Responsibility for the grid connection process is vested in the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I have no function in the matter. The CER operates a group approach to connecting projects to the national grid. The latest group approach, ‘Gate 3', was the subject of extensive public consultation by the CER prior to the design and roll out of the process. Following the consultation, CER made the decision to offer grid connections in Gate 3 based on completed date of applications to the system operator for grid connections and not to take other criteria such as land ownership or planning permission into account.
All those developers in Gate 3 have now received grid connection offers from EirGrid or ESB Networks, although the rate of take-up of these offers is not yet known. Grid Connection offers require a deposit to be paid at the time of acceptance which is related to the size of the project involved. This is designed to ensure that developers have demonstrable commitment to developing the project applied for.