Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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208. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the Irish reserves of oil and gas; the way that they are held; if they comply with European Union requirements; and if there are plans to expand such reserves. [23283/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland’s policy of holding a Strategic Oil Reserve equivalent to 90 days supply is required by both its membership of the EU and the International Energy Agency (IEA) and is provided for by the National Oil Reserves Agency Act (NORA) 2007. NORA has operational responsibility for the day to day management of the State's strategic oil reserve. These reserves are available to be placed in the domestic market in the event of a shortage of petroleum products arising in the commercial supply chains or released to the international markets as part of an IEA collective action.  Member countries of the IEA, including Ireland, agreed on 1 March and 1 April to coordinated releases of strategic oil stocks to help ensure stable international energy markets. These actions will reduce strategic stock levels to 85 days supply.  Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, my Department, in conjunction with NORA and the oil industry assess the supply situation in the normal commercial markets on an ongoing basis. 

Ireland does not have natural gas storage facilities. There is no EU requirement to have gas storage within a Member State. The European Commission is working closely with EU Member States to protect the resilience of Europe’s gas security of supply. The Commission is also actively engaging with other countries to ensure sufficient and timely supply of natural gas to the EU from diverse sources across the globe to avoid supply shocks, including those that could result from disruptions. In close coordination with Member States, the Commission will submit a plan to phase out dependency on Russian gas by the end of May 2022.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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209. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of Irish energy interconnection for the supply of energy that is, gas, electricity, oil and so on; and the way that the capacity for delivery compares to average daily usage in each case. [23284/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In relation to natural gas around three-quarters is imported from the UK with the remainder being provided by Corrib.  The capacity of the gas interconnectors with the UK is sufficient to meet all our current gas demand, should that be required, for example if maintenance works are taking place at Corrib. In relation to electricity, EirGrid’s Generation Capacity Statement (2021-2030), sets out that the east-west interconnector,  has a power rating of 500 MW and that the capacity resilience of the existing north-south interconnector is 100 MW (North to South) and 200 MW (South to North).  The new North South Interconnector will allow for the flow of 900 MW electricity between Ireland and Northern Ireland and will enhance the operation of the all-island single electricity market, increase security of supply, and facilitate higher levels of renewable electricity. Projects for additional future interconnection include the 500MW Greenlink Interconnector between Wexford and South Wales, and the 700MW Celtic Interconnector between East Cork and Brittany, France.

Oil is a fully liberalised market and there is no direct oil interconnector between Ireland and another country.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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210. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the total capacity of battery storage either held by energy utilities or through supply and demand management agreements; and the way that the capacity compares to average daily usage. [23285/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The variability challenge posed by renewable energy creates the need for a range of interventions. Storage technology, including battery storage, alongside demand-side response and interconnection, will be key as Ireland seeks to increase its share of renewable electricity up to 80 per cent by 2030. The 2021 Climate Action Plan has set out specific actions to address storage, including the publication of a policy framework for electricity storage, based on electricity system needs, which my Department is currently working on and which is due for publication next year. 

EirGrid has reported that a number of battery projects have been contracted via two mechanisms: SEM Capacity Auctions and DS3 Systems Services. These routes offer different but essential services to the power system on the island of Ireland. 

There is currently approximately 500MW of short duration batteries on the all-island system providing system services such as reserve. There are also approximately 500MW of batteries either connected, or contracted to connect to the system over the next four years, to provide capacity to the all island power system. The average duration of these batteries providing capacity is approximately 1.5 hours. Further detailed information is available from EirGrid if the Deputy wishes to contact them.