Seán Sherlock
Question:70. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of operations at fossil fuel power plants. [42485/22]
View answerThursday, 8 September 2022
Questions (70)
Written answers
The Commission of Regulation of Utilities which has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply, has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take sure measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid.
The CRU supported by Eirgrid and my Department currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. The Security of Supply Programme of actions contains a number of both demand and supply side mitigation measures to address the forecasted shortfall. These actions include:
- The procurement of new, enduring, capacity through a number of forthcoming capacity auctions;
- The procurement of additional temporary emergency generation capacity;
- Measures to improve the performance and availability of existing generators and Demand Side Units, and develop additional demand side responsiveness.
On 27 June 2022, the CRU published an update on the actions within the programme and this is available on their website. In addition the Eirgrid Smart Grid dashboard provides real time information on electricity generation in Ireland, including fossil fuel generation.