Mr. Paul Blount:

Basically, what synchronous compensators do for the system is replace inertia provided by conventional generation, and provide reactive power if they are put in the right places. As we decarbonise the power system, the single most important thing we need to be able to do is turn off the conventional generation and still have a stable system, and synchronous compensators are one of the key things we need to deploy to achieve that. Any of the cost-benefit analyses we have carried out in respect of consumer benefit always reflect an enormous consumer benefit. We need only about 20,000 MWs. For example, ten sizeable synchronous compensators that are put in the right locations on the grid will provide all the inertia and reactive power we need to keep the system stable. I am sure EirGrid could speak a lot more accurately on the technical points, but synchronous compensators are critical.