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Electricity Transmission Network

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 December 2013

Wednesday, 4 December 2013

Questions (95)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

95. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans for the use of interconnectors to increase the availability of electricity in this jurisdiction at times of fluctuating requirements; the extent to which such interconnectors can be used to off-load electricity surplus to requirements at particular times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52187/13]

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Written answers

The interconnected power systems of Ireland and Northern Ireland form a single synchronous power system and all electricity generated on the island is traded in the Single Electricity Market (SEM), the wholesale electricity market for the island of Ireland, regulated jointly by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) and its counterpart in Northern Ireland, the Utility Regulator (UR). The Irish system is connected to the electricity system of Great Britain system via two Direct Current (DC) interconnectors, the Moyle Interconnector and the East-West Electricity Interconnector (EWIC).The Moyle subsea interconnector links the electricity grids of Northern Ireland and Scotland. It went into commercial operation in 2002 and has a capacity of 500 Mega Watts (MW). The EWIC links the electricity grids of Ireland and Great Britain. It has a capacity of 500 MW, and therefore doubled Ireland and Northern Ireland’s electricity interconnection with Great Britain when it went live in 2012. The two interconnectors allow market participants to trade electricity between the SEM on the island of Ireland and the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements (BETTA) market in Great Britain. EWIC’s increasing of this island’s interconnector capacity greatly enhances our ability to trade electricity with our neighbours and accelerates the integration of Ireland with other electricity systems. Interconnector flows for EWIC and Moyle are based on the combination of offers submitted by interconnector users and the merit order for the SEM’s economic dispatch. The "Available Transfer Capacity" of the Interconnector is considered and flows are determined by the market scheduling software based on economic dispatch under unconstrained unit commitment.

The SEM redesign project, currently underway, will enable market participants in the SEM and interconnected markets to trade electricity more efficiently across the interconnectors, in accordance with EU Third Energy Package legislation. This will enhance our integration with neighbouring European markets and facilitate greater cross-Border electricity trade.

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