Written answers

Thursday, 3 March 2022

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Energy Policy

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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217. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the volume of renewable energy in kWh that was dispatched down due to constraints and curtailment on the energy network in 2020; if he or his officials has calculated the potential retail value of this renewable energy; if he or his officials has examined the work of a not-for-profit organisation (details supplied) established to create solutions to divert surplus renewable energy which would otherwise be wasted to Irish homes with a primary focus on those in fuel poverty; if he has engaged with EirGrid, ESB Networks and with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities on finding solutions to utilise some of the renewable energy that is being dumped to help address fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12244/22]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the measures being undertaken by local authorities and or approved housing bodies to utilise some of the large volumes of renewable energy that is currently dumped to help address fuel poverty in social housing; if he has engaged with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12245/22]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to the European Union requirements as part of the Clean Energy Package for countries with less than 50% renewable electricity in their energy mix to limit renewable electricity curtailment to less than 5% annually; his views on the fact that in 2020 Ireland dumped 11.4% of available renewable wind energy; if he has engaged with EirGrid, ESB Networks and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities to introduce immediate measures to utilise this surplus renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/22]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 219, inclusive, together.

The issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for EirGrid, the transmission system operator. Nevertheless, I can confirm that EirGrid prepare an annual report outlining the levels of dispatch-down of renewable energy on the island of Ireland.

The latest such report can be found here: .

This report contains information on historic dispatch down quantities dating back to 2011. The dispatch-down energy from wind resources in 2020 was 1,448 GWh in Ireland. This is equivalent to 11.4% of the total available wind energy.

In order to meet Ireland's target of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030, very high penetration of variable renewable electricity on the grid will be required. Currently EirGrid operate the power system with up to 70% of renewable power at a given time, including onshore wind and solar. By 2030, this will need to rise to 95% in real time and higher.

EirGrid have a number of measures in place that seek to limit the amount of dispatch down and they continue to evolve them further in line with European policy such as the Clean Energy Package. Such measures include the DS3 programme of system services. Investing in and strengthening the electricity grid network, as well as increasing storage, are also critical to minimising the levels of renewable energy sources that are curtailed or constrained down. In addition, the Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a number of actions to address storage policy and higher levels of renewable electricity on the network. My own Department will publish a storage consultation later this year leading to the development of a national storage policy next year.

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