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Wind Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 July 2021

Wednesday, 7 July 2021

Questions (40)

Cormac Devlin

Question:

40. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the details of the operator, type, generation capacity, location and status of each power station or wind farm in Ireland with the potential to produce more than 10MW in tabular form; his plans to ensure that there is sufficient generation capacity for winter 2021 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36858/21]

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Written answers

The Commission for the Regulation of Utilities has a statutory duty to monitor and take such measures as it considers necessary to protect security of supply of electricity. EirGrid has statutory responsibility to report to the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities on matters relating to security of supply of electricity. 

Details of power stations in the country are available on EirGrid’s All-Island Generation Capacity Statement 2020-2029, which can be accessed on EirGrid’s website at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/All-Island-Generation-Capacity-Statement-2020-2029.pdf.

In October 2020 EirGrid published a Winter Outlook which predicted there would be tight margins for Winter 2020/21 and set out the reasoning.  This outlook is also available on EirGrid’s website at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/EirGrid-Group-Winter-Outlook-Brochure-2020-2021.pdf.

Two key gas-fired power stations, which were expected to be available, may not now be available in advance of the coming winter.  While every effort is being made by the operators of these power stations to ensure their return to operation as soon as possible, contingency measures are being put in place. 

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities and EirGrid are progressing actions to ensure continued secure supplies of electricity, including increasing the availability of existing generators, the development of new generation capacity (including potentially temporary generation for the coming winter) and changes to the grid connection of data centres.

My Department chairs a group that includes the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and EirGrid, which is monitoring progress on a wide range of actions that are being taken.

In addition, my Department is conducting a review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems focusing on the period to 2030 in the context of ensuring a sustainable pathway to 2050. The review includes a technical analysis which will help inform a public consultation. It is planned that the technical analysis will be published and the public consultation undertaken in the second half of this year. The review, once completed, will be submitted to Government.

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