Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
83. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that emergency procurement for power generation is required in the years 2024 to 2026 when generation capacity shortfall in these years can be procured via the existing capacity market process; if due consideration has been given to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40101/22]
View answer84. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that resources being provided for emergency power generation have not been provided to successful T-3 and T-4 projects in the existing capacity market process, specifically in relation to procurement of equipment, planning and provision of grid connections when the T-3 and T-4 projects provide a long-term security of supply solution; if he will be procuring further resources to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40102/22]
View answer85. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if further resources will be provided to ensure adequate support for existing projects which have already been successful in the capacity market process in the context of energy security issues, specifically T-3 and T-4 projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40103/22]
View answer86. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if due consideration has been given to the possibility of a legal challenge from the successful applicants in the capacity market process in the T-3 and T-4 periods given the apparent disadvantage conferred on them relative to emergency procurement participants as they cover the same years; if any legal challenges have been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40104/22]
View answer87. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to any delays to the delivery of emergency power generation for the period commencing September 2022; the reason, if any, for these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40105/22]
View answerI propose to answer Questions Nos. 83 to 87, inclusive, together.
Under the Electricity Regulation Act, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has responsibility for ensuring security of electricity supply and is directly responsible for the performance of its functions to a Joint Committee of the Oireachtas.
The running of the electricity capacity auction process is solely a matter for EirGrid and the Single Electricity Market (SEM) Committee, as auctions are conducted by the Transmission System Operator according to the auction design and under overall regulatory supervision of the SEM Committee. There is no Ministerial function in relation to the auctions, apart from securing state aid approval for the capacity mechanism, which was obtained in 2017.
In September 2021, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a programme of work to provide additional stability and reliance to the Irish energy system over the next four to five years. The CRU Security of Supply programme of work was in response to identification of a potential capacity shortfall, for the winter periods of 2022/23 to 2025/26, which was set out in the EirGrid’s most up to date All Island Generation Capacity Statement 2021.
On 27 June 2022, the CRU has published an update on the actions within the programme on and this is available on their website. This includes the actions relating to temporary generation and the electricity capacity auctions.
The Deputy may wish to note that CRU provides a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members, which enables them to raise questions to CRU at oireachtas@cru.ie for timely direct reply.
