David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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75.To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on the Annual Renewable Energy Constraint and Curtailment Report 2023; if his attention has been drawn to the projected situation for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31492/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Matters regarding the development of the national electricity grid rest with EirGrid and ESB Network.

The issue raised by the Deputy is the "dispatch-down" of renewable energy, which refers to the amount of renewable energy that is available but cannot be used by the electricity system. This can be due to broad power system limitations, known as curtailments, local network limitations, known as constraints, or energy supply exceeding consumer demand. Manging dispatch down is a priority as we seek to integrate more renewable electricity onto the grid. As Transmission System Operator Eirgrid have responsibility for the development of the Transmission system and are addressing the grid limitations that cause it through various measures under its “Shaping Our Electricity Future” roadmap.

In July 2023 Eirgrid published an update to Shaping our Electricity Future, their roadmap for the transmission grid out to 2030 to deliver on the renewable energy targets. This roadmap includes plans for reinforcements, upgrades, and new infrastructure across the country. The grid needs to be stronger and more flexible to accommodate wind and solar generation which is technically very different to burning fossil fuels to produce power. The roadmap also sets out EirGrid’s plans to evolve operation of the power system in the period to 2030 as well as electricity market recommendations. Eirgrid are independent of myself as Minister and operate under the supervision of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) which is an independent regulator, accountable to a committee of the Oireachtas.

The CRU have responsibility for, inter alia, the regulation of the electricity market and the economic regulation of the electricity system operators to include Eirgrid. The cost of building, safely operating and maintaining the electricity system is recovered by system operators through charges on customers, all of which is overseen and agreed with the CRU. As noted this issue is first and foremost a matter for Eirgrid as TSO and then the CRU as regulator.

The CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks have respective contact email address for Deputies, of which they are aware, should they wish to raise matters of concern or seek updates on developments to the national electricity grid. The subject of the Deputy’s question in this instance would be a matter for Eirgrid.