Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 467: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the details of any open cycle gas generation, OCGG, projects being planned for each of the agencies under his remit; the details of any OCGG projects being constructed for each of the agencies under his remit; the details of any OCGG projects currently existing for each of the agencies under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40261/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Open cycle gas generation is extremely valuable in the Irish generation context, as a vital part of a balanced portfolio, which can underpin the delivery of increasing amount of intermittent generation, including wind. All power generation projects are subject to licensing by the Commission for Energy Regulation and predicated on the necessary connections from EirGrid. There are a number of existing and planned open cycle gas generation projects by the State energy companies under the aegis of my Department.

I am advised that ESB has three existing operational open cycle gas turbine plant located as follows: Aghada and Marina, both in County Cork, and North Wall in Dublin City. Bord na Móna has recently commissioned two open cycle gas turbine generating units at Edenderry with a total capacity of 116MW. I am advised by BGE that four Open Cycle Gas Generation projects at four separate locations are at various stages of planning, with some having progressed to securing grid connections. Bord na Móna has received planning permission to construct a 170MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine Plant in County Offaly.

The expected date of commissioning of all these projects is not yet available and decisions will be subject to a variety of considerations, including financial, in light of current and projected capacity in the market. There may also be plans for private sector projects involving open cycle gas turbine plant at various stages of development. I would refer the Deputy to EirGrid publications for additional information on generation developments. EirGrid's current Generation Adequacy Report 2010 to 2016, provides considerable detail on current, forthcoming and planned generation plants.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 468: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the studies, analysis or computer modelling that have been conducted by his Department and the agencies within his remit to evaluate modern pumped storage technology as a source of flexible generation, ancillary services and reserve potential within the electricity sector; the inputs that were used for his Department's policy in regard to the role of modern pumped storage and the provision of these services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40262/10]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 469: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the studies, analysis, or computer modelling that have been conducted by his Department and the agencies within his remit to evaluate the security of supply benefit from modern pumped storage technology in conjunction with large reservoirs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40264/10]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 and 469 together.

My Department has not conducted studies or computer modelling specifically to evaluate modern pumped storage technology. The "All Island Grid Study", jointly commissioned by my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Northern Ireland and published in 2008, examined the potential for renewable generated electricity systems to be handled on an all island basis by the grid transmission system. As part of that work a very large scheduling model was constructed to provide dispatch information on all plants for the year 2020 for a number of portfolios, including fuel consumption, reserve allocation, imports and exports and CO2 emissions. One of the technologies in the model was large scale pumped storage. The findings of the study showed that penetration of up to 42% renewable electricity is technically feasible without any major increase in pumped storage.

With regard to analysis conducted by agencies under the remit of my Department I understand that in the past year EirGrid has published two reports which include analysis of pumped storage. The reports entitled 'Generation Adequacy Report 2010–2016' and 'Low Carbon Generation Options for the All Island Market' are available on the EirGrid website at www.eirgrid.com. In addition, EirGrid is available to provide technical information and analysis to any group investigating the potential for large scale pumped storage.

Energy storage has been developed over the years in Ireland where it can make a useful contribution to balancing electricity supply and consumer demand. This is the case at the ESB's pumped water power station at Turlough Hill. Pumped storage is one of a number of technical options for energy storage. I welcome all private endeavours seeking to promote and deploy renewable energy to the benefit of energy consumers. It is the case that several parties are actively developing renewable energy proposals, which are predicated on or include, pumped storage projects. Any successful deployment of economically viable and environmentally acceptable storage technologies would enhance the ability of the electricity grid to accept higher penetration levels of intermittent renewable generation. Developments are being kept under close review by my Department in consultation with EirGrid and the energy sector.