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Electricity sector in Ireland

(Redirected from Electricity sector in the Republic of Ireland)

The electricity sectors of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are integrated and supply 2.5 million customers from a combination of coal, peat, natural gas, wind and hydropower. In 2022, 34 TWh were generated.[1] In 2018 natural gas produced 51.8%, while wind turbines generated 28.1%, coal 7%, and peat 6.8% of Ireland's average electricity demand.[2] In 2020 wind turbines generated 36.3% of Ireland's electrical demand, one of the highest wind power proportions in the world.[3] While the United Kingdom was one of the first countries in the world to deploy commercial nuclear power plants, the island of Ireland has never had a nuclear power plant built on either side of the Irish border. Nuclear power in Ireland was discussed in the 1960s and 1970s but ultimately never phased in, with legislation now in place explicitly forbidding its introduction.

The grid runs as a synchronous electrical grid and in terms of interconnections has undersea DC-only connections to the UK National Grid, alongside plans in the advanced stage for a higher power, planned Celtic Interconnector to France. In the 2019 UK General Election 2019, the Democratic Unionist Party included in their manifesto a proposal to link Iceland to Northern Ireland (a variant on Icelink).[4]

Island system

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Moneypoint power station
 
Turlough Hill Power Station
External image
  Today's demand and production

The electricity sector in Ireland previously operated as two separate markets: Northern Ireland operated as part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland operated its own separate market. On 1 November 2007 the two Transmission System Operators (System Operator Northern Ireland and EirGrid) established the Single Electricity Market for the island of Ireland. This market has created "a gross mandatory pool market, into which all electricity generated on or imported onto the island of Ireland must be sold, and from which all wholesale electricity for consumption on or export from the island of Ireland must be purchased". According to the Electricity Association of Ireland, in 2013 the Single Electricity Market had approximately 2.5 million customers; 1.8 million in the Republic and 0.7 million in Northern Ireland.[5] The effect of Brexit on the Single Electricity Market has yet to be defined.

Ireland and Northern Ireland form a regional group of the Europe-wide ENTSO-E organisation. The networks are not yet interconnected with the Continental Europe grid, but have interconnection with the British network through the Moyle Interconnector and the East–West Interconnector. In 2014, the island had an electricity interconnection level (international transmission capacity relative to production capacity) of 9%, below the recommended 10% level.[6]

Electricity in the Republic of Ireland

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Figure 2: Electricity generated by fuel type in the Republic of Ireland in million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), Graph source:SEAI Electricity in Ireland Report, 2019 Datasource: Eirgrid

Electricity generators in the Republic of Ireland are ESB, SSE, Synergen (70% ESB), Edenderry Power, Endesa-Ireland and Huntstown (Viridian). ESB owns the transmission and distribution networks.

The transmission system operator is EirGrid plc, which assumed the role from ESB Networks on 1 July 2006. EirGrid ensures the safe, secure and economic operation of the high voltage electricity grid. EirGrid is owned by the Irish State and is established as a result of a government decision to create an independent organisation to carry out the transmission system operator function, in order to assist the liberalisation of Ireland's electricity industry and the development of a competitive market.

The electricity industry is regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities which also regulates the natural gas market. The functions and duties of the commission have been altered and expanded significantly by legislation transposing EU directives into Irish law.

Renewable energy

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This section is an excerpt from Renewable energy in the Republic of Ireland.[edit]

 
Wind turbines on County Leitrim's Corrie Mountain
 
Ireland renewable electricity production by source

Under the original 2009 Renewable Energy Directive Ireland had set a target of producing 16% of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020 but that has been updated by a second Renewable Energy Directive whose targets are 32% by 2030. Between 2005 and 2014 the percentage of energy from renewable energy sources grew from just 3.1% to 8.6% of total final consumption. By 2020 the overall renewable energy share was 13.5%, short of its Renewable Energy Drive target of 16%.[7] Renewable electricity accounted for 69% of all renewable energy used in 2020, up from two thirds (66.8%) in 2019.[7]

The country has a large and growing installed wind power capacity at 4,405 MW by the end of 2021 producing 31% of all its electricity needs in that year.[8] By February 2024, there was 1GW of solar PV capacity connected to the grid.[9] By April 2024, the grid had 1GW of storage capacity with almost 750MW of that capacity in the form of battery storage[10] the rest supplied by Turlough Hill.

Wind energy

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This section is an excerpt from Wind power in Ireland.[edit]

 
 
Arklow Bank
 
Altagowlan
 
Anarget
 
Astellas
 
Ballincollig Hill
 
Ballinlough/Ikerrin
 
Ballinveny
 
Ballybane
 
Ballymartin
 
Ballywater
 
Bawnmore
 
Barnesmore
 
Beal Hill
 
Beallough
 
Beam Hill
 
Beenageeha
 
Bellacorick
 
Bindoo
 
Black Banks
 
Boggeragh
 
Booltiagh
 
Burtonport
 
Caherdowney
 
Caranne Hill
 
\Cark
 
Carnsore
 
Carrigcannon
 
Carrig
 
Carrons
 
Castledockrell
 
Clydaghroe
 
Coomacheo 1
 
Coomacheo 2
 
Coomatallin
 
Cornacahan
 
Corneen
 
Corry Mountain
 
Crocane
 
Crockahenny
 
Cronalaght
 
Cronelea
 
Cronelea Upper
 
Cuillalea
 
Culliagh
 
Curragh, Co Cork
 
Curraghgraigue
 
Derrybrien
 
Derrynadivva
 
Dromada
 
Drumlough
 
Drybridge/Dunmore
 
Dundalk
 
Dunmore
 
Flughland
 
Gartnaneane
 
Geevagh
 
Glackmore
 
Glenough
 
Gortahaile
 
Grouse Lodge
 
Garracummer
 
Gneeves
 
Greenoge
 
Inverin
 
Kealkill
 
Kilgarvan
 
Kilgarvan Extension
 
Killybegs
 
Kilronan
 
Kilvinane
 
Kingsmountain
 
Knockastanna
 
Knockawarriga
 
Lacka Cross
 
Lackan
 
Lahanaght Hill
 
Largan Hill
 
Lenanavea
 
Lisheen
 
Loughderryduff
 
Lurganboy
 
Mace Upper
 
Meenachullalan
 
Meenadreen and Meentycat
 
Meenanilta
 
Glanlee Midas
 
Mienvee
 
Milane Hill
 
Moanmore
 
Moneenatieve
 
Mount Eagle
 
Mount Lucas
 
Mountain Lodge
 
Mullananalt
 
Muingnaminnane
 
Pallas
 
Raheen Barr
 
Rahora
 
Rathmooney
 
Reenascreena
 
Richfield
 
Seltanaveeny
 
Shannagh
 
Sheeragh
 
Skehanagh
 
Skrine
 
Snugborough
 
Sonnagh Old
 
Sorne Hill
 
Spion Kop
 
Slieveragh
 
Taurbeg
 
Tournafulla
 
Tullynamoyle
 
Tursillagh
 
Slieve Rushen
 
Lendrum's Bridge
 
Callagheen
 
Hunter's Hill
 
Slieve Divena
 
Tappaghan Mountain
 
Lough Hill
 
Balloo Wood
 
Brett Martin
 
Bessy Bell
 
Bin Mountain
 
Bessy Bell
 
Wolf Bog
 
Owenreagh
 
Elliot's Hill
 
Altahullion
 
Rigged Hill
 
Corkey
 
Gruig
 
Garves Mountain
 
Ulster University
class=notpageimage|
Locations of wind farms on and around the island of Ireland
As of 2021, the island of Ireland had 5,585 MW of installed wind power capacity, with 4,309 MW in the Republic of Ireland. In 2020, wind provided over 86% of Ireland's renewable electricity and generated 36.3% of Ireland's electricity demand, one of the highest percentages globally.[11][12] In 2023, Wind Energy Ireland confirmed that wind farms provided 35 per cent of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s electricity in 2023, totaling a record breaking 13,725 gigawatt-hours (GWh).[13] Ireland has over 300 wind farms, mostly onshore. A Public Service Obligation subsidy supports renewable energy and wind power development, driven by concerns over energy, security, and climate change mitigation.

Electricity Grid

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The high-voltage Irish electricity transmission grid comprises 6,800 km of power lines and operates at 400 kV, 220 kV and 110 kV.[14] Substations provide entry points to, and exits from, the transmission grid. Entry points include thermal and hydro-electric power stations, major wind farms, and inter-connectors from other countries and regions. Exit points are to lower voltage (220 kV, 110 kV, and 38 kV) transmission and distribution substations.

EirGrid is the Transmission System Operator (TSO), and ESB Networks is the Transmission Asset Owner (TAO).[14]

There are two 400 kV lines. One is from Moneypoint power station to Woodland substation where there is a connection to the 400 kV DC East-West Interconnector. The Oldstreet 400 kV substation is an intermediate substation on this line. The second line is from Moneypoint power station to Dunstown 400 kV substation.[15]

There are 220 kV substations at:

Aghada power station, Arklow, Arva, Ballyvouskill, Ballynahulla, Belcamp, Carrickmines, Cashla, Clashavoon, Clonee, Corduff, Cowcross, Cullenagh, Dunstown, Finglas, Flagford, Glanagow power station, Gorman, Great Island power station, Huntstown power station, Kellistown, Kilpaddoge, Killonan, Knockraha, Killonan, Lodgewood, Louth (and a connection to the 275 kV Northern Ireland grid), Maynooth, Moneypoint power station, Prospect, Raffee, Shannonbridge, Srananagh, Tarbert power station, Turlough Hill, and West Dublin.[15]

Ireland has several grid energy storage facilities with a combined 650 MW power, of which some are bidding into Ireland's DS3 grid services market for frequency control.[16][17]

Name Commissioning date Energy (MWh) Power (MW) Duration (hours) Type County Refs
Turlough Hill 1974 292 6 Pumped-storage hydroelectricity Wicklow [18]
Lumcloon 2021 100 Battery Offaly [19]
Lisdrumdoagh June 2022 60 Battery Monaghan [20]
Tullahennel April 2021 26 Lithium-ion Kerry [21][22]
Kilathmoy January 2020 11 Lithium-ion Limerick/Kerry [23]
Stephenstown April 2021 8.5 Lithium-ion Dublin [24]

Approved projects:

Name Commissioning date Energy (MWh) Power (MW) Duration (hours) Type County Refs
Aghada 2022 38 Cork [25]
Inchicore 2022 60 Dublin [25]
Poolbeg 2023 150 75 2 Lithium-ion Dublin [25]
South Wall 2023 30 60 2 Lithium-ion Dublin [25]

Electricity in Northern Ireland

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Ballylumford power station provides over half of Northern Ireland's total generating capacity, and 17% of all-Ireland capacity.

There are three power stations in Northern Ireland: Ballylumford power station, Coolkeeragh power station and Kilroot power station. Northern Ireland Electricity (a subsidiary of ESB Group) owns the transmission and distribution networks.

The single electricity market means that Northern Ireland Electricity carries electricity on its network in exchange for a regulated charge to the electricity supply company. As of September 2011, domestic customers in Northern Ireland are able to buy electricity from Electric Ireland, Power NI, Airtricity, Click Energy or Budget Energy. Industrial and commercial customers are able to choose from several other electricity suppliers.

The transmission system operator is System Operator Northern Ireland, which ensures the safe, secure and economic operation of the high voltage electricity grid. Its counterpart in the Republic of Ireland is EirGrid. Both of these are owned by EirGrid plc which also (through a joint partnership) acts as the single energy market operator, i.e., runs the new all-island wholesale market for electricity.[26]

Electricity Regulation

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The electricity industry in Northern Ireland is regulated by the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation.[27] The authority is an independent public body established to oversee and regulate the electricity, gas, water and sewerage industries in Northern Ireland. The Authority is a non-ministerial government department responsible for promoting the short and long term interests of consumers. It does not make policy, but ensures that the energy and water utility industries are regulated and developed within ministerial policies. It is governed by a board of directors and is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly.[27]

History

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The office of Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland was established in 1992 in association with the privatisation of electricity supplies in Northern Ireland.[28] The Director General was appointed by the Department of Economic Development to regulate the electricity industry.[29] Statutory duties included ensuring that all reasonable demands for electricity were satisfied; that licence holders were able to finance their activities; to promote competition in the generation and supply of electricity; to protect the interests of consumers of electricity in terms of price and continuity of supply; to promote efficiency and economy; to promote research and development; to protect the public from danger; and to secure the health and safety of persons employed in the generation, transmission or supply of electricity.[30]

The regulatory system was reformed in 2003 to combine the regulation of electricity and natural gas into a single energy regulator. The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation was established and the offices of Director General of Gas for Northern Ireland and Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland were abolished.[31] The posts of Chief Executive and Chair of the Energy Regulator were split in 2006.

In April 2007 the regulatory system for utilities was further reformed to encompass the water supply and sewage industries.[32] The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation became the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation. The board of directors is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the organisation. The board comprises a non-executive chairman, four non-executive members and the chief executive. The key functional areas in the organisation are Network Operations, Wholesale, Retail and Consumer Protection, and Corporate Affairs.[33]

Key people

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Director General of Electricity Supply

  • Geoffrey Horton, 1992–1995[34]
  • Douglas Bowman McIldoon (b. 1945), 1995–2003. Was also Director General of Gas Supply.

Chair and Chief Executive of Energy Regulation

  • Douglas Bowman McIldoon, 2003–June 2006.[35]

Chief Executive of Energy Regulation

  • Iain Osborne, June 2006 – 2007[35]

Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation

  • Iain Osborne, 2007–December 2010
  • Shane Lynch, January 2011–October 2013[36]
  • Jenny Pyper, October 2013–Autumn 2020[37]

Chair of Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation

  • Professor Peter Matthews, 2006–July 2012[36][38]
  • Dr Bill Emery, July 2012–date (2020)[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Electricity production by source, Ireland". Our World in Data. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Energy in Ireland 2019" (PDF). seai.ie.
  3. ^ "Wind Energy Powers Ireland to Renewable Energy Target". 28 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Election 2019: Digging into NI parties' manifestos". BBC News. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  5. ^ EAI, Electricity Association of Ireland. "The Single Electricity Market". Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  6. ^ COM/2015/082 final: "Achieving the 10% electricity interconnection target" Text PDF page 2-5. European Commission, 25 February 2015. Archive Mirror
  7. ^ a b "Renewables". Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Wind energy in Europe: 2021 Statistics and the outlook for 2022-2026". WindEurope. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  9. ^ "One Giga Watt of solar capacity now connected to electricity grid". RTE. 17 February 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ Ottilie Von Henning (25 April 2024). "ESB reaches 1GW of energy storage on Irish network". CURRENT+-. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Wind Statistics". iwea.com. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Wind Energy Powers Ireland to Renewable Energy Target". 28 January 2021.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Chloé. "New record set for wind power generation in 2023". windenergyireland.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  14. ^ a b "EirGrid" (PDF). eirgrid. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Open Infrastructure Map". openinframap.org. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Ireland's fast-response grid services market could be like 'EFR on steroids', expert says". Energy Storage News. 2018. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Statkraft participates in largest ever battery storage dispatch to Ireland grid". Energy Storage News. 28 July 2022.
  18. ^ "Welcome to Turlough Hill" (PDF). ESB. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2021.
  19. ^ Grundy, Alice (17 December 2020). "Lumcloon energises 100MW Irish battery in Hanwha partnership". Solar Power Portal. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021.
  20. ^ Grundy, Alice (6 June 2022). "60MW RWE battery storage system goes live in Ireland". Solar Power Portal.
  21. ^ O'Halloran, Barry (6 April 2021). "Statkraft builds €20m battery to support electricity supply at Tarbert". The Irish Times.
  22. ^ "The first of its kind – Tullahennel Wind Farm". Ionic Consulting. 30 January 2019.
  23. ^ Grundy, Alice (8 January 2020). "First utility-scale battery joins Ireland's feted DS3 flexibility market". Energy Storage News. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021.
  24. ^ Lempriere, Molly (15 April 2021). "RWE's first European battery goes live in Dublin, Ireland". Solar Power Portal. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021.
  25. ^ a b c d Lempriere, Molly (1 October 2021). "Fluence and ESB unveil 105MW/210MWh of battery energy storage projects in Ireland". Solar Power Portal.
  26. ^ "Home". allislandproject.org.
  27. ^ a b "Utility Regulator". Utility Regulator. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  28. ^ "The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992". legislation.gov.uk. 1992. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  29. ^ The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992, Article 5
  30. ^ The Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 Article 4
  31. ^ "The Energy (Northern Ireland) Order 2003". legislation.gov.uk. 2003. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  32. ^ "The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006". legislation.gov.uk. 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Corporate Strategy" (PDF). uregni.gov.uk. 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Appointments p. 16". The Times. 22 January 1992.
  35. ^ a b "The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) appoints new Chief Executive". The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  36. ^ a b "Utility Regulator announces appointment of new Chief Executive". uregni.gov.uk. 8 December 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Utility Regulator announces appointment of new chief executive". uregni.gov.uk. 4 July 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  38. ^ "Jenny Pyper to retire as Utility Regulator Chief Executive". uregni.gov.uk. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  39. ^ "Bill Emery". uregni.gov.uk. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
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