Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

EirGrid is the transmission system operator, TSO, for the electricity transmission system in Ireland. The functions of the TSO are set out in SI 445 of 2000 and include the operation of a safe, secure, reliable, economical and efficient electricity transmission system with a view to ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity are met, having due regard for the environment.

The conventional generation required to support variable renewable energy such as wind energy is covered in All-Island Generation Capacity Statement 2013-2022, published by EirGrid and the Northern Ireland transmission system operator, SONI, in 2013. The capacity statement examines the expected electricity demand and level of generation capacity forecast to be available over a ten-year period. This analysis and forecasting allow EirGrid and SONI to establish the outlook for generation adequacy in Ireland and Northern Ireland over the timeframe. Based on analysis of factors such as increasing levels of renewables and changes in the conventional generation portfolio, the statement forecasts that Ireland’s generation adequacy outlook is positive for each of the next ten years.

It is important to note that the cost of subsidising renewable generation varies throughout the European Union. The additional costs of renewable generation in Ireland are marginal. The European Commission estimated only last week that renewable energy added less than 1% to retail energy prices in Ireland. This compares very favourably with figures for other member states as well as the average increase of 6% in retail energy prices across Europe. I remind the Deputy in the context of recent discussion on the urgency of the construction of the Meath–Tyrone transmission line that such costs, along with costs called constraint costs, will be further reduced when that link with Northern Ireland becomes operational.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

EU policy is to encourage greater integration and interconnectivity between member states. EirGrid has the statutory responsibility to explore and develop opportunities for interconnection of the Irish transmission system with other systems. Enhanced security of supply, increased competitiveness, and the ability to integrate greater quantities of variable renewable generation resources are some of the potential benefits of further interconnection between the transmission grids of Ireland, Great Britain and mainland Europe. I understand from EirGrid that a number of studies are exploring different aspects of the feasibility of additional interconnection and these will feed into any decisions on future interconnection investment.

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