the future. We have an ongoing dialogue with EirGrid regarding what system services we will need in future and how that will change as we move from a traditionally fossil-fired fleet to more intermittent resources such as solar and wind, as well as the types of stability, resilience and power quality we need to bring to the system. It is an ongoing dialogue with EirGrid. In the coming weeks, we hope to have a decision from the SEM committee on that auction for system services. That will be the new method by which we send that economic signal to system service providers, whether they be battery or other types of technology or traditional units. What is most important is that it is an auction and people will compete to provide those system services in a cost-effective manner. Separately, what is important as an economic signal is the volume required. The market needs to understand what volume of the different system services will be required and the mechanics of the auction in which it will participate to deliver the most cost-effective outcome for the consumer as we and the transmission service operators, North and South, namely, SONI and EirGrid, get the services they require.

I refer to aspects that we have not covered in respect of batteries, demand-side units and system services. Several activities are ongoing, which started last year and should come to fruition quite soon, across the three different pillars. We work and are in good dialogue with industry on those. Does my erstwhile colleague wish to add anything at this stage?