Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Gate 3 programme allows for the issuance of connection offers to over 150 renewable generators (mostly wind-farms), with a combined capacity of approximately 4,000 MW. The programme has been designed by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) specifically to meet Ireland's national renewable target of 40% of electricity supplied from renewable sources by 2020. Gate 3 is the single largest connection offer project ever undertaken on the island of Ireland (previously Gate 2 issued offers for 1,300 MW of capacity) and as such it is a complex and long term project.

In order to ensure that Gate 3 offers are rolled out to projects in the most efficient and cost effective manner, the CER required the System Operators (EirGrid for the transmission system and ESB Networks for the distribution system) to develop a detailed project plan for the issuance of connection offers. A project plan has been approved which involves the roll-out of offers over an 18-month period between December 2009 and July 2011. Gate 3 offers have been rolling out according to the plan throughout 2010 so far and the CER is satisfied that there are no delays or problems with the offer issuance programme. 1,422 MW of offers in Gate 3 have been issued by the System Operators to date and EirGrid and ESB Networks advise that the programme remains on schedule with no delays expected.

It should be noted that this schedule refers to the issuance of offers by the System Operators to Gate 3 projects only. Decisions are pending in relation to the scheduling and dispatch of generators in the Single Electricity Market, as levels of wind on the system increase in the coming years. Until the SEM Committee finalise their decision accurate estimates for the level of constraints which will be faced by Gate 3 generators will not be determined. The CER has determined that Gate 3 projects do not have to accept their offers until these decisions are finalised. The CER is working with the Northern Ireland regulator (NIAUR) to finalise decisions through the SEM Committee and to ensure that the most equitable rules are put in place. Once decisions are finalised in early 2011, Gate 3 developers will be in a position to accept their offers.

There is no indication at this point that this matter is causing a problem for the broader Gate 3 programme or for the delivery of the programme to the agreed timeline. It is expected that by Quarter 3 2011, all Gate 3 offers will have issued and all offers will have either been accepted or rejected by Gate 3 developers. This remains in line with the agreed programme. It is the case also that separate from the GATE 3 process itself, there are other challenges to be met by developers in terms of planning, environmental requirements and community acceptance. The CER continues to monitor all issues associated with Gate 3, which are within its control, through the Gate 3 Liaison Group. Full details of this Group and of the roll-out of Gate 3 can be found in the Gate 3 Liaison Group section of the CER website (www.cer.ie).