Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply and has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take such measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and my Department.

The CRU has a programme of actions under way to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. Regular updates on this programme are published on the CRU website.

Electricity supply margins are expected to remain tight throughout this year. The CRU is continuing to work with key stakeholders to implement appropriate mitigation measures to further reduce risks over winter and lower peak demand during this period. These risks were also high in winter 2022-2023 and no blackouts or brownouts occurred. The number of system alerts is also decreasing as a result of the actions and mitigations being taken in the programme.

One of the primary measures in the programme is the delivery of approximately 650 MW of temporary emergency generation, TEG, capacity at four sites around the country. There is substantial progress at all four sites and the first of these TEG sites is expected to be operational at the end of October to provide backup capacity during times of system stress.

My Department is currently finalising its review of security of energy supply and the forthcoming energy security package will be published shortly. The review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. It integrates a number of areas of work.

The Government's energy policy objectives are to ensure energy is affordable, sustainable and secure. Underpinned by these objectives, the review considered the risks to supplies, and a range of mitigation measures, including the need for additional capacity of indigenous renewable energy but also energy imports, energy storage, fuel diversification, demand-side response and renewable gases, such as hydrogen.

The completion of the extensive review is a key priority and I have committed to bring my energy security recommendations to Government for consideration in the coming weeks.

See this speech in context