Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
130. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the preparations his Department is making to ensure there are adequate measures in place to mitigate the risk of toxic water run-off as part of the development of the energy storage policy framework due to be published in quarter 2 of this year; what work his Department has done to mitigate the risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17762/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectricity storage systems have an important role to play in achieving Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission targets, as set out in the Climate Action Plan and are critical in providing flexibility and security of supply to the Irish electricity system. These storage systems not only increase the volume of renewable electricity delivered to the consumer but provide vital network efficiency functions, ensuring the functionality of the electricity grid throughout Ireland's energy transition journey.
Today there is over 1 GW of electrical storage systems in operation or due for commissioning to the national grid. The pumped storage facility at Turlough Hill accounts for 292 MW of this capacity. The remaining capacity consists primarily of battery electricity storage systems (BESS). These battery electricity storage systems are a safe and proven technology incorporated throughout energy systems worldwide.
My Department is currently drafting an electricity storage policy framework, due for publication in Q2, 2024. This document will set out the Department's policy on electricity storage systems and the role of electricity storage in the wider electricity system.
The electricity storage policy framework will not detail the existing statutory processes in place with regard to specific environment, safety and planning maters etc, relevant to electricity storage. Questions with regard to specific matters should be addressed to the relevant permitting and enforcement regimes.
Different aspects of the safety of battery electricity storage systems are handled by different sets of regulations and agencies. For product standards Ireland conforms to the European (EN) standards as set out by the European committee for standardisation (CEN), the European committee for electrotechnical standardisation (CENELEC) and the European telecommunication standards institute (ETSI). The National Standards Authority Ireland (NSAI) works to ensure the adoption of European standards and to ensure suitable standards across the entire value chain of all electricity storage system technologies in Ireland.
Battery electricity storage systems are subject to the same environmental and chemical controls as any other industrial or technical activity. The EU Chemicals Act and Regulations (COMAH) are the remit of the Health and Safety Authority.
The planning, construction and operation of these installations is subject to EU and Irish environmental rules enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the planning authorities, either the relevant local authority or An Bord Pleanála.
The planning authorities also ensure that battery storage installations are designed and built in compliance with planning legislation and building regulations and fire safety standards. Standards and guidance for buildings in general are issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) and County Fire Officers work with planning authorities to ensure that electricity storage installations are designed and built in a way the ensures fire safety.
CRU is responsible inter alia, for the licensing of electricity storage, the regulation of electricity storage in the electricity market, and electricity storage grid connections, including hybrid co-location of electricity storage assets with renewable generation assets.
