Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 June 2023
45. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline the short- and medium-term plans for emergency electricity generation in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28661/23]
View answerThe Commission for the Regulation of Utilities is responsible for the delivery of a Security of Supply Programme to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. This programme includes a suite of measures and mitigations, including Temporary Emergency Generation. The Temporary Emergency Generation units procured as a result of the EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022 are temporary in nature, operationally restricted to operate as units of last resort and have requirements to cease operating under law by 2027/2028.
The CRU have published a briefing note on Temporary Emergency Generation which can be found here: CRU2022985CRU-update-on-Temporary-Emergency-Generation-for-Electricity-Security-of-Sup.pdf (cruie-live-96ca64acab2247eca8a850a7e54b-5b34f62.divio-media.com/documents/CRU2022985CRU-update-on-Temporary-Emergency-Generation-for-Electricity-Security-of-Sup.pdf)
Shannonbridge in West Offaly is one of the sites identified to host temporary emergency generation in addition to Tarbert in Co. Kerry , as part of a second tranche of temporary emergency generation projects. These generating units will be based on pre-existing generation sites and are working through accelerated timeframes to deliver urgently in order to enable security of electricity supply nationally. Following the passing of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022, consent has been provided for the development of a 264MW flexible power plant in Shannonbridge to support the electricity grid as a unit of last resort only running as required for security of supply reasons. Eight turbine generation units will be developed at the site, utilising the existing grid connection infrastructure.
The operation of all temporary emergency generation will be in compliance with Article 16(2) of Regulation 941 of 2019 on Risk Preparedness in the Electricity Sector. This states: “Non-market-based measures shall be activated in an electricity crisis only as a last resort if all options provided by the market have been exhausted or where it is evident that market-based measures alone are not sufficient to prevent a further deterioration of the electricity supply situation.”
In addition to the development at Shannonbridge, the CRU Security of Supply Programme continues to oversee the urgent delivery of Temporary Emergency Generation capacity in North Wall Co. Dublin, Huntstown Co. Dublin and Tarbert Co. Kerry. All designated TEG units will operate as units of last resort only and will be temporary in nature.
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.
