Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the round trip efficiency figure for the Turlough Hill, County Wicklow, generating facility used in the modelling of the all island grid study; the way this figure was calculated; if the figure is accurate in view of the fact that according to EirGrid, the round trip efficiency of Turlough Hill in 2008 was approximately 62.66% (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22564/09]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The purpose of the All-island Grid Study was to quantify the ability of the electricity system on the island of Ireland to increase the contribution from renewable energy resources to electricity consumption while maintaining a secure and affordable supply to customer. The study assesses non-renewable energy technologies including pumped storage, coal-fired Moneypoint and combined cycle gas turbines in the context of their ability to work effectively with a system that includes various amounts of intermittent technologies.

The Study was commissioned from Risø National Laboratory. In table 36 of the "Work-stream 2(b) Wind Variability Management Studies", the authors reference the data sources used which in the case of Turlough Hill is taken from the All-island modelling project website with additional data supplied by Eirgrid. In addition in considering pumped storage constraints (A.1.4.14) the authors apply energy efficiency factors for Turlough Hill between 71% when pumping and 50% in the minimum generating state. A recorded averaged actual round trip energy efficiency of the order of 64% is therefore within the range considered by the authors of the study having regard to its concentration on prioritising renewable energy technologies. There is no conflict between the Eirgrid actual figures for 2008 and the range applied in the All-Island Grid Study which was published in January 2008.