Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 September 2023
69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the risk of blackouts and brownouts this winter, in light of media reports that back-up generation will not be delivered on time; if this risk has been assessed, and what contingency is in place; the date on which the energy security review and a report (details supplied) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42053/23]
View answerI wish to ask the Minister about the risk of blackouts and brownouts this winter in light of media reports that back-up generation will not be delivered on time. Has this risk been assessed? What contingency is in place? What date will the energy security review and the McCarthy report be published?
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, has statutory responsibility to ensure security of supply and has the duty to monitor electricity supplies and to take such measures as it considers necessary to protect the security of supply. It is assisted in its role by EirGrid, the electricity transmission system operator, and my Department.
The CRU has a programme of actions under way to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. Regular updates on this programme are published on the CRU website.
Electricity supply margins are expected to remain tight throughout this year. The CRU is continuing to work with key stakeholders to implement appropriate mitigation measures to further reduce risks over winter and lower peak demand during this period. These risks were also high in winter 2022-2023 and no blackouts or brownouts occurred. The number of system alerts is also decreasing as a result of the actions and mitigations being taken in the programme.
One of the primary measures in the programme is the delivery of approximately 650 MW of temporary emergency generation, TEG, capacity at four sites around the country. There is substantial progress at all four sites and the first of these TEG sites is expected to be operational at the end of October to provide backup capacity during times of system stress.
My Department is currently finalising its review of security of energy supply and the forthcoming energy security package will be published shortly. The review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition up to 2050. It integrates a number of areas of work.
The Government's energy policy objectives are to ensure energy is affordable, sustainable and secure. Underpinned by these objectives, the review considered the risks to supplies, and a range of mitigation measures, including the need for additional capacity of indigenous renewable energy but also energy imports, energy storage, fuel diversification, demand-side response and renewable gases, such as hydrogen.
The completion of the extensive review is a key priority and I have committed to bring my energy security recommendations to Government for consideration in the coming weeks.
What is the headroom or margin for this winter? EirGrid’s Shaping our Electricity Future 1.1 points out that 700 MW of previously awarded capacity was not delivered. What is the margin for this winter? There is 650 MW of temporary emergency generation to be delivered at four sites. I think Shannonbridge is to come on in October. Will the Minister of State update the House on the three other sites? When will they be delivered?
On the energy security review, is there still a commitment that the McCarthy report will be published with it and that both will be published or brought to the Government shortly? We heard that back in June, too. What is the time line?
The temporary energy generation involves four peaking plants in four different sites around the country. One is coming on line in October, another in spring and the other two next year. I can give the Deputy a more detailed time line outside of this reply.
The McCarthy report looks at the reasons for the capacity generation shortfall, that is, the reasons we are in this situation. It was commissioned last year and will explain, from an independent viewpoint, the causes for why we were in a situation where we had to procure emergency generation at short notice. It will be published as part of the energy security review and that will happen in the coming weeks and will be brought to the Government for approval in the coming weeks.
I am not sure what "coming weeks" means. I would like to see the McCarthy review. I do not know why it needs to be delayed. We could and should see it straightaway. I would like to know what “coming weeks” means because in June we expected to see it over the summer months. That was what the Minister led us to believe but it did not happen. What is the headroom for this winter? Does the Minister of State know what that will be in terms of supply and demand that a limited amount of temporary emergency generation will be a buffer?
The Minister of State mentioned diversification of fuel. What are the plans for Moneypoint? Is it the case that it is on track to be closed and to stop using coal in the years ahead? Is it now the plan to transition it to oil, as I am led to believe?
Temporary energy generation provides an extra 650 MW. It improves the buffer that is available in terms of a shortfall. The Deputy is asking me exactly what the headroom is. I think that really depends on how many plants suffer from unscheduled downtime. I am not sure it is an entirely predictable figure or something that I can give him.
EirGrid gave it to us last year. There is an assessment. It would be helpful to have it for this year. About this time last year, EirGrid indicated the figure.
I will come back to the Deputy with a more detailed response after this session, then. In terms of Moneypoint, it is scheduled to be decommissioned. I am not aware of a suggestion which I think I saw in the media this morning that it would transfer to oil. Oil and coal are the most inefficient and most polluting forms of generating electricity that make the most emissions. Our move is to turn Shannon into a clean energy hub and to use the grid capacity that exists in Moneypoint for clean energy generation and hydrogen.
