Mr. Cathal Marley:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee for the opportunity to join them today. I am joined by my colleagues, Ms Siobhán O’Shea, interim chief infrastructure officer for onshore, and Mr. Liam Ryan, chief transformation and technology officer who also has responsibility for offshore.

We welcome the opportunity to speak with the committee about EirGrid’s role as Ireland’s transmission system operator. EirGrid is responsible for the electricity grid in Ireland. The grid moves high volumes of electricity across large sections of the island, from where electricity is generated to where it needs to be used. We manage and operate the grid, ensuring balanced supply and demand 24-7. We work in an increasingly complex environment as we seek to increase the amount of renewable energy on to the grid. EirGrid strategically plans, manages and operates onshore grid infrastructure. We also identify and consent the range of projects required, many of which are strategically critical for Ireland’s future. Our role as offshore transmission operator is to connect offshore wind, which is currently based on two phases.

With regard to progress so far, I acknowledge the significant progress made, in the last five years in particular, to reach our climate action targets. In that time, 1 GW of renewables and another 700 MW of storage have been connected to the transmission system; 51 planning consents have been obtained with a further six applications pending; 262 exempt development notices were secured; and the amount of renewable energy that can be used on a second-by-second basis by the system has increased from 60% to 75%. The number of conventional fossil fuel units we need at any point in time has reduced from five to four. We also successfully secured a maritime usage licence from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, last week, which will allow us to undertake marine site investigation for the Tonn Nua area, the phase 2 offshore. We have built significant internal capacity and capability within EirGrid over the last number of years, including recruiting internationally to increase expertise needed. We have achieved all of this against a backdrop of increasing demand for electricity. Peak demand grew by 20%, which is 1 GW over the five years between 2020 and 2025, compared with ten years for a similar increase previously. This is reflective of our social, economic and industrial growth and the advances in the electrification of heat and transport.

As onshore grid infrastructure is so fundamental to reaching our climate targets and unlocking social and economic growth, EirGrid is working as part of a number of Government task forces, including the Government’s accelerating renewable energy task force, to identify barriers to delivery and solutions. There are elements within our collective control such as the complexity of projects; resourcing of the supply chain; clarity for customers on timelines; and the effective utilisation of outages to enable the connection of renewables. These challenges are not unique and we work closely with international colleagues to share learnings to address them. There are other specific barriers and solutions to these, including expediting timelines for planning and consenting; a continued commitment to multi-year funding; enhanced political support at all levels; increased accessibility to land and engagement with landowners; addressing the availability of suitable land for key infrastructure; and enhanced public engagement at local and national level.

A further step change in the delivery of infrastructure will be required over the five years to 2030 and this is captured in the draft determination on price review 6, published by our regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, on 3 July. EirGrid’s PR 6 business plan aims to meet a range of objectives, with emphasis placed on key programmes of work including delivery of new onshore infrastructure including upgrades to existing lines, new overhead lines, new underground cables and new and expanded substations; EirGrid’s new role owning and being responsible for offshore transmission assets; work to ensure that both our grid and market operations are ready to integrate further renewables and future interconnection, for example, the Celtic Interconnector; and significant investment in technology and people to support EirGrid’s growth requirements and critical role in operating a secure and reliable electricity system.

This is a timely opportunity to invest in Ireland’s future. Investment in our grid and delivery of that infrastructure are fundamental to unlocking greater energy independence and security, as well as supporting sustainable national and regional economic growth and a resilient society. As EirGrid continues to make significant progress towards our targets, our focus remains on working closely with our stakeholders, including the Government, our regulator, ESB Networks and industry, to support Ireland’s progress towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.