Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
113 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the steps being taken to ensure the security of the electricity supply, especially in view of the warnings from the ESB of the possibility of power cuts and warnings from a firm of consultants (details supplied) that Ireland may be entering a prolonged period of brownouts and blackouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5861/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission for Energy Regulation continues to monitor security of supply. It has initiated positive actions to redress postulated generation capacity shortfalls in the short, medium and longer terms, as forecast by ESB national grid in its generation adequacy report published on 27 November 2003.
Short-term measures put in place for this winter include the implementation by ESB national grid of a demand side management programme, increased imports of 167MW of electricity from Northern Ireland contracted on a priority basis and 104MW of additional peaking capacity operational since last December.
As to the capacity deficit in the medium to longer term, the CER's recently run competition addresses this situation by facilitating the entry of two new independent generating plants with a combined installed generating capacity of over 500MW. As regards ESB plant productivity a programme is in place to enhance its availability from some 76% in 2003 to a target of 82% during 2004.
ESB is currently undertaking a significant networks investment programme, of €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 regards interconnection, the Government has given its approval to proceed with the development of two 500MW interconnectors between Ireland and Great Britain, while the desirability and feasibility of further interconnection North-South is being investigated.
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.
At EU level, the Commission has brought forward a draft directive proposing measures to safeguard security of supply. The directive forms part of a new energy infrastructure and security of supply legislative package, designed in the main to promote investment in the European energy sector with a view to both strengthening competition and helping to prevent the reoccurrence of electricity blackouts.
