Vol. 577 No. 4
37 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps being taken to ensure the security and the adequacy of the electricity supply having regard to serious power collapses in a number of countries; if, in particular, his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by the electricity regulator that proposed limits on environmental emissions could lead to blackouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/03]
The Commission for Energy Regulation continues to monitor the security of supply situation and has initiated a number of positive actions to redress postulated generation capacity shortfalls in the short-term and the medium to longer term, as forecast by ESB national grid in its generation adequacy report published on 27 November last.
Short term measures put in place for the coming winter include the implementation by ESB national grid of a demand side management programme and increased imports of 167 MW of electricity from Northern Ireland, contracted on a priority basis to meet customer demand here. In addition, ESB has purchased 104 MW of additional peaking capacity, which is being commissioned at present.
As to the capacity deficit in the medium to longer term, CER recently announced the two preferred bidders in the competition it is running to facilitate the introduction of new generating plant, with a combined generating capacity of over 500 MW.
Also, as regards proposals for an east-west-Ireland-Wales electricity interconnector, it is accepted on the advice of CER that the case for progressing this development is strong. Discussions are continuing with CER as to how its development can be advanced as a priority.
In addition, ESB is currently undertaking a significant networks investment programme of some €4 billion up to 2007 to bring the transmission and distribution systems up to required international standards and to meet projected capacity demand requirements. The programme is being delivered within the planned timeframe and budget.
As demonstrated by recent international blackout events, no electricity power system can be fully protected from all eventualities. However, the transmission system operator has in place specific plans to deal with any incident quickly and effectively whereby supply is matched to demand.
The recent statements by CER referred to in the question appear to stem from its response to a discussion paper issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the subject of a strategy to reduce emissions. These statements are not a forecast of what will happen in practice and should not be cited out of context.
Finally, in response to concerns at EU level of insufficient development by some member states of transmission and generation infrastructure and reserve capacity, the Energy Commissioner, Madame de Palacio presented a new EU energy infrastructure and supply security package to the Council of Energy Ministers this week. A proposed EU directive on security of supply is a development which I welcomed in principle at the Council and which will inform our future policy development on this important issue.
