Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 November 2020
31. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of renewable energy in kWh and the corresponding retail value of this renewable energy that was dispatched down due to constraints and curtailment on the energy network in each of the past four years in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38941/20]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for EirGrid, the transmission system operator. Nevertheless I am advised that EirGrid prepare an annual report outlining the levels of dispatch-down of renewable energy on the island of Ireland.
The latest such report can be found here: http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/Annual-Renewable-Constraint-and-Curtailment-Report-2019-V1.2.pdf.
This report contains information on historic dispatch down quantities dating back to 2011. As contained in this report, the dispatch-down energy from wind resources in 2019 was 711 GWh in Ireland. This is equivalent to 6.9% of the total available wind energy.
In the period between 2015 and 2019, there is no relevant corresponding retail value as curtailment was not compensated for during this period under regulatory rules set by the SEM Committee. The majority of the wind farms are not compensated for constraints.
In order to meet Ireland's target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030, very high penetrations of variable renewable electricity on the grid will be required. Currently EirGrid operate the power system with up to 65% of renewable power at a given time, including onshore wind and solar. By 2030, this will need to rise to 95% in real time and higher.
Continuing Eirgrid’s programme ‘Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System’ (DS3) as well as increasing storage and strengthening the network will be critical to minimising the levels of renewable energy sources that are curtailed or constrained down.
