Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This is a complex situation. There is multi-annual complexity. We have to look forward to the next decade and beyond, but particularly to the next three to four years. Our expectation is now that we will not have outages this winter but we never know. There could be a power station breakdown, or something similar to the loss of the two large gas power stations that went offline early this year. There are always developments that cannot be completely predicted but, subject to the return of the two gas power stations, we expect to be able to get through this winter period. However, no one should underestimate the scale of the challenge we will face in the coming winters, particularly the three or four after the coming one. We have to retire, by 2025, some large generators, such as those at Moneypoint coal-fired power station, Tarbert and Edenderry, or at least switch them from being high fossil fuel generation stations to low fossil fuel generation stations.

The demand side is very much a part of the equation. Data centres are only one element. CRU has produced a major study and has engaged in public consultation on how it will work with data centres to make sure they complement our electricity security system.

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