Energy Ireland Yearbook 2022 by bmf business services

YEARBOOK 2022

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Ministerial Foreword Every sector must adapt rapidly. This will allow our society and economy to realise the opportunities of the transition, and to remain competitive and resilient. The right choices involve a transformation of the energy sector. The Government have shown how serious they view the transformation required by earmarking a funding line of €8 billion to 2030 for the purposes of an extensive national retrofit programme. The benefits of this will extend beyond homeowners and we will see the creation of a sizeable retrofitting sector with good jobs and deepening expertise across the economy as the sector grows exponentially. Among the most important measures in the Climate Action Plan is that to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030, including an increased target of 5 Gigawatts of offshore wind energy. This will not only reduce our emissions from electricity, it will aid in the electrification of other sectors such as transport and heat, reducing our emissions in these sectors.

Last year I was very proud to introduce the Climate Action Plan 2021. It was a watershed moment in terms of giving political direction and signalling an economic and societal transformation. The plan sets a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050. It is noticeable that other countries across the world are adopting very similar targets. Climate change is here and is already impacting our world – we know we must act, and by acting now we can build a cleaner greener economy and society, which creates opportunities for us all. Implementation of the Climate Action Plan will create jobs, new economic opportunities and protect people and the planet. By delivering on this plan, we will secure the future for our children and grandchildren. It’s our chance to make the right choice.

The level of ambition across many areas is a real challenge and it will require an enormous effort on behalf of all stakeholders. My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are scaling up capacity to successfully achieve targets and are adopting a sharp delivery-focused approach. The wider energy sector is of course expanding in recognition of the opportunities ahead. I look forward to the outcomes of our collective efforts as we move forward.

Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

Foreword Some of us may feel the last two years have passed us by somewhat; interruption to a life we took for granted and the imposition of restrictions naturally have caused us to consider what we might have done or achieved, had it not been for a pandemic. As I write this, I am glad to say it feels at the very least we didn’t waste another year of lockdown in the energy industry. Perhaps we should work from home more often, for it feels as if 2021 was a year of significant and profound progress; one we may refer to for years to come. The updated Climate Action Plan from Government refined an approach to achieving our necessary net zero transition roadmap with augmented and accelerated targets providing greater clarity on sectoral specific implications. EirGrid’s ‘Shaping Ireland’s Electricity Roadmap’ set out in very clear terms the necessary development needed to secure 80% renewable penetration on our system by 2030, and publication of the National Development Plan represented the most ambitious capital programme ever for our country, much of it designed to obtain our net zero transformation. As encouraging was the quality of dialogue in our industry, it felt we moved our conversation toward tackling the issues necessary to achieve our net zero ambitions as opposed to arguing whether they could be achieved. Public commentary moved from abstract to explicit and the National Climate Action Group played an important role in setting that tone. Transparency around the cost of transition and the need for planning reform were all appropriately aired for public consumption and whether it be acknowledging the role natural gas needs to play in supporting our transition or the need for more integration and cohesion in our planning systems, it felt ‘we’, as participants were moving from the ‘what’ to the ‘how’. It remains the case if we are to deliver on our net zero transition ambitions, we must accelerate doing the ‘no regret’ elements such as accelerating the development of centralised renewables supported by a fit for purpose

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planning system, and at the same time remain open to evolving technologies and options to decarbonise our society. In that respect for 2022, the Government’s framework for hydrogen in our market and its review of security of supply in the context of a sustainable pathway to 2050 will be most welcome. Understanding how the next phase of our Smart Metering Programme and implementation of the Microgen support scheme can encourage more participation from energy customers, both residential and business, will also be critical in providing choice to customers as we transition. The clarity from the CRU and EirGrid on the need for and scale of a T-3 and T-4 auction was welcome and will address immediate concerns that sustainability and critical renewable penetration might compromise security of supply. While ongoing concerns about dependency on gas imports have not gone away and should be addressed in the security of supply review, I do believe our attention must now increasingly turn towards affordability. 2022 will, I believe, be dominated with necessary dialogue about a ‘just transition’ and all of us involved in the energy market must work to ensure we support a fair transition that protects the vulnerable in our society and prioritises their right to clean, affordable, and secure energy. We look forward to a year with less restrictions than last, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater, and build upon, not lose the momentum and progress of the last 12 months. We’ve all experienced that feeling of missing out in our personal lives; let’s ensure we don’t miss the opportunity to transform our energy industry for the better. I hope you all have a safe and transformational year in energy. Best wishes, Dave Kirwan, Managing Director, Bord Gáis Energy

Editor’s note Welcome to the 23rd edition of the Energy Ireland Yearbook, the essential guide to the Irish energy sector, north and south.

YEARBOOK 2022 Editorial Fiona McCarthy David Whelan Odrán Waldron

The Energy Ireland Yearbook provides an update to

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energy in 2022 both globally and in Ireland. The 2021 Climate Action Plan and Climate Act increased Ireland’s level of climate ambition with goals to achieve

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a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The energy

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sector has an important role to play in achieving this decarbonisation. The renewables chapter continues to grow each year and be an exciting area for

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the future.

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Another development worth noting in 2021 was the publication of the National

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Retrofit Plan, which aims to give 500,000 homes energy upgrades by 2030 and is detailed in chapter five: sustainable energy use and demand. Early 2022 has so far witnessed soaring oil and gas prices exacerbated by the

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Russian invasion of Ukraine. This has resulted in consumers feeling the effects

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of higher bills and poses a potential threat to energy markets. Ireland’s, and

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Europe’s, energy security is now top of the agenda.

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The Transport and Fuels chapter examines the evolution of fuels and transport and the potential of new technologies including hydrogen. The Gas in Ireland chapter offers a comprehensive overview of the sector which explores natural, renewable and alternative gases.

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Who’s who in Irish energy chapter which features 200 industry stakeholders.

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I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the Yearbook – particularly Bord Gáis Energy for its continued support in sponsoring the Yearbook. Thanks also to the Energy Ireland team for all their hard work producing the 2022 edition. We are also looking forward to the return of our annual Energy Ireland Conference in Croke Park on 29 and 30 June 2022 which will provide the opportunity for an overdue face-to-face catch up for the Irish energy sector. I hope you find the Energy Ireland Yearbook a useful resource over the coming

ISBN: 978-1-8384314-1-9

year.

Fiona McCarthy, Editor

Copyright Note No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the express permission in writing from the copyright holder. The Publishers regret that while every effort has been made during the compilation of this yearbook to ensure the accuracy of information obtained and published, they cannot be held responsible in any way for inaccuracies in the information supplied to them for publication, nor for any errors or omissions. Users of the yearbook should satisfy themselves that all the services offered by those listed are acceptable, before commissioning. Inclusion of a company or individual in this yearbook should not be interpreted as a recommendation of that company or individual listed to undertake particular instructions. Similarly, no criticism is implied of any company or individual who may for any reason have been omitted from the yearbook.

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

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Contents

Chapter 1:

Irish energy policy

Global energy context European energy policy European Commission European Parliament Irish energy policy Energy policy: Northern Ireland Government departments and other energy organisations

Chapter 2:

Electricity

Global electricity Electricity generation Demand Transmission and distribution Retail electricity market North/South electricity European electricity market reform Electricity in Northern Ireland Electricity regulation in Ireland Electricity organisations and companies Electricity licences and authorisations

Chapter 3: Gas in Ireland

101

Natural gas: The global context Natural gas in Ireland Hydrogen development Gas usage in transport Integrated gas markets Natural gas in Northern Ireland Natural gas organisations and companies Gas licence holders Oil and gas exploration bans Developments in Irish upstream oil and gas Oil and gas in Northern Ireland LPG market BioLPG

Chapter 4:

131

Renewable energy

Introduction European renewable energy policy Renewable and indigenous energy in Ireland Energy policy Bioenergy development Renewable gas Wind energy development in Ireland Solar energy Marine renewables development Waste-to-energy technology Geothermal energy Renewable energy in Northern Ireland Renewable heat Offshore renewable energy in Northern Ireland Renewable and indigenous energy organisations

Chapter 5:

191

Sustainable energy use

Sustainable energy use: Republic of Ireland CHP developers in Ireland Energy management for large energy users Combined heat and power CHP development in Northern Ireland Energy Performance of Buildings Directive The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) EU Renovation Wave Strategy National Home Retrofit Scheme Sustainable energy use: Northern Ireland Sustainable energy use in buildings and Residential Heat pump systems Local energy agencies

Chapter 6: Transport and fuels

221

European transport policy Irish energy and transport Low carbon transport: Reducing emissions Downstream petroleum overview

Contents The Irish oil market Petroleum prices Petroleum retailing in Ireland Fuel companies and retailers Renewable energy in transport Future fuels: Biofuels Alternative fuels: Hydrogen Electric vehicles Electric vehicles in Ireland EV charging infrastructure Electric vehicles in Northern Ireland Electric vehicles contacts and retailers

Chapter 7:

Chapter 9:

249

Digital disruption Digital trends: Global Digitalisation’s impact on energy Transport and energy Transport, buildings and industry Oil and gas, coal and power Electricity systems Energy use by ICT Cybersecurity Digital energy in Europe European Technology and Innovation Platforms European Energy Research Alliance SET-Plan Information System European Strategic Energy Technology Plan Smart metering Energy and smart cities Digital energy in Ireland Energy White Paper 2015 Smart metering in Ireland Smart Grid Electricity storage

Who’s who in Irish energy

265

An A-Z guide to the leading players in the Irish energy sector, north and south

Sponsored by

283

The Energy Ireland directory

Digital energy

Chapter 8:

ENERGY IRELAND YEARBO O K 2022

Representative groups and associations in Irish energy Consultants and advisors Legal advisors Financial and economic consultants Technical and engineering consultants IT consultants and system support companies Certification systems Equipment suppliers Power generation and CHP Renewable energy technology Wind energy Bioenergy Solar energy Ocean energy Monitoring and control systems, instrumentation Air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and insulation products Mechanical fabrication, pipes, valves and pumps Electrical contractors and service providers Water treatment and waste management Geological/geothermal products and services Offshore services: Marine Drilling

Reference section: Energy tables

Energy tables Standard conversion factors

307

publication

Renewable energy magazine

Published summer 2022 Advertising and other profile opportunities available email: sam.tobin@energyireland.ie

Chapter 1 Irish energy policy Global energy context

Energy consumption COP 26 Energy production Global energy supply

8 8 14 14

European energy policy 2021 report on state of the Energy Union EU Green Deal 2020 EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework Connecting Europe Projects of Common Interest

15 18 18 18 19 20

European Commission

European Parliament

Irish energy policy

Energy policy: Northern Ireland

Government departments: Republic of Ireland

Government departments: Northern Ireland

Other organisations and agencies with a role in energy Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland

61 63

Irish energy policy Global energy context There is no overarching international energy authority although there are several major international energy organisations. One of them is the International Energy Agency (IEA). Established in 1974, the IEA is a sister organisation of the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) and has a membership of 37 countries. It works with member countries and others (such as China and Russia) to ensure security of supply and to provide research and recommendations on energy policy.

Energy consumption China is the world’s largest energy consumer and the biggest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2011, it has burnt more coal than all other countries combined. In September 2020, China pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060 and submitted an updated nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). China’s 14th five-year plan also put forward targets for the short-term, such as a 13.5% reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP and an 18% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP during the 2021-25 period. Simultaneously China has surpassed the United States on clean energy investment to become the most important player in the global market. China is currently the world’s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles. The US is the second largest consumer of energy and is also the second largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2020, renewable energy sources accounted for about 12.6% of total US energy consumption and about 19.8% of electricity generation. President Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021 and pledged to move to 100% clean energy. He moved to reinstate the US to the 2015 Paris Agreement after his predecessor Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement. At the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021 China and the US agreed to boost climate cooperation over the next decade through a joint declaration, with both sides pledging to “recall their firm commitment to work together” to achieve the 1.5°C temperature goal set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement 2015 The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP 21) took place in Paris in December 2015 and, to the surprise of many commentators, and conference participants, reached what was seen as an historic deal to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2°C above pre-industrial times. The agreement was regarded as being impressive in light of the fact 195 countries signed up to it. The key targets identified were: • to keep global temperature rise ‘well below’ 2°C and ‘endeavour to limit’ it even more, to 1.5°C;

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• to limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity to the same levels that trees, soil and oceans can absorb naturally, beginning at some point between 2050 and 2100; • to peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and achieve a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century; • to review each country’s contribution to cutting emissions every five years so they scale up the challenge; and • for rich countries to help poorer nations by providing ‘climate finance’ ($100 billion a year by 2020) to adapt to climate change and switch to renewable energy. COP 25 took place in December 2019 and was seen as an opportunity to discuss, reach agreements and to advance climate action. Held in Madrid, it was an important opportunity to unlock the full potential of the Paris Agreement. The conference focused on building momentum for countries to increase their ambition to act on the climate crisis in 2020. It also aimed to completing technical details of the Paris Agreement, such as the workings of the global carbon markets, which determines how countries can trade carbon credits and therefore enhance the cost-effectiveness of climate action investments. However, while there was a recognition of the urgency of climate action, countries could not agree on some of the main areas.

COP 26 COP 26 was initially postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic but took place in Glasgow in November 2021. The conference recognised that current national plans to cut emissions, even if fully implemented, fall short of ambitions to limit global warming to well below 2ºC, ideally 1.5ºC, since pre-industrial times. Estimations are that current NDCs will be inadequate to limit global warming to the required level, with a 2.4ºC rise predicted by 2030 on the current trajectory. Some nations had argued that an aim of 1.5ºC would be a rewrite of the Paris Agreement’s actual commitment. At COP 26, however, nations such as the US and the UK emphasised that the “well below 2ºC” target must be sought, an ambition largely agreed by participating nations. Coal took centre stage as both the biggest achievement and potentially biggest disappointment of COP 26. The Glasgow Climate Pact looked set to include a historic pledge by all nations to phase out coal-fired generation but opposition from some of the world’s largest users forced a retreat in ambition, with the final text including a pledge to ‘phase down’ use. The International Energy Agency estimates that some 40% of the world’s existing coal-fired power plants will need to be closed by 2030 if global warming is to be limited to 1.5ºC but to date, fossil fuel-producing companies and heavy consumers of oil and coal have been successful in keeping the phasing out of fossil fuels off the COP agenda. While not as ambitious as most would have hoped, the inclusion of a phase down

Chapter 1

Irish energy policy

Tax developments impacting the Irish energy sector “Energy taxation, carbon pricing and energy subsidies are important tools for achieving climate goals. The main challenge, in our opinion, is how we strengthen the links between regulatory and financial measures and find the right mix between these two. With our review, we aim to contribute to the discussion on energy prices and climate change, and in particular to the upcoming debate around the proposed revision of the Energy Taxation Directive.” – Viorel Stefan, Member of the European Court of Auditors. A recent report published by The European Court of Auditors assesses whether existing energy taxes, carbon pricing and energy subsidies within the EU assist in achieving EU climate goals. The auditors examined the Energy Taxation Directive, existing Emissions Trading System and the proposals of the Commission to update this legislation, as well as current energy taxation in the Member States. In addition, the auditors review how carbon pricing instruments and energy subsidies incentivise climate action. As can be seen there are major changes afoot and this article provides an Irish perspective on some recent Irish taxation changes in this area as well as suggestions which we believe would aid in the path to decarbonisation in Ireland.

Electricity tax Electricity tax is an excise duty that is charged on supplies of electricity on the final supply of electricity to the consumer, subject to certain reliefs such as: •

electricity for household use;

•

electricity generated from renewable sources, environmentally friendly heat and power cogeneration and on board a craft;

•

electricity used for chemical reduction or in electrolytic or metallurgical processes, for combined heat and power generation, for, or in connection with, the production of electricity.

The Climate Action and Tax Paper Tax Strategy Group – 21/09 foresees a possible future increase to electricity tax rates together with a removal of the reliefs mentioned above. The reason is that, according to the Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government aim for carbon neutrality by 2050, there will be a gradual reliance on electricity supplied as a renewable energy and consequently a loss of tax revenue from fossil fuels. Ireland currently has one of the lowest electricity tax rates in the EU.

Carbon tax Recent Finance Act 2021 changes increased the annual carbon tax from €33.50 to €41 per tonne of carbon dioxide emission. This increase has been applied from 13 October 2021 for diesel and petrol and will be applied from 1 May 2022 for all other fuels. Relief schemes in place to mitigate the impact of the carbon tax for business sectors which are heavily reliant on fuel as a business input (e.g. the Diesel Rebate Scheme) have been subject to criticism as fossil fuel subsidies. Therefore, they might gradually be removed in the near future, in tandem with the introduction of support measures which incentivise the use of greener fuels and technology.

Solar energy – private capital incentive The Irish Government have committed to meeting 80% of all electricity demand by 2030 from renewable sources. Within this target, Ireland has set an objective of meeting the electricity demand through a mixture of corporate power purchase agreements (“CPPAs”) and a series of renewable auctions called RESS (Renewable Energy Support Scheme). More frequent auctions are needed as well as seeking opportunities outside of RESS to allow projects connect to the grid and seek an alternative route to market. At a macro level, the inability of solar energy providers to ensure a competitive return on investment for private investment through the relatively high costs of solar assets in Ireland and route to market will ultimately limit the amount of solar energy developments which can take place in Ireland (outside those subsidised through the RESS process) and will therefore, in turn, impact on Ireland’s ability to meet any renewable energy targets agreed with the EU. Deloitte have proposed legislation as part of our response to the public consultation of the Commission on Taxation and Welfare which would create a tax-exempt renewable energy vehicle for the sole purpose of generating income from the financing, development or operation of solar energy assets in the State. An incentive, such as this, should reduce the costs of producing the electricity and therefore make solar projects more viable to compete with wholesale electricity prices and secure CPPA’s. This in turn should result in increased investment whilst assisting Ireland in meeting its decarbonisation goals. David Neary and Alan Kilmartin are Tax Directors at Deloitte Ireland LLP across Energy and Infrastructure Projects. David Neary Tax Director Deloitte Ireland LLP

Alan Kilmartin Tax Director Deloitte Ireland LLP

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Chapter 1

Irish energy policy

commitment still represents significant progress.

The International Energy Agency

Key pledges made at COP26 include: Coal and fossil fuel: To “accelerate efforts towards” phasing down “unabated coal power” and to bring about an end to “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies. Loss and damage: Beginning of a “dialogue” on funding a new organisation to support countries affected by climate change. Climate finance: Increase in climate finance for poorer nations to at least meet the previously set out $100 billion target per year, through to 2025. Rich nations will double their support for adaptation measures to help developing countries. Carbon markets: The rules will create a market for units representing emissions reductions that countries can trade, under so-called Article 6. Trees: Over 100 nations pledged to end deforestation by 2030. Methane: Large methane emitters including Russia, China and India did not join in pledging to a scheme to cut 30% of methane emissions by 2030.

The Kyoto Protocol Prior to the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol set binding targets for emissions limits for greenhouse gases for those individual countries who signed up. Both China and the United States were non-participants. The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005. Measured against 1990 emissions levels, the protocol generally imposed target reductions for developed economies and targeted headroom limitations for developing economies. However, despite the efforts of the Kyoto signatories, the total reduction in greenhouse gases they achieved was outweighed several-fold by huge increases in non-signatory countries, against 1990 levels. Although Kyoto has had some successes, it was largely ineffective in reducing global emissions.

9 rue de la Fédération, 75739 Paris Cedex 15, France Tel: +33 1 40 5765 00 Web: www.iea.org Email: info@iea.org Twitter: @IEABirol Executive Director: Fatih Birol The International Energy Agency was established in 1974 by the OECD (an international organisation of developed countries) in response to the 1973-74 oil crisis. The IEA is composed of 30 member countries, eight association countries and three accession countries. Members are bound by the International Energy Programme, which is aimed at ensuring members can cope with any shocks to energy supply and to plan for security of supply into the future. Among the commitments members make by being party to the agreement are: • common emergency self-sufficiency in oil supplies; • a programme of contingent oil demand restraint measures; • an information system on the international oil market; • cooperation on energy to reduce, over the longer term, members’ dependence on imported oil for meeting their total energy requirements; and • cooperation with oil producing countries and other oil consuming countries, including developing countries. The organisation’s four main areas of focus are: • energy security: diversity, efficiency and flexibility; • economic development: stability of supply to member countries and promotion of free markets; • environmental awareness: enhancing knowledge for tackling climate change; and • worldwide engagement: working with non-member countries to find solutions to stored energy and environmental concerns. The IEA is headed by Executive Director Fatih Birol and Deputy Executive Director Paul Simons. It has around 240 staff and is divided into three directorates: energy markets and security; global energy economics; sustainable energy policy and technology.

Table 1.1 Top three producers of oil, gas, coal, hydroelectricity and nuclear electricity Crude oil

Natural gas

Coal

Hydro

Nuclear

Wind

Solar PV

1st

United States

People’s Republic of China

United States

People’s Republic of China

2nd

Russian Federation

India

Brazil

France

United States

3rd

Saudi Arabia

Islamic Republic of Iran

Indonesia

Canada

People’s Republic of China

Germany

Japan

2020

2019

2021

Source: IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2021

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Chapter 1

Irish energy policy

Energy production Table 1.1 (page 12) shows the top three producers of the five major conventional energy sources. The United States retains its position as leading producer of crude oil and natural gas, while China is to the fore in the production of both hard coal and hydroelectricity. The United States continues to perform very strongly in the generation of nuclear energy. The G20 (a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major economies and the EU) has also emphasised the importance of well-functioning and transparent physical and financial energy markets, reduced excessive price volatility, improved energy efficiency and better access to clean technologies. It committed itself to improving the JODI (joint organisations data initiative) oil database (which represents approximately 90% of global oil supply and demand) and to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption over the medium term. After several consecutive years of decreasing fossil fuel subsidies from a peak of $550 billion in 2012 to a trough of $274 billion in 2016. After two years where the global aggregate rose, the value of global fossil-fuel consumption subsidies fell in 2019, but subsidy removal is far from complete. While acknowledging that subsidy reform remains reliant on the expenditure of political capital, the IEA maintains that phasing out fossil fuel subsidies remains a core component of sound energy policy. However, the latest figures indicate that progress in reducing subsidies for fossil-fuel production and use has slackened. In January 2016, Ireland initiated a Bill to become the first country to fully divest from fossil fuels. This means dropping coal, oil, and gas investments from the €8 billion Ireland Strategic Investment Fund. The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 was signed into law on 17 December 2018.

Global energy supply The fuel supply mix has changed significantly since 1973. Table 1.2 shows that the proportion of oil in the total energy supply (TES) has dropped from 46.2% to 30.9%. The proportion of natural gas has increased to 23.2%, similar to the increase in nuclear energy’s share of supply to 5%. While ‘other’ sources, such as solar and wind energy, have increased their share of supply by 950%, they remain the smallest contributors. Total primary energy supply has more than doubled in 45 years.

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Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators (ACER) Trg republike 3 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia Tel: +386 (0) 8 205 3400 Web: www.acer.europa.eu Director: Christian Zinglersen The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is the European Union body created by the Third Energy Package to further progress on the completion of the internal energy market both for electricity and for natural gas. As an independent European body which fosters cooperation among European energy regulators, ACER ensures that market integration and harmonisation of regulatory frameworks are done in respect of the EU’s energy policy objectives: •

a more competitive, integrated market which offers consumers more choice;

•

an efficient energy infrastructure guaranteeing the free movement of energy across borders and the transportation of new energy sources, thus enhancing security of supply for EU businesses and consumers;

•

a monitored and transparent energy market guaranteeing consumers fair, cost-reflective prices and deterrence of abusive practices.

Table 1.2 1973 and 2019 Fuel Shares of TES % fuel shares of TPES 1973 Oil 46.2 Coal 24.5 Natural gas 16.1 Biofuels and waste 10.2 Nuclear 0.9 Hydro 1.8 Other (including geothermal, solar, wind, heat etc.) 0.1

2019 30.9 26.9 22.8 9.3 4.9 2.5 2.2

Source: IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2021

Table 1.3 shows the shifts in geographical sources of supply over the past four decades. OECD countries supplied over 60% of primary energy in 1973, but this has declined to less than 40%. Energy from non-OECD Europe and Eurasia has virtually halved. However, China has more than tripled its share of energy supply, to over one-fifth of global supply. Other Asian sources of energy have also increased significantly, more than doubling in proportion of total supply.

Irish energy policy Table 1.3 1973 and 2019 Regional Shares of TES % regional share OECD Non-OECD Europe and Eurasia China Non-OECD Asia Non-OECD Americas Africa Bunkers (including international aviation and maritime bunkers) Middle East

1973 61.9 15.5 7.1 5.2 3.2 3.3

2019 37 8.1 23.5 13.6 3.9 5.9

3.0 0.8

3.0 5.1

Source: IEA Key World Energy Statistics 2021

European energy policy The European Union is the largest regional energy market and energy importer in the world. In 2020, the EU imported 57.5% of the energy it consumed, a decrease of almost 3 percentage points compared with 2019, when this indicator hit an all-time high of 60.5%. EU energy policy, coordinated by the Directorate General on Energy, has three goals: • •

security of supply; competitiveness; and

•

sustainability.

In February 2015, the European Commission adopted a ‘Framework Strategy for a Resilient Energy Union with a

Chapter 1

Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy’, known as the Energy Union. This created new momentum to bring about the transition to a low-carbon, secure and competitive economy. The EU's Energy Union strategy is made up of five closely related and mutually reinforcing dimensions. 1. Supply security Diversifying Europe's sources of energy and making better, more efficient use of energy produced within the EU. 2. A fully integrated internal energy market Using interconnectors which enable energy to flow freely across the EU – without any technical or regulatory barriers. Only then can energy providers freely compete and provide the best energy prices. 3. Energy efficiency Consuming less energy in order to reduce pollution and preserve domestic energy sources. This will reduce the EU's need for energy imports. 4. Climate action: Emission reduction The EU is committed to quick ratification of the Paris Agreement, a roadmap towards low-emissions mobility and retaining its leadership in renewable energy.

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Chapter 1

Irish energy policy

Commission for Regulation of Utilities: Data centre connections The Commission for Regulation of Utilities recently published a decision regarding the connection policy for data centres in Ireland. In this decision, the CRU outlined an approach to connection applications that included an assessment criteria that would encompass location and the ability new data centre connections to contribute to security of supply. The constructive engagement with industry stakeholders during the consultation removed the need for radical policy changes or the implementation of a moratorium on data centre connections and provided clarity for prospective and existing applications to mitigate risks to the electricity network. The unique scale and nature of electricity demand that accompanies growth in data centre activity poses a significant challenge to Ireland’s electricity network and security of supply, if left unaddressed. The decision in November 2021 provided a balanced response that presents the data centre industry with an opportunity to grow, while addressing this inherent challenge. The CRU, informed by EirGrid recommendations, was concerned that continuing to allow data centres to connect to the electricity network, in accordance with previous arrangements, would significantly impact the ability of the electricity system to meet the reasonable demands of all consumers, including those data centres already connected to the network. In its most recent Generation Capacity Statement, Transmission System Operator, EirGrid outlined the expected electricity demand growth as the Irish economy grows in the coming years and highlighted that data centres will be a distinct and key driver of both demand and growth in Ireland for the foreseeable future. The CRU worked with EirGrid to identify appropriate short-, medium-, and long-term measures to ensure available supply can meet all reasonable demands. In the CRU Programme of Actions published in September 2021, the CRU set out the mitigation measures that are being put in place, together with EirGrid, DECC and other stakeholders to ensure electricity Security of Supply in the coming years as we decarbonise our economy. This forecasted rapid growth in demand comes at a time when Ireland’s electricity network is undergoing fundamental changes to facilitate a low carbon future and the stated Government Climate Action Plan target of achieving 80% of electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2030. The CRU is ambitious about meeting Ireland’s policy goals and working with industry to ensure that we decarbonise our electricity system in a safe and secure way, and to the benefit of all.

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Mitigation measures In the consultation, the CRU outlined three mitigation options that it had considered with a view to managing the data centre connection demand challenge. These were: 1.

Do nothing: taking no action would likely result in a situation where demand would outstrip available supply at the peak and would result in load shedding and consumers facing rolling blackouts.

Moratorium on data centre connections: Stopping processing all data centre connection applications (including modifications) and new connection applications for a certain number of years, until this demand can be safely and securely facilitated by the network.

Connection measures: the assessment of connection applications based on:

•

the location of the data centre applicant with respect to whether they are within a constrained or unconstrained region of the electricity system;

•

the ability of the data centre applicant to bring onsite dispatchable generation (and/or storage) equivalent to or greater than their demand, in order to support security of supply;

•

the ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand by reducing consumption when requested to do so by the system operator in times of system constraint through the use of dispatchable on-site generation (and/or storage) in order to support security of supply; and

•

the ability of the data centre applicant to provide flexibility in their demand by reducing consumption when requested to do so by the relevant system operator, in times of system constraint, in order to support security of supply.

The CRU decided that options one and two were not acceptable scenarios and did not represent a suitable response. The final option was chosen as it represented the most equitable solution, a balanced approach that provides connection opportunities to data centre applicants in a manner which respects the overall system integrity, while balancing the need for all consumers to have a secure and stable supply of electricity.

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5. Research, innovation, and competitiveness

• investing in environmentally friendly technologies;

Supporting breakthroughs in low-carbon technologies by coordinating research and helping to finance projects in partnership with the private sector.

• supporting industry to innovate;

2021 report on State of the Energy Union

• decarbonising the energy sector;

The sixth State of the Energy Union report, coming almost two years after the launch of the European Green Deal, outlined that greater efforts will be required to reach the 2030 goal of cutting net emissions by at least 55% and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and that data will need to be analysed carefully next year for more long-term post-Covid trends. The report showed that in 2020, renewables overtook fossil fuels as the number one power source in the EU for the first time, generating 38% of electricity, compared to 37% for fossil fuels. The rise of renewables has been helped by a move by nine member states to phase out coal. A further 13 have committed to a phase-out date and four are considering possible timelines. An unprecedented drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 across the EU27 of 10% compared to the previous year, is attributed to the impact of the pandemic, which brought overall emission reductions to 31%, compared to 1990. According to the report, primary energy consumption declined by 1.9% and final energy consumption by 0.6% in 2020 but both figures remain above the trajectory required to meet the EU's 2020 and 2030 targets. Fossil fuel subsidies dropped slightly in 2020, due to lower energy consumption overall, while renewable energy and energy efficiency subsidies both increased.

European Green Deal 2020 The European Green Deal aims to transform the European Union into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, where: • there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050;

• rolling out cleaner, cheaper, and healthier forms of private and public transport;

• ensuring buildings are more energy efficient; and • working with international partners to improve global environmental standards. The EU will also provide financial support and technical assistance to help those that are most affected by the move towards the green economy. This is called the Just Transition Mechanism. It will help mobilise at least €100 billion over the period from 2021 to 2027 in the most affected regions. To become climate-neutral by 2050, Europe needs to transform its energy system, which accounts for 75% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions. In July 2020, the EU launched strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen which will pave the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector, driven by the twin goals of a cleaner planet and a stronger economy. The two strategies present a new clean energy investment agenda, in line with the Commission’s Next Generation EU recovery package and the European Green Deal.

EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework The EU’s 2030 Climate and Energy Framework sets key EU-wide key existing targets for the period between 2021 and 2030. Key targets for 2030 are: • a reduction in GHG emissions of at least 40% (from 1990 levels); • a renewable energy share of at least 32%; and • an improvement in energy efficiency of at least 32.5%.

• economic growth is decoupled from resource use; and

The 40% greenhouse gas target is implemented by three pieces of legislation which enable all sectors to contribute to the overall target through reduced emissions and increased removals. These are:

• no person and no place are left behind.

• the EU Emissions Trading System;

The European Green Deal is a plan to make the EU's economy sustainable. It provides an action plan to:

• the Effort Sharing Regulation with member states’ emissions reduction targets; and

• boost the efficient use of resources by moving to a clean, circular economy; and

• the Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (LUCFR).

• restore biodiversity and cut pollution. The plan outlines investments needed and financing tools available. The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050 and has proposed a European Climate Law to turn this political commitment into a legal obligation. Reaching this target will require action by all sectors of the economy, including:

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Now, as part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission has proposed to raise the 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target, including emissions and removals, to at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. In April 2021, political agreement was reached on European Climate Law by the European Parliament and member states. In June 2021, European Climate Law entered into force.

Irish energy policy

Chapter 1

Energy System Integration Strategy 2020

EU Hydrogen Strategy 2020

The EU Strategy for Energy System Integration provides the framework for the green energy transition. The previous model where energy consumption in transport, industry, gas, and buildings happened in ‘silos’ – each with separate value chains, rules, infrastructure, planning and operations – cannot deliver climate neutrality by 2050 in a cost-efficient way; the changing costs of innovative solutions have to be integrated in the way the energy system operates. New links between sectors must be created and technological progress exploited.

In an integrated energy system, hydrogen can support the decarbonisation of industry, transport, power generation and buildings across Europe. The EU Hydrogen Strategy addresses how to transform this potential into reality, through investments, regulation, market creation and research and innovation.

Energy system integration means that the system is planned and operated as a whole, linking different energy carriers, infrastructures, and consumption sectors. This connected and flexible system will be more efficient and reduce costs for society. For example, this means a system where the electricity that fuels Europe's cars could come from the solar panels on our roofs, while our buildings are kept warm with heat from a nearby factory, and the factory is fuelled by clean hydrogen produced from offshore wind energy.

Hydrogen can power sectors that are not suitable for electrification and provide storage to balance variable renewable energy flows, but this can only be achieved with coordinated action between the public and private sector, at EU level. The priority is to develop renewable hydrogen, produced using mainly wind and solar energy. However, in the short-and medium-term other forms of low-carbon hydrogen are needed to rapidly reduce emissions and support the development of a viable market. This gradual transition will require a phased approach: •

from 2020 to 2024, the installation of at least 6GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the EU will be supported and the production of up to one million tonnes of renewable hydrogen;

•

from 2025 to 2030, hydrogen needs to become an intrinsic part of the integrated energy system, with at least 40GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers and the production of up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in the EU; and

•

from 2030 to 2050, renewable hydrogen technologies should reach maturity and be deployed at large scale across all hard-todecarbonise sectors.

There are three main pillars to this strategy: • first, a more ‘circular’ energy system, with energy efficiency at its core. The strategy will identify concrete actions to apply the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle in practice and to use local energy sources more effectively in our buildings or communities. There is significant potential in the reuse of waste heat from industrial sites, data centres, or other sources, and energy produced from bio-waste or in wastewater treatment plants. The Renovation Wave will be an important part of these reforms; • second, a greater direct electrification of end-use sectors. As the power sector has the highest share of renewables, we should increasingly use electricity where possible: for example, for heat pumps in buildings, electric vehicles in transport or electric furnaces in certain industries. A network of one million electric vehicle charging points will be among the visible results, along with the expansion of solar and wind power; and • third, for those sectors where electrification is difficult, the strategy promotes clean fuels, including renewable hydrogen and sustainable biofuels and biogas. The Commission will propose a new classification and certification system for renewable and low-carbon fuels. The strategy sets out 38 actions to create a more integrated energy system. These include the revision of existing legislation, financial support, research and deployment of new technologies and digital tools, guidance to member states on fiscal measures and phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies, market governance reform and infrastructure planning, and improved information to consumers. The analysis of the existing barriers in these areas will inform concrete proposals, for instance the revision of the TEN-E regulation by the end of 2020 or the revision of the Energy Taxation Directive and the Gas Market Regulatory Framework in 2021.

To help deliver on this Strategy, the Commission launched the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance with industry leaders, civil society, national and regional ministers, and the European Investment Bank. The Alliance will build up an investment pipeline for scaledup production and will support demand for clean hydrogen in the EU. To target support at the cleanest available technologies, the Commission will work to introduce common standards, terminology, and certification, based on lifecycle carbon emissions, anchored in existing climate and energy legislation, and in line with the EU taxonomy for sustainable investments. The Commission will propose policy and regulatory measures to create investor certainty, facilitate the uptake of hydrogen, promote the necessary infrastructure and logistical networks, adapt infrastructure planning tools, and support investments, in particular through the Next Generation EU recovery plan.

Connecting Europe The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is a key EU funding instrument to promote growth, jobs, and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level. It supports the development of high performing, sustainable and efficiently interconnected trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy, and digital services.

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The CEF benefits people across all member states, as it makes travel easier and more sustainable, it enhances Europe’s energy security while enabling wider use of renewables, and it facilitates cross-border interaction between public administrations, businesses, and citizens. In addition to grants, the CEF offers financial support to projects through innovative financial instruments such as guarantees and project bonds. These instruments create significant leverage in their use of EU budget and act as a catalyst to attract further funding from the private sector and other public sector actors. The CEF is divided into three sectors: CEF Energy; CEF Telecom; and CEF Transport.

CEF Energy The EU’s energy infrastructure is ageing and, in its current state, not suited to match future demand for energy, to ensure security of supply or to support largescale deployment of energy from renewable sources. The upgrading of existing, and development of new energy transmission infrastructures of European importance will require investments of about €140 billion in electricity and at least €70 billion in gas. Despite the regulatory measures and policies that are currently put in place to facilitate such investments, under current market and regulatory conditions some energy projects are not commercially viable and would normally not make it into investment programmes of infrastructure developers. CEF is engineered to address both groups of factors behind the investment gap in the energy sector. Financial instruments, by bringing in new classes of investors and mitigating certain risks, will help project promoters to access the necessary financing for their projects. Grants to contribute to the construction costs will be applied to fill in the gaps in commercial viability of the projects that are particularly relevant for Europe. In the period 2014-2020, CEF Energy allocated €4.7 billion to studies and works supporting the implementation of 107 PCIs. In the period 2021-27 €5.35 billion is available for CEF Energy including a new window for cross-border renewable projects in the field of renewable energy, with an allocation of up to 15% of the CEF budget subject to market uptake. In January 2022, EU countries have agreed on a Commission proposal to invest €1.037 billion in five cross-border infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for trans-European energy networks. CEF will provide financial support to four projects for construction and one study. The largest amount of funding will go to the EuroAsia interconnector project (€657 million) to support the first electricity interconnection between Cyprus and the European grid.

Projects of Common Interest (PCI) To help create an integrated EU energy market, the European Commission has drawn up a list of key energy

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infrastructure projects — known as projects of common interest (PCIs). Projects are required to have a significant impact on energy markets and market integration in at least two EU countries, boost competition on energy markets and help the EU's energy security by diversifying sources as well as contribute to the EU's climate and energy goals by integrating renewables. This means enabling secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for all citizens while delivering long-term decarbonisation of the economy as per the Paris Agreement. These are essential for completing the European internal energy market and for reaching the Union's energy policy objectives of affordable, secure, and sustainable energy. The list is renewed biannually in order to integrate new projects and remove completed or unfeasible projects. On 31 October 2019 the Commission adopted its fourth list of PCIs, which contains 151 projects (102 electricity transmission and storage, six smart grid deployment, 32 gas, six oil and five cross-border carbon dioxide networks). The 5th PCI list includes 98 projects: 67 electricity transmission and storage projects, 20 gas projects (listed previously in the fourth PCI list), six CO2 network projects and five smart grid projects.

CEF funding

A total of €556 million in CEF grants was allocated to eight PCIs in 2019: six in the electricity sector; and two in the gas sector. In 2020, €998 million of CEF grants were allocated to 10 PCIs: six for CO2 transport; two for electricity transmission; one for smart electricity grids; and one for gas. Ireland’s projects on the Fourth PCI list (2019–2020) include: •

the Celtic Interconnector between France and Ireland;

•

the Greenlink interconnection between Ireland (County Wexford) and Wales (Pembrokeshire);

•

the North-South interconnector (Woodland, County Meath to Turleenan, County Tyrone);

•

the RIDP1 interconnector (Srananagh, County Sligo and Turleenan, County Tyrone);

•

the Shannon LNG Terminal and connecting pipeline;

•

the Silvermines Hydroelectric Power Station; and

•

the Ervia Cork Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Project.

Through the Programme for Government (PfG), the Irish Government has indicated its intention to “withdraw the Shannon LNG terminal from the EU Projects of Common Interest list in 2021”. DG Energy has a dedicated unit to promote PCI projects and to intervene where it considers member states are not cooperating sufficiently in the development of such projects within their jurisdiction. A full list of PCI projects, including an interactive map is available on the European Commission website: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/infrastructure/project s-common-interest/key-cross-border-infrastructureprojects_en

Irish energy policy

European Commission DG Energy Offices: Rue Demot 24 B-1040 Brussels Belgium Rue de la Loi 200 B-1049, Brussels Belgium Commissioner for Energy: Kadri Simson Director-General: Ditte Juul Jørgensen Principal Adviser: Tudor Constatinescu Deputy Director-General: Mechthild Wörsdörfer (Directorates A, B and C) Deputy Director-General: Massimo Garribba (Directorates D and E) Directorate A: Energy Policy: Strategy and Coordination Director: Cristina Lobillo Borrero A1 Interinstitutional and Member States: Paula Abreu Marques A2 Communication and Outreach: Pierre Schellekens A3 Neighbourhood Policies and International Relations: Florian Ermacora A4 Economic analysis and Foresight: Miguel Tertre Gil A5 Planning and Legal Affairs: Anne-Charlotte Bournoville Directorate B: Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Efficiency and Innovation Director: Paula Pinho B1 Consumers, Local Initiatives, Just Transition: Adela Tesarova B2 Energy Efficiency: Claudia Canevari B3 Buildings and Products: Stefan Moser B4 Energy Security and Safety: Alejandro Ulzurrun B5 Innovation, Research, Digitalisation, Competitiveness: Vincent Berrutto Directorate C: Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency Director: Catharina Sikow-Magny C1 Renewables and Energy System Integration Policy: Lukasz Kolinski C2 Decarbonisation and Sustainability of Energy Sources: Kitti Nyitrai C3 Internal Energy Market: Christof Lessenich C4 Infrastructure and Regional Cooperation: Joachim Balke

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Directorate D: Nuclear Energy, Safety and ITER Director: Jan Panek D1 EURATOM Policy Co-ordination: Hans Rhein D2 Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Waste and Decommissioning: Zuzana Petrovicova D3 Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety: Michael Huebel D4 ITER: Renatas Mazeika Directorate E: Euratom safeguards Director: Stephan Lechner E1 Policy, Quality and Technology: Nicole Erdmann E2 Euratom IT Support: Peter Beuseling E3 Inspections: Enrichment, Fabrication and Reprocessing Plants: Maurizio Boella E4 Inspections: Reactors, Geological Repositories and Other Installations: Petra Klumpp E5 Nuclear Accountancy and International Obligations: Iuliana Gabriela Aluas

DG Competition Place Madou 1 1210 Brussels Belgium Executive Vice-President: Margrethe Vestager Director-General: Olivier Guersent Chief Economist: Pierre Regibeau Deputy Director-General: Guillaume Loriot (Mergers) Deputy Director-General: Linsey McCallum (Antitrust) Deputy Director-General: Karl Soukup (acting) (State Aid)

DG Climate Action Avenue de Beaulieu 24 1160 Brussels Belgium Executive Vice-President: Frans Timmermans Director-General: Raffaele Mauro Petriccione Deputy Director-General: Clara De La Torre International and Mainstreaming: Elina Bardram European and International Carbon Markets: Beatriz Yordi Aguirre Climate Strategy, Governance and Emissions from NonTrading Sectors: Yvon Slingenberg

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European Parliament: Committee on Industry, Research and Energy European Parliament Rue Wiertz 60 BE-1047 Brussels Belgium European Parliament Allée Du Printemps BP 1024/F F-67070 Strasbourg Cedex France Brussels: +32 2 283 1526 Strasbourg: +33 3 88 17 4931 Email: itre-secretariat@europarl.ep.eu The European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (abbreviated as ITRE) covers: • the union’s industrial policy and related measures, and the application of new technologies, including measures related to SMEs; • the union’s research and innovation policy, including science and technology as well as the dissemination and exploitation of research findings; • European space policy; • the activities of the Joint Research Centre, the European Research Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements etc.; • union measures relating to energy policy in general and in the context of the establishment and functioning of the internal energy market; • the Euratom Treaty and Euratom Supply Agency, nuclear safety, decommissioning and waste disposal in the nuclear sector; and • the information society, information technology and communications networks and services, including technologies and security aspects and the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the telecommunication infrastructure sector. As part of the co-decision-making process in the EU, European Parliament committees aid the Commission in initiating legislation in most areas. The Commission therefore consults standing committees such as the ITRE Committee. The committee’s work also involves cooperation with the European Council, and it also regularly organises public hearings on issues of topical legislative interest. The committee also carries out its own investigations and publishes reports.

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ITRE Committee Members Chair: Cristian-Silviu Buşoi Vice Chairs: Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Morten Petersen, Patrizia Toia, Lina Gálvez Muñoz Members: Nicola Beer François-Xavier Bellamy Hildegard Bentele Tom Berendsen Vasile Blaga Michael Bloss Manuel Bompard Paolo Borchia Marc Botenga Markus Buchheit Martin Buschmann Jerzy Buzek Maria da Graça Carvalho Pilar del Castillo Vera Ignazio Corrao Ciarán Cuffe Josianne Cutajar Nicola Danti Martina Dlabajová Christian Ehler Valter Flego Niels Fuglsang Claudia Gamon Jens Geier Nicolás González Casares Bart Groothuis Christophe Grudler András Gyürk Henrike Hahn Robert Hajšel Ivo Hristov Ivars Ijabs Romana Jerkovi Eva Kaili Seán Kelly Izabela-Helena Kloc Łukasz Kohut Andrius Kubilius Miapetra Kumpula-Natri Hélene Laporte Thierry Mariani Marisa Matias Eva Maydell Georg Mayer Joëlle Mélin Iskra Mihaylova Dan Nica Angelika Niebler

Niklas Nienass Ville Niinistö Aldo Patriciello Mauri Pekkarinen Mikuláš Peksa Tsvetelina Penkova Pina Picierno Markus Pieper Clara Ponsatí Obiols Sira Rego Manuela Ripa Robert Roos Sara Skyttedal Maria Spyraki Jessica Stegrud Beata Szydło Riho Terras Grzegorz Tobiszowski Evžen Tošenovský Marie Toussaint Isabella Tovaglieri Victor Uspaskich Henna Virkkunen Pernille Weiss Carlos Zorrinho

Irish energy policy

Irish energy policy White Paper 2015 The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is responsible for energy policy in Ireland. A new energy policy framework, the White Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, was published in December 2015, following on from the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland which was published in May 2014. The White Paper was titled ‘Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030’ and was launched by the then Minister in December 2015 following a comprehensive consultative process based around the earlier 2014 energy policy green paper. In all, some 1,250 written responses to the green paper were considered and numerous related consultation meetings held prior to finalisation of the White Paper by the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). The starting point for the White Paper is the challenge known as the energy ‘trilemma’; the need to have adequate, secure sources of energy, available at competitive and affordable prices and which are sustainable in terms of environmental impact. The 2015 Energy White Paper steps quickly beyond these traditional considerations to the assumption that Ireland must transition to a whole new energy future if it is to have security of supply and competitively priced energy while meeting its growing obligations on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. The White Paper sets out the vision for Ireland's energy system for 2050. It sets a vision of a radical transformation of Ireland's energy system which is required to meet climate policy objectives. This transformation will result in a low carbon energy system by 2050. This means that GHG emissions from the energy system will be reduced by between 80% and 95% by 2050 (with a goal of moving to zero carbon by 2100) compared to 1990 levels.

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The White Paper defines a low carbon future as involving: •

radically changing our behaviour as citizens, industry, and Government;

•

becoming more energy efficient;

•

generating our electricity from renewable sources;

•

moving to lower emissions fuels and ultimately away from fossil fuels altogether;

•

increasing the use of electricity and bioenergy to heat our homes and fuel our transport;

•

increasing the Biofuels Obligation and improving take up of zero and low carbon vehicles;

•

supporting the deployment of renewable heat in the business, public and residential sectors; and

•

adopting new technologies as they emerge.

Climate Action Plan 2021 On 4 November 2021, the Government launched the Climate Action Plan 2021, following the Climate Act 2021. The Act commits Ireland to a legally binding target of netzero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, and a reduction of 51% by 2030. The targets are a key pillar of the Programme for Government. Core Measures included a more rapid build-out of renewable generation capacity, particularly in the areas of offshore wind, solar power, and micro-generation. Further measures include increased electricity storage, the deployment of zero-emissions gas (that is, biogas, biomethane and hydrogen) and the production of hydrogen for use in other industries. The plan takes account of challenges in this sector: the growth in demand for power, as well as the need to ensure security of supply through the decarbonisation journey.

Renewable energy Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030, including an increased target of up to 5GW of offshore wind. Electricity makes up almost one fifth of energy use in Ireland, the main source of which is natural gas. Electricity generation is responsible for around a quarter of Ireland’s carbon emissions.

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The National Retrofit Plan: Commitment matched by ambition Klair Neenan Managing Director SSE Airtricity welcomes Government’s commitment to the National Retrofit Programme and points to great ambition in supporting delivery of Ireland’s net zero targets. February of this year saw a landmark moment in the mission to decarbonise Ireland’s homes and buildings. The Irish Government published its long-awaited National Retrofit Plan, outlining a multi-billion-euro programme designed to deliver 500,000 deep retrofits to the country’s housing stock and put the country on course to reach net zero. The SEAI notes that the residential sector accounts for a quarter of Ireland’s emissions. If we are to meet Ireland’s first two carbon budgets, which aim to half our emissions by 2030, it is vital we start decarbonising our homes now. Success in this sector will also give us a head start in delivering our overarching 2050 net zero target. The challenges in decarbonising this sector are, however, greater than in other areas. For example, the building of renewable energy generation such as wind power requires the appropriate policy and commercial drivers in place for companies to make investment plans and bring projects forward. The decarbonising of the residential sector, in contrast, requires individuals and families to embark on projects to change their homes. With this in mind, Government ambition in this area will be critical if we are to see significant numbers of people making the decision to retrofit their homes, install smallscale technologies and switch to electric transport. Key to this is a financial commitment and incentive. The National Retrofit Plan provides significant support on this front with multi-annual funding of €8 billion set until 2030. This will enable fixed grant amounts covering 46% to 51% of the expected total retrofit costs (varying for home type). This level of funding is hugely significant and puts the retrofit of our homes up there with housing as a priority issue for this Government. In addition to this, the Government will implement a new retrofit loan guarantee scheme, supporting financial institutions in providing low interest financing for retrofit projects. Taken in total, this commitment provides a significant incentive for people to retrofit their homes to the highest standards of energy efficiency and provide improved living standards. The grant funding announced is a real statement of intent in relation to carbon reduction and at SSE Airtricity we too have ambitious targets and are aiming to deliver 30,000 home retrofit completions over the coming decade. Once delivered, this will equate to approx. €20 million in reduced energy costs every year for Irish households. It is also worth mentioning that at the core of the National Plan is the concept of a “one stop shop”, that will see energy companies partnering with other businesses and financial lenders to fully project manage the delivery of retrofits for homes and business across Ireland. This addresses one of the other key factors which could prevent people from deciding to retrofit their homes: hassle. Put

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simple, the prospect of applying for complex grant funding, engaging with various supplier and fitters, and engaging BER Assessors at the start and end of the project, may put many people off. The “one stop shop” model enables all of these aspects to be project managed by a single entity, removing the vast complexity for customers. SSE Airtricity is proud to have pioneered this model, being the first utility company to launch a retrofit solution with our “Generation Green Home Upgrade” in 2020. We partner with trusted companies to offer a quality service from start to finish, project managing everything for the homeowner throughout the process. We’ve also partnered with An Post who offer low-cost lending options for green upgrades. The measures announced by Government are not shortterm deliverables but rather a long-term means to assist consumers with increasing energy efficiency, delivering sustainability in home heating, reducing costs, making homes warmer and accelerating towards net zero targets. In the long-term, the Government’s increased commitment to the National Retrofit Programme will help with the accessibility challenge for home upgrades and encourage Irish homeowners to consider how they might decarbonise their homes. As a business SSE Airtricity is proud of our green heritage over the past decade, and we stand ready to support delivery of the programme and to continue driving Ireland’s green energy revolution. We are investing significantly in this programme which will involve the direct creation of new skilled jobs including project managers, surveyors, and administrators. In addition, the work generated by SSE Airtricity through this programme will indirectly support the creation of 150 jobs across our suppliers and partners to deliver on our commitment. Tackling the residential sector is Ireland’s next great challenge in decarbonising our country. Whilst we know there are areas where more may be needed, such as the rental sector or those without access to borrowing, we should acknowledge the real positive signal that the national plan and the financial commitments within it provides. SSE Airtricity is already providing our expertise and investment to deliver on this ambition. We look forward to playing our part in achieving Ireland’s net zero target and a cleaner, greener future.

Klair Neenan Managing Director SSE Airtricity

Irish energy policy

Chapter 1

Ambitions for electricity outlined in Climate Action Plan 2021 are:

spike in electricity demand. This transition can also be secured through enhanced energy efficiency.

•

increase renewable electricity: wind and solar up to 80% by 2030;

•

support scheme for micro-generation allowing homeowners to generate their own electricity and sell what they do not use back to the national grid;

•

separate small scale generator scheme for farmers, business, and communities to generate electricity and sell to the grid;

The Green Party’s ascension into coalition government following the 2020 general election placed a renewed focus on Ireland’s climate ambitions and targets. The Greens successfully negotiated and secured several ambitious commitments in the Programme for Government. Prior to the raising of ambitions under Climate Action Plan 2021, by 2030, the Government intended to deliver:

•

reduce emissions from electricity by between 62% and 81% from 2018 levels;

•

at least 70% of renewable electricity;

•

a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions; and

deliver three new transmission grid connections or interconnectors to Northern Ireland, Great Britain, and the EU;

•

a 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency.

•

complete the phase-out of coal and peat-fired electricity generation; and

•

review data centre strategy to ensure the sector supports renewables and emissions targets.

Ireland’s 2020 renewable energy target was to increase the share of final energy consumption made up of renewable energy sources (RES) to 16%. The target was divided into three key sectors with individual targets for each sector: 40% of electricity supply (RES-E), 12% of heating (RES-H), and 10% of transport (RES-T). Ireland also had a target of a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. Ireland missed its mandatory 2020 GHG emissions reduction target of 20 per cent below the 2005 level. The Environmental Protection Agency suggest that Ireland’s emissions are still only 7% below 2005 levels, despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic recovery since 2014 revealed energy consumption growth in the residential and transport sectors has not yet sufficiently decoupled from emissions growth. This is compounded by a strong rise in emissions from the agricultural sector that accounted for 37.1% of total GHG emissions in 2020. SEAI estimates that renewable energy accounted for 42% of Ireland’s electricity generation in 2020, above the Government’s 2020 target of 40% renewable electricity.

Programme for Government 2020 The coalition Government formed on 26 June 2020 committed to an average 7% per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030 (a 51% reduction over the decade) and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Each sector will be required to contribute to this target by implementing the policy changes contained within the Programme for Government (PfG). This requires a balance to be struck between the development of low-carbon renewable energy sources and a safe and secure energy supply, while maintaining a competitive and well-regulated market.

Delivery was to be facilitated through the following policy changes: •

delivery of a National Aggregated Model of Retrofitting reaching over 500,000 homes by 2030 as part of the EU Renovation Wave;

•

learning from district heating pilot projects to launch a scaled-up programme;

•

accelerated electrification of the transport system including electric bikes, electric vehicles, and electric public transport alongside a ban on new registrations of petrol and diesel cars from 2030;

•

a strategy for remote working and remote service delivery, taking advantage of the opportunity for rapid roll out of the National Broadband Plan;

•

an unprecedented modal shift in all areas by a reorientation of investment to walking, cycling and public transport;

•

a new sustainable rural mobility plan;

•

a transformational programme of research and development to ensure Ireland utilises scientific and technological innovation, including in the bioeconomy, in marine sequestration, in green hydrogen, in wave technology, in floating offshore wind, and in agriculture;

•

a major drive to realise the immense potential of Ireland’s offshore renewables;

•

a systematic programme of sectoral audits of the commercial and industrial sector;

•

expansion and incentivisation of microgeneration;

•

a new strategy to expand afforestation, particularly Close to Nature Forestry and agroforestry;

•

transforming the scale of organic farming with delivery of a fair price for farmers at its heart;

•

building on Ireland’s relative carbon efficiency in food production; and

•

rapid evaluation of the potential role of sustainable bioenergy.

The decarbonisation of heat and transport requires increased electrification which will result in a significant

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Irish energy policy

Renewable revolution

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Irish energy policy

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Security of supply

Wind

With a peripheral location, virtually no indigenous energy and a relatively small renewables sector, Northern Ireland has always been and still is in a difficult position regarding security of supply. It has traditionally been dependent on Great Britain for oil, gas, and certain electricity supplies. The growth of north/south interconnection is opening up some new supply options.

The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) was closed in June 2016 (with a grace period for a year until 2018) and the extension of support to 2037, to ensure that stations accrediting up until 2018 received full support.

In a wider context, security of supply has been affected by pressures on international gas supplies (including the termination of supplies in gas disputes between Russia and its neighbours), volatile price fluctuations and declining UK gas stocks. A more varied energy mix is seen as an important contributor to security. Importing fossil fuels increases insecurity so renewable energy development will make a significant difference, with the Executive focusing on onshore and offshore wind energy and biomass. However, despite long-term plans to diversify the energy mix and increase the contribution of renewable energy, Northern Ireland is facing a difficult period ahead, in security terms. Potential benefits could also be derived from interconnection e.g. moves towards a regional or European market, building on the Single Electricity Market. The harmonisation of gas transmission arrangements between the UK and Ireland could make the transportation and trade of gas more efficient. Planning permission was granted for a gas storage site at Islandmagee, County Antrim, in October 2012. The facility, when operational, is intended to have the capability to store 500 million cubic metres of natural gas (enough to satisfy Northern Ireland’s peak demand for around 60 days) in Permian salt beds almost a mile beneath Larne Lough. The Islandmagee-1 well was drilled to a depth of 1,753m in May/June 2015. This well cored the Permian salt to enable the project front-end engineering design to be completed. In October 2013, the project was named as an EU Project of Common Interest i.e. with recognition that the project brings benefits not only to the member state in which it is located but to a wider area. In the same month, it was ‘pre-qualified’ (deemed eligible for support) under the Treasury’s UK Guarantee Scheme which backs key infrastructural projects across all sectors. The Islandmagee gas storage project was first established in 2010. The current application proposes the creation of seven underground caverns by solution mining below Larne Lough, which would be used for the storage of natural gas. The application includes the associated marine infrastructure to enable seawater abstraction and the subsequent discharge of brine from the creation of the caverns by solution mining. Consultation opened 16 December 2020 and closed 20 January 2021.

With onshore wind being the most established renewable source, it is seen as having a vital role to play in meeting the renewable target. Significant capacity from conventional electricity generation will also be required to respond as wind is intermittent. An Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan (ORESAP) was published by DETI in December 2010. It proposed targets of 600MW from offshore wind and 300MW from tidal resources to be produced by 2020. The Crown Estate announced its initial leases for offshore wind (a 600MW site off south Down) and tidal energy (two 100MW projects off north Antrim) in October 2012. However, neither of these targets were met. A Department for the Economy report published in July 2019 concluded that “the conditions are not yet right for fixed foundation offshore wind development”. The primary criteria used to assess this suitability is that 99% of the characterisation area (as defined by The Crown Estate work) is within 13km of the coast and is therefore constrained by risk and uncertainty associated with visual sensitivity from shore. Other challenges assessed include Ministry of Defence activity and high density shipping activity. However, this does not preclude floating offshore wind developments in the future. The new Energy Strategy pledges to develop an action plan to deliver 1GW of offshore wind from 2030.

Bioenergy A Bioenergy Action Plan for 2010-2015 was published in February 2011. Its four objectives are to: •

raise awareness of bioenergy;

•

create a supporting policy and regulatory framework;

•

target support in key areas of the supply chain; and

•

encourage focused R&D.

Renewable heat could become a viable alternative to oil in rural areas. A Renewable Heat Study published by DETI in September 2010 showed that renewable heat provides 1.7% of heat demand (300GWh of 17.4TWh). Most heat demand is domestic. It stated that the 10% target by 2020 is considered achievable i.e. 1.6TWh of an expected 16.7TWh demand. This would involve heating 17% of housing stock entirely by renewable technologies. Shallow geothermal energy is increasingly being exploited in new developments and there has been considerable commercial interest in deep geothermal heating schemes. DETI launched a call for evidence on the barriers to deep geothermal energy in Northern Ireland during 2011.

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The role of the Consumer Council in Northern Ireland’s energy sector The Consumer Council is Northern Ireland’s consumer body and is responsible for protecting and safeguarding the rights and interests of its 1.9 million citizens. Peter McClenaghan, Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council outlines the work of the organisation relating to consumer empowerment, policy development, and consumer representation, during times of turbulence within energy markets. The Consumer Council strives to bring positive change to the citizens of Northern Ireland by placing consumer concerns at the centre of public policy development and operational decision-making. Our responsibilities in the Northern Ireland energy market include consumer education, research, representation, and the investigation of consumer issues relating to electricity or gas supplied by authorised suppliers. The Consumer Council is also a complaints handling body, with the ability to raise super-complaints to the relevant regulator here or in the rest of the UK. In carrying out these functions we seek to work closely with regulated and unregulated energy suppliers, distribution, and transmission companies to further the interests of consumers. We are proud of the achievements made in collaboration with industry in the past year, notably the improvement in support the sector provides to consumers in vulnerable circumstances.

The consumer landscape Citizens in Northern Ireland are experiencing rising costs of living while the after effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and EU Exit remain. Consumers also face challenges and opportunities brought about by decarbonisation, digitalisation and energy decentralisation. These factors could fundamentally change what daily life looks like in Northern Ireland bringing our role in consumer advocacy and protection to centre stage. This outlook places greater emphasis on the role of the Consumer Council in providing detailed scrutiny of markets to maintain high service standards, avoid detriment, and to ensure services are designed to meet consumers’ needs. As global wholesale energy prices began to increase during 2021, Northern Ireland consumers were the here in the UK to be directly impacted by higher bills. Increased energy prices have utterly changed the consumer landscape in relation to energy affordability. This re-emphasises the need to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels while underscoring the importance of doing this in a manner that consumers can afford.

The importance of empowerment A key purpose of the Consumer Council is to educate, protect, and empower consumers. With consumers struggling to save money on their bills, improve their energy efficiency, and avoid greenwashing and misinformation, our

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role is crucial in ensuring consumers can make informed decisions. We undertake various communication and empowerment projects each year and continue to enhance our consumer offering; this year we rolled out energy efficiency webinars in partnership with National Energy Action. We continue to provide online tools to enable consumers to compare energy tariffs, heating oil, petrol and diesel prices, and transport costs. In 2021, our online money-saving tools were used over 130,000 times. The Consumer Council has a statutory role to handle electricity and natural gas complaints and enquiries. This, combined with our enquiries and signposting service, saw the team help more than 2,500 consumers with issues regarding energy, water, and transport in 2021. We work together with energy companies to ensure each consumer enquiry receives the appropriate response and that patterns or policy issues emerging from complaints are addressed.

Driving operational and policy change The Consumer Council team works alongside Northern Ireland policy makers and energy companies to drive change which is beneficial to consumers. During 2021, we contributed consumer research and insights into the development of the Northern Ireland Energy Strategy. We also led the research and engagement that delivered Government and cross-industry financial support for a Northern Ireland wide fuel bank initiative that will help 20,000 households in energy crisis by the end of winter 2021-22. In participating in energy sector tariff reviews, reviewing codes of practice, and inputting into price controls we seek to work closely with companies and the Utility Regulator to ensure strong consumer outcomes that fairly reflect both company costs and consumer needs. As we look to the future, we have ambitious public policy targets in the energy sector. During 2022 we look forward to encouraging the implementation of further consumer support in relation to energy affordability, supporting stakeholder priorities resulting from the Energy, Fuel Poverty, and Long Term Water strategies, and embarking on longitudinal research into consumer attitudes to decarbonisation.

Peter McClenaghan Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability The Consumer Council

E: peter.mcclenaghan@consumercouncil.org.uk T: 028 90 251852 W: www.consumercouncil.org.uk

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In December 2020, the Building Back Better – The Future for Geothermal Energy in Northern Ireland, conference organised by the Department for the Economy’s Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and Queen’s University Belfast, considered the potential for Northern Ireland’s geothermal resources.

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) A Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was introduced in November 2012, with a budget of £25 million up to 2015. The scheme was initially available to non-domestic customers but was extended to households in October 2014. The scheme made headlines in 2016 as it emerged that it had been abused. The RHI scheme was effectively a replication of a similar initiative in Britain which aimed to incentivise farmers and business owners to switch to renewables from fossil fuels. However, DETI ensured that it would have two crucial differences from London’s model in relation to cost control. Firstly, while the English initiative (which had undergone successful refinement) had a subsidy payment cap, DETI’s imitation actively removed such a cap. Secondly, unlike in Britain, the rate paid to customers as an incentive was not tiered. A single flat rate was subsequently revealed as being too high. Fundamentally, an excessive rate of subsidy was set higher than the cost of each unit of fuel (largely wood pellets) being burnt. In 2011 risks linked to an absence of a cap were raised during a feasibility study. Then, in 2013, concerns were allegedly raised directly with the then Enterprise Minister through a whistle-blower. Following subsequent whistleblower allegations made to the Office of the First and deputy First Minister in January 2016, the Northern Ireland Audit Office initiated an investigation. The widespread abuse of the green energy scheme was made public in July 2016. Ironically, what initially materialised as an attempt to incentivise a shift away from fossil fuels has, in fact, achieved the very opposite. The RHI scheme was the subject of a public inquiry, The Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme, was set up by the then Minister of Finance in January 2017. The report was published on the 13 March 2020. The new Energy Strategy includes a number of heat related measures, including: •

the launch of a domestic energy efficiency scheme: an area-based energy efficiency pilot scheme in 2022, including access, where relevant, to low-carbon heating support;

•

a review of permitted development legislation for low carbon heat installations to ensure it is up to date and fit for purpose; and

•

development and commencement of delivery of low carbon heat demonstrator projects.

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Energy storage An Energy Storage Study investigating Northern Ireland’s suitability for safe underground energy storage, including compressed air, carbon dioxide capture and natural gas, was published in December 2011. The £1 million study was carried out by DETI, the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) and the British Geological Survey (BGS). It examined the East Antrim area in great detail as it is unique within the province in having thick beds of salt that may be suitable for energy storage facilities. Potential investors interested in the development of gas storage facilities, compressed air storage or the storage of carbon dioxide will be able to use the data to make investment decisions. In August 2019, a planning application for a proposed compressed air energy storage (CAES) project in Larne by Irish renewable energy firm Gaelectric was withdrawn by liquidators of the company.

Infrastructure Energy infrastructure needs to be overhauled to meet challenges up to 2050 and beyond. Electricity transmission needs to accommodate greater levels of renewables and meet economic needs. Planning for a smarter grid is also required, partly to enable electrification in transport. As some of Northern Ireland’s electricity generation stations reach the end of their economic lives or are required to be retired in line with Northern Ireland’s EU emissions obligations, there will be a requirement for new investment in conventional power plant. Kilroot, Northern Ireland’s coal-fired generation plant faced closure in 2018 after it lost out in a capacity auction process to supply the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM). However, security of supply concerns meant it was granted a reprieve. The plant has recently been bought over by new owners. The UK recently brought forward its target to phase out coal-burning technology to 2024. A requirement for new investment in conventional power plants is recognised in the Executive’s Strategic Energy Framework. Upgrading infrastructure would involve more overhead power lines and installations. A strategic environmental assessment for land-based renewable electricity generation, and the associated grid infrastructure, concluded that between 900MW and 1,200MW of electricity could be generated from offshore wind and tidal in Northern Ireland waters by 2020 without significant adverse effects on the environment and other sea users. This has not yet been achieved.

Gas network extension In June 2011 the Energy Minister launched a public consultation on the potential for extending the natural gas network in Northern Ireland. The consultation was accompanied by publication of a 2010 study into the feasibility of extending the gas network to the West and further areas of the North West of the province.

Irish energy policy

Gas to the West In February 2014, the Utility Regulator announced the launch of the competitive licence application process to extend the gas network in Northern Ireland to the towns of Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown, and Magherafelt. The licenses to build and operate the gas pipeline to the west were awarded to Mutual Energy and SGN in February 2015, with the companies having been announced as preferred applicants in the summer of 2014. The £250 million project includes a £32 million investment from the Northern Ireland Government. In January 2020, the completion of the main construction phase of the Gas to the West pipeline, bringing natural gas to Cookstown, Coalisland, Dungannon, Omagh, and Strabane in County Tyrone, Derrylin and Enniskillen in County Fermanagh and Magherafelt in County Derry, was announced.

Gas to East Down

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A number of voluntary and statutory organisations are focused on tackling the problem. These combined in 2010 to set up the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Coalition. Members include Age NI, Save the Children, National Energy Action and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Fuel poverty levels are determined by three factors: •

income;

•

the cost of energy; and

•

the domestic energy efficiency of the home.

The most recent Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in 2011 ‘Warmer Healthier Homes’ and was followed by the Affordable Warmth Scheme, which was launched in September 2014 and seeks to address fuel poverty in the private sector. It is delivered on behalf of the Department for Communities by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and local councils and is available to private sector householders with incomes under £20,000.

In October 2015, Phoenix Natural Gas announced its Gas to East Down project to extend its network to 13 towns across the east of County Down, including: Annahilt; Ballygowan; Ballynahinch; Castlewellan; Crossgar; Downpatrick; Dromore; Drumaness; Dundrum; Hillsborough; Newcastle; Saintfield; and Spa. In total, 90km of mains network will be constructed to make gas available to a potential 28,000 additional domestic and commercial properties across east Down. The plan was approved by the Utility Regulatory in December 2015, following a period of public consultation. Currently, works are underway to connect homes and businesses in Castlewellan, Dromore, Dundrum and Saintfield.

North/South energy market

•

meeting EU directives on common rules for internal electricity and gas markets in areas such as market opening, security of supply, management of demand and sustainable energy;

Fuel poverty

•

increased interconnection of electricity and gas networks;

•

maximising conditions for investment and competitiveness in a larger, stable marketplace;

•

increased customer confidence in energy supplies that are reliable and provided at least cost; and

•

optimising research and innovation opportunities.

Fuel poverty is defined as a household which spends more than 10% of its income on energy costs. Fuel poverty is a particular challenge in Northern Ireland. The three main factors which influence fuel poverty are: factors which impact on fuel poverty: household income; the cost of energy; and the domestic energy efficiency of a home. According to Northern Ireland House Condition Survey (NIHCS) data, in 2016, the total number of fuel poor households was estimated as 160,000 (or 22% of all) households and this was projected to fall to 18% by 2018. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Estimates of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland in 2017 and 2018 report was published in April and revised in May 2019. The NIHCS data it uses indicates that an estimated figure of 128,000 fuel poor households, equivalent to 17% of all households in 2017 and an estimated figure of 131,000 fuel poor households, equivalent to 18% of all households in 2018.

Although not specified in the Good Friday Agreement, the energy sector is one that has seen active cooperation between governments north and south over recent years. There is top-level political commitment, both north and south, to develop competition in the energy sectors in the interests of delivering improved services and economic benefits to customers. Some of the expected benefits arising from collaboration are:

Due to Covid-19, NIHCS 2021 has been postponed until 2022.

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All-Island Energy Market Development Framework Cooperation on energy matters between Northern Ireland and Ireland originally centred on the All-Island Energy Market Development Framework, which was published in 2004. The framework sets out the commitment of both governments to bring mutual benefits from a single energy market that will contribute to a more secure and cost-efficient service for all consumers. It includes a highlevel development programme setting out goals and timeframes for an all-island approach to electricity, gas and sustainable energy. The two regulators are responsible for much of the implementation and have undertaken work on specific priorities, such as the creation and development of the Single Electricity Market (SEM) and a single gas market (Common Arrangements for Gas), through the All-island Project. The energy industry in Ireland is becoming increasingly all-island, with EirGrid having bought the Northern Ireland system operator, SONI and ESB completed the purchase of the transmission and distribution assets of Northern Ireland Electricity during 2010. In essence, there is now a single planner and operator of transmission on the island (EirGrid) and a single network owner and operator (ESB/NIE Networks).

Single Electricity Market The Single Electricity Market (SEM) came into effect in November 2007 to combine the electricity markets on the island of Ireland and create a single all-island Irish electricity market. The fundamental feature of SEM is the gross mandatory pool, through which all electricity (with limited exceptions) is bought and sold across the island. The benefits of an all-island market include promoting competition, improving security of supply, reducing energy costs, and making efficiency benefits available to all consumers. The SEM is facilitated by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) which combines EirGrid and SONI units. The SEMO facilitates market trading coordinating financial dealing and ‘owning’ the rule book and is regulated by a joint committee of the two regulators, north and south. In November 2017, the European Commission approved a joint capacity mechanism for the Single Electricity Market and the first auction took place in December 2017. I-SEM replaced the SEM on 01 October 2018. The new market is being designed and overseen by the SEM Committee, consisting of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in Dublin, the Utility Regulator (UR) in Belfast, plus an independent member and a deputy independent member.

Interconnection The two electricity systems on the island, north and south, are already interconnected, but in a limited way.

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There are three existing interconnectors, the first a 275kv/220kv line running from Tandragee through much of County Armagh to County Louth. The two other smaller connections are in the west of Northern Ireland at the 110kv level, between Strabane and Letterkenny (Derry/Donegal) and Enniskillen and Swanlinbar (Fermanagh/Cavan). However, these interconnectors, although mutually beneficial, are insufficient to facilitate delivery of the maximum benefits, for both systems, that are achievable through greater system integration. Further large-scale interconnection is therefore a priority for both jurisdictions. EirGrid is currently progressing plans for two related projects to increase North-South electricity interconnection. 1. RIDP1: a 200 km 220kV or greater power line between Srananagh station in County Sligo and a proposed new substation at Turleenan station in County Tyrone. 2. The North-South Interconnector: a 138 km 400kV power line from Turleenan in County Tyrone to the existing Woodland Substation in County Meath. Along with SONI and NIE Networks, EirGrid is jointly developing the Renewable Integration Development Project (RIDP) to reinforce the electricity transmission grid in the north and the north-west of the island to facilitated anticipated power output from renewable energy sources. Currently, the project remains at Phase 3, the pre-planning phase, which means no major decisions have been made regarding the location of projects or even the types of projects required to achieve objectives. The North-South Interconnector project proposes a new 400 kV overhead line, connecting the electricity grids north and south. In December 2016, An Bord Pleanála granted planning approval for the section of this line in the Republic. Subsequently, judicial review proceedings in the High Court were dismissed in August 2017. An appeal was then dismissed by the Supreme Court in February 2019 and the project has now cleared all the planning and legal obstacles in the Republic. Meanwhile, in the North, the Department for Infrastructure approved planning permission in January 2018, though in February 2019, the department conceded to a legal challenge against the planning permission in the absence of an Infrastructure Minister. In September 2020, following the re-establishment of the Stormont Executive, SONI welcomed the decision by Minister Nichola Mallon MLA to approve planning permission for the North South Interconnector in Northern Ireland. This planning approval is now subject to judicial review. As such, EirGrid and SONI now anticipate that the North-South Interconnector will be completed in 2025. The East-West Interconnector (EWIC) which runs from Rush North Beach in Dublin to Barkby Beach in North

Irish energy policy Wales. The EWIC connects the electricity system in Ireland with Great Britain via a 256km subsea and underground cable and will have a capacity of 500MW, transporting power in both directions. The EWIC is owned and operated by EirGrid and the cable was designed, manufactured and installed by Swedish engineering company ABB. It also includes a 400kV overhead line from north Dublin to the 400kV Woodland sub-station in County Meath.

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A working group was subsequently established to oversee studies arising from the above consultation. The working group comprised representatives from the former Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, CER, UReg, EirGrid, Systems Operator Northern Ireland (SONI) and UCD. Its work was completed in 2010. Key findings of the grid study were:

The 2015 White Paper references several initiatives underway to promote further interconnection between Ireland and the EU. In July 2016, the Irish Government revealed plans for a subsea interconnector with France. Today, the project is known as the Celtic Interconnector.

•

Ireland could not only meet, but exceed its original renewable energy target of 33% by 2020 – the study found that it is feasible to generate 42% of Ireland’s electricity from renewable sources by that date;

Since 2011, EirGrid has been working with its French equivalent Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) to find the best way to develop the Celtic Interconnector to benefit electricity customers and markets in Ireland, France, and the EU. Co-funded by EirGrid and RTE with some co-financing from the EU, in 2019, EirGrid was awarded €530.7 million from the European Commission’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to complete the design and delivery of the Celtic Interconnector and have also received EU funding at earlier planning stages.

•

at this level, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 25%;

•

investment of over €650 million will be necessary to reinforce over 600km of the electricity transmission network;

•

corresponding investment required from private industry will be in the order of €9 billion; and

•

this will bring significant savings on Ireland’s imported fossil fuel bill and present new employment and enterprise opportunities.

As part of EirGrid’s six-stage approach to projects, the project is now at Step 5 or the planning phase which will continue until 2022. Step 6, or the construction, energisation and benefit sharing phase is scheduled to take place from 2022 to 2026. If built, the Celtic Interconnector will allow 700MW of electricity (enough supply to power around 450,000 homes), to move between Ireland and France. In November 2020, EirGrid announced that Step 4 in its 6 Step Grid Development process is now closed. It was established that the submarine electricity cable will reach Ireland at Claycastle Beach, near Youghal, Co Cork. An underground cable will run inland to the converter station that is to be built at Ballyadam. The final connection will be by underground cable from Ballyadam to a substation on the national grid at Knockraha. A planning application was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in July 2021. The planning process is anticipated to take approximately 12 months. If the planning application is successful, the project will then enter the construction phase, due to begin in 2022 and end in 2026.

All-Island Grid Study In July 2005, the Irish Government and Northern Ireland Executive jointly issued a preliminary consultation paper on an all-island ‘2020 vision’ for renewable energy. The consultation paper identified that further information was required on the resource potential for different renewable technologies on the island of Ireland in 2020.

Clearly, since the completion of the grid study developments have moved on. More renewables have come on stream and targets have been extended further. Requirements for reinforcement of the grid have also increased. EirGrid and SONI have done considerable work on the facilitation of renewable on the grid. In order to ensure an adequate amount of wind generation is installed they have focused on infrastructural development, the Gate 3 connection process, smart grid development, interconnection and a DS3 work programme. EirGrid and SONI’s Strategy 2020-25 outlined ambitions to go beyond current grid operation of up to 65% of renewable power, including onshore wind and solar, to 95% by 2030. Grid25 is EirGrid’s roadmap for transmission development to 2025. Interconnection development continues and research into the facilitation of renewable has led to EirGrid and SONI producing a work programme – ‘Delivering a secure, sustainable electricity system’ (DS3) – with three major areas: system policies, system tools and system performance. In Northern Ireland there was sharp disagreement between NIE and the Utility Regulator over future capital expenditure required on the system. The matter was referred to the Competition Commission and resolved thereafter.

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Government departments: Republic of Ireland Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin D02 X285 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.gov.ie/decc Twitter: @Dept_ECC Minister: Eamon Ryan TD Secretary General: Mark Griffin Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Energy: Matthew Collins Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Climate Action and Environment: Brian Carroll Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Natural Resources and Waste Policy: Philip Nugent Assistant Secretary General with responsibility for Built Environment, Retail Energy and Regulation: Barry Quinlan Electricity Networks and Systems Division Principal: John Finnegan Renewable Electricity Division Principal: Philip Newsome Offshore Energy Long-Term Strategic Planning Division Principal: Anne-Marie Clancy Heat and Business Efficiency Energy Division Principal: Tony Collins

Committee on Climate Action Deputies

Party

David Cullinane James Lawless Michael Lowry Hildegarde Naughton (Chair) Eamon Ryan Bríd Smith

Sinn Féin Fianna Fáil Independent Fine Gael Green Party Solidarity - People Before Profit

Senators

Party

Terry Leyden Michael McDowell Tim Lombard Joe O’Reilly

Fianna Fáil Independent Fine Gael Fine Gael

Committee contact details Joint Committee on Climate Action Leinster House Kildare Street Dublin 2, D02 XR20 Email: ccae@oireachtas.ie Tel: 01 618 3575 Clerk: Gina Long Press Officer: Petrina Vousden Tel: 01 618 3437 Email: petrina.vousden@oireachtas.ie

Government departments: Northern Ireland Department for the Economy Netherleigh, Massey Avenue Belfast, BT4 2JP Tel: 028 9052 9900 Web: www.economy-ni.gov.uk Email: dfemail@economy-ni.gov.uk

Offshore Renewable Energy Principal: Martina Hennessy

Press Office Tel: 01 678 2441/2418/2442 Email: press.office@decc.gov.ie

Permanent Secretary: Mike Brennan Head of Energy: Richard Rodgers Energy Strategy: Joe Reynolds Energy Operations: Graham Miller Heat, Energy Efficiency and Renewables: Peter Russell (acting)

The Committee for the Economy The Committee for the Economy is responsible for energy. Committee Chairperson: Caoimhe Archibald (Sinn Féin) Deputy Chairperson: Matthew O’Toole (SDLP)

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Members

Party

Stewart Dickson Stephen Dunne Keith Buchanan Peter Weir

Alliance DUP DUP DUP

Irish energy policy Claire Sugden John O’Dowd Mike Nesbitt

Independent Sinn Féin UUP

Committee contact details Room 347, Parliament Buildings Ballymiscaw, Stormont Belfast, BT4 3XX Tel: 028 9052 1799 Email: committee.economy@niassembly.gov.uk Committee Clerk: Peter Hall

Other organisations and agencies with a role in energy: Republic of Ireland An Bord Pleanála 64 Marlborough Street Dublin, D01 V902 Tel: 01 858 8100 Web: www.pleanala.ie Email: bord@pleanala.ie Chairperson: Dave Walsh An Bord Pleanála is responsible for the determination of appeals and certain other matters under planning legislation, including strategic infrastructure development.

Coillte Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN25 Tel: 1890 367 378 Web: www.coillte.ie Email: info@coillte.ie Chief Executive: Imelda Hurley Coillte is a commercial company operating in forestry, land-based businesses, renewable energy and panel products. It employs approximately 1,100 people and owns over 445,000 hectares of land, about 7% of the land cover of Ireland.

Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) The Grain House, The Exchange Belgard Square North Tallaght, Dublin, D24 PXW0 Tel: 01 400 0800 Web: www.cru.ie Commissioners: Aoife MacEvilly (Chair), Paul McGowan, Jim Gannon

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Karen Trant Director of Operations and Organisational Development: Loretta Lambkin Director of Networks and Economic Regulation: Karen Kavanagh The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. The CRU was originally established as the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in 1999. The CER changed its name to the CRU in 2017 to better reflect the expanded powers and functions of the organisation. The CRU has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in energy and water.

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bloom House Railway Street, Dublin, D01 C576 Tel: 01 402 5500 Web: www.ccpc.ie Email: info@ccpc.ie Chairperson: Jeremy Godfrey The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was formed in October 2014 following the amalgamation of the Competition Authority and the National Consumer Agency. The commission has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law and build on the work of the legacy organisations to: protect and strengthen competition, empower consumers to make informed decisions and protect them from harmful business practices.

Enterprise Ireland East Point Business Park, The Plaza Dublin, D03 E5R6 Tel: 01 727 2000 Web: www.enterprise-ireland.com Email: client.service@enterprise-ireland.com Chair: Terence O’Rourke Chief Executive: Leo Clancy Enterprise Ireland is responsible for the development and growth of Irish enterprises in world markets.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Headquarters, PO Box 3000 Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford, Y35 W821 Tel: 053 916 0600 Web: www.epa.ie Email: info@epa.ie Director-General: Laura Burke

Director of Energy Safety: Phil Hemmingway Director of Security of Supply and Wholesale: John Melvin Director of Customer Policy and Protection (incl. Legal):

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent body established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992 with a wide range of powers and functions to promote improved environmental protection in Ireland.

Geological Survey of Ireland Beggars Bush, Haddington Road Dublin, D04 K7X4 Tel: 01 678 2896 Web: www.gsi.ie Director: Koen Verbruggen

National Economic and Social Council 16 Parnell Square, Dublin D01 EYC1 Tel: 01 814 6300 Web: www.nesc.ie Email: info@nesc.ie Chairman: Martin Fraser Director: Larry O’Connell The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises the Taoiseach on strategic issues for Ireland’s economic and social development.

The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is the national earth science agency, responsible for providing geological advice and information, and for the acquisition of data for this purpose. GSI produces a range of products including maps, reports and databases and acts as a knowledge centre and project partner in all aspects of Irish geology. It is a division of DECC and has about 50 multi-disciplinary staff.

National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA)

Gas Networks Ireland

NORA is the state agency responsible for the holding of national strategic oil stocks at a level determined annually by the Minister. Such stocks may be held directly by the agency itself or on its behalf by third parties in Ireland and/or in other EU member states with whom Ireland has concluded a bilateral oil stockholding agreement.

Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Web: www.gasnetworks.ie Managing Director: Denis O’Sullivan Head of Regulatory Affairs: Brian Mullins Head of Commercial and Corporate Affairs: Ian O’Flynn

2nd Floor, Building Number 3 Number One, Ballsbridge 126 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, D04 EP27 Tel: 01 676 9390 Web: www.nora.ie Email: enquiries@nora.ie Chief Executive: Frank Bergin

Science Foundation Ireland Directors: Cathal Marley (Chairman), Brendan Murphy, Edwina Nyhan, Liam O’Sullivan, Denis O’Sullivan, Michael G. O'Sullivan Gas Networks Ireland owns, operates, builds and maintains the natural gas network in Ireland. It is responsible for connecting all new gas customers to the network and for work on service pipes and meters at customers’ premises, on behalf of all gas suppliers in Ireland.

Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore Co Galway, H91 R673 Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie Chairman: Dr John Killeen Chief Executive: Dr Paul Connolly The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation (RTDI).

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper Dublin 2 D02 FX65 Tel: 01 607 3200 Web: www.sfi.ie Email: info@sfi.ie Chairman: Professor J. Peter Clinch Director-General: Professor Philip Nolan Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national foundation for research in Ireland operating in the areas of biotechnology; information and communications technology (ICT) and sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies.

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Three Park Place, Hatch Street Upper Dublin 2 D02 FX65 Tel: 01 808 2100 Web: www.seai.ie Email: info@seai.ie Chairperson: Dermot Byrne CEO & COO: William Walsh Director of Business, Public and Transport sectors: Declan Meally Director of Research and Policy Insight: Margie McCarthy Director of Corporate Services: Marion O’Brien Director of National Retrofit: Ciaran Byrne

Irish energy policy The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is Ireland’s national energy agency. Now established as a statutory body, SEAI promotes and assists the development of sustainable energy in Ireland. Regional offices: Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit Building 2100, Cork Airport Business Park Cork, T12 KV8R Dundalk Finnabair Industrial Estate Dundalk, Co Louth, A91 W8Y7 Sligo Finisklin Business Park, Sligo Mayo Ocean Energy Development Unit Civic Offices Belmullet, Co Mayo D02 T228

Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, R93 XE12 Tel: 059 917 0200 Web: www.teagasc.ie Email: info@teagasc.ie Director: Frank O’Mara Teagasc is the agriculture and food development authority in Ireland with responsibility for supporting science-based innovation in the agri-food sector and the broader bioeconomy.

Other energy organisations and agencies A-Z: Northern Ireland

Chapter 1

Bryson Energy 4th Floor, Stockman’s House 39-43 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EE Tel: 028 9045 5008 Web: www.brysonenergy.org Email: info@brysonenergy.org Director: Nigel Brady Bryson Energy is a social enterprise working to promote action by householders and non-profit organisations on energy efficiency, renewable energy, low carbon transport, water, and waste.

Carbon Trust Unit 3, The Innovation Centre Northern Ireland Science Park Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT Tel: 028 9073 4394 Web: www.carbontrust.com The Carbon Trust is an independent, not-for-profit company set up by the UK government with support from business. Its mission is to take the lead role on low carbon technology and innovation in the UK as part of national climate change strategy.

The Consumer Council Floor 3 Seatem House, 28-32 Alfred Street Belfast, BT2 8EN Tel: 028 9025 1600 / Complaints: 0800 121 6022 Web: www.consumercouncil.org.uk Email: info@consumercouncil.org.uk Chief Executive: Noyona Chundur Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability: Peter McClenaghan The Consumer Council is an independent consumer organisation, representing consumers in the areas of transport, water, and energy.

Action Renewables Block C, Unit 1 Boucher Business Studios Glenmachan Place Belfast, BT12 6QH Tel: 028 9072 7760 Web: www.actionrenewables.co.uk Email: info@actionrenewables.co.uk Chief Executive Officer: Terry Waugh

Energy Saving Trust (Northern Ireland) River House, 48 High Street Belfast, BT1 2BE Tel: 028 9244 9819 Web: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk Operations Manager (Northern Ireland): Angela Gracey-Roger The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is a non-profit organisation, funded both by government and the private sector, set up to address the damaging effects of climate change. The aim of EST is to cut emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. EST provides impartial information and advice.

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

Chapter 1

Irish energy policy

Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) Ground Floor, Dundonald House Upper Newtownards Road Belfast, BT4 3SB Tel: 028 9038 8462 Email: gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk Director: Dr Marie Cowan The GSNI is part of the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland (DfE). It is staffed by scientists of the British Geological Survey (BGS) under contract to DfE, which allows GSNI to call upon expertise from within other parts of the BGS. GSNI also advises other Northern Ireland government departments and liaises closely with the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI).

Invest Northern Ireland Bedford Square, Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7ES Tel: 028 9069 8000 Web: www.investni.com Email: sustainabledev@investni.com Chief Executive: Mel Chittock (interim)

NEA Northern Ireland 1 College House Citylink Business Park Albert Street Belfast, BT12 4HQ Tel: 028 9023 9909 Web: www.nea.org.uk Email: northern.ireland@nea.org.uk Director, NEA NI: Pat Austin National Energy Action (NEA) is a national energy action charity working to eradicate fuel poverty through campaigning, information, training, education, and demonstration of good practice.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive The Housing Centre 2 Adelaide Street Belfast, BT2 6PB Tel: 028 9024 0588 Web: www.nihe.gov.uk Email: information@nihe.gov.uk Chief Executive: Grainia Long The Housing Executive is Northern Ireland’s home energy conservation authority with the responsibility to improve the energy efficiency of all housing stock irrespective of tenure.

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) 89 Loopland Drive Belfast, BT6 9DW Tel: 028 9045 5770 Web: www.nienvironmentlink.org Email: iona@nienvironmentlink.org Chief Executive: Craig McGuicken Northern Ireland Environment Link is the national forum and networking body for organisations interested in environment. NIEL was formally launched in 1990 to complete the UK network which also comprises Scottish Environment Link, Wales Environment Link, and Wildlife and Countryside Link (England).

Utility Regulator (Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation) Queen’s House, 14 Queen Street Belfast, BT1 6ED Tel: 028 9031 1575 Web: www.uregni.gov.uk Email: info@uregni.gov.uk Chairman: Bill Emery Chief Executive: John French Director Wholesale Energy Markets: Colin Broomfield Director of Networks: Tanya Hedley Director of Retail Markets and Consumer Protection: Kevin Shiels The Utility Regulator is the independent non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the electricity and gas industries and water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. Its objectives are to:

•

protect the interests of water and sewerage consumers by promoting a robust and efficient industry delivering high quality services;

•

promote competition in the generation, transmission, and supply of electricity;

•

promote the development and maintenance of an economic and coordinated natural gas industry; and

•

protect the interests of electricity and gas consumers with regard to price and quality of service.

The Utility Regulator’s powers include issuing and maintaining licences for electricity, gas and water companies to operate in Northern Ireland; setting the standards of service which regulated companies provide; and determining certain complaints, disputes and appeals.

Chapter 2 Electricity Global electricity Electricity generation Fuels used to generate electricity Generation outlook Renewable generation

Electricity demand Transmission and distribution Grid25 Review

Retail electricity market Retail prices

North/South electricity European electricity market reform Electricity in Northern Ireland Generation Generation outlook Renewable generation in Northern Ireland Transmission and distribution Interconnection Retail electricity market Competition

Electricity regulation in Ireland Electricity organisations and companies Electricity licences and authorisations

66 67 67 67 70

75 77 77

80 80

83 86 88 88 89 89 94 94 94 94

95 95 99

Electricity Table 2.2 Producers of electricity (2019)

Global electricity There is traditionally a global correlation between economic development – GDP growth – and the production and consumption of electricity. Electricity production has increased almost threefold over the last 30 years and is continuing to rise rapidly. Unlike other energy sources, electricity cannot be readily stored, so demand must be met through the installation of sufficient generation capacity. Interconnection between electricity systems across borders allows more efficient use to be made of power generation assets – vitally important given that demand for power in any given location tends to rise and fall significantly on both a seasonal basis and within any single 24-hour period. Unlike, for example, natural gas, which can be transported economically over thousands of miles, electricity transmission over very long distances is much less economical. For this reason, generation assets are located as closely as possible to load centres and imports and exports tend to be limited to flows between immediate neighbours. The fuel mix of electricity generation worldwide has altered significantly over the last 40 years (table 2.1 below). In particular, there has been a major decline in the contribution of fuel oil. The dominant fuel for power generation is coal, which accounted for 35.7% of all generation in 2019. The share of natural gas and nuclear has risen also from 12.1% and 3.3% respectively in 1973 to 23.6% and 10.7% respectively in 2019.

Table 2.1 Fuel shares of electricity generation Share % Hydro Nuclear Natural gas Coal/peat Oil Other Total TWh

1973 20.9 3.3 12.1 38.3 24.8 0.6 6,131

2019 15.7 10.7 23.6 36.7 2.8 10.8 26,936

Producers China United States India Russia Japan Canada Brazil Germany South Korea France World

TWh 7,472 4,371 1,624 1,120 1,037 645 626 603 578 566 26,936

% of World total 27.7 16.2 6.0 4.2 3.8 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2.1 100.0

Source: IEA World Energy Statistics 2021

The rise of China and India – now in first and third places respectively – is notable (see table 2.2 above). Decreasing electricity production in the USA corresponds with a drive to improve energy efficiency. In 2019, the USA’s share of world production and amount of TWh produced decreased over the year. The relatively stable performances of Russia and Japan are related to low economic growth. Table 2.3 1973 and 2019 Regional shares of electricity generation Share % OECD China Asia (non-China) Middle East Non-OECD Americas Africa Non-OECD Europe & Eurasia Total TWH

1973 72.8 2.9 2.6 0.5 2.7 1.8 16.7 6,131

2019 41.2 27.9 12.3 4.5 4.2 3.2 6.7 26,936

Source: IEA World Energy Statistics 2021

Table 2.4 Main net exporters and importers of electricity (2019)

Source: IEA World Energy Statistics 2021

Most electricity production continues to be accounted for by the developed world with OECD members collectively accounting for just over 40% of all production (see table 2.3). However, while growth in electricity demand in the developed world has slowed, demand for electricity in China and Asia is increasing rapidly and now accounts for over 40% of global electricity production.

Exporters France Canada Germany Paraguay Sweden Lao PDR Russia China Czech Republic Israel Others World

TWh 58 47 33 32 26 23 18 17 13 6 63 336

Importers United States Italy Brazil Thailand UK Finland Iraq Hungary Hong Kong Argentina Others World

Source: IEA World Energy Statistics 2021

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

TWh 39 38 25 23 21 20 14 13 12 11 116 332

Electricity

Electricity generation in Ireland

•

natural gas’ share of the energy used in electricity was 57% in 2020, up from 56% the previous year; natural gas use in electricity generation increased by 1.8% in 2019, and generated 51% of electricity;

•

oil’s share of the energy used in electricity generation was 2% in 2020, an increase of 36.6%. It generated 1% of electricity;

•

peat consumption in electricity generation fell by 50.8% in 2020 and accounted for 5% of the energy inputs. 3% of the electricity generated in 2020 was from peat;

•

overall, renewables’ contribution to the electricity inputs increased by 14.1% in 2020. Renewables accounted for 29% of the inputs to electricity generation in 2020 but they were responsible for 42% of the electricity generated. This is because non-combustible renewables such as wind, hydro and solar are considered 100% efficient, and so no energy is lost in generating electricity, unlike traditional thermal generation such as coal or peat;

•

wind and hydro's contribution to electricity generation increased by 15.3% and 5.2% respectively, in 2020, while the use of other renewables in electricity generation rose by 3.3%;

•

the use of energy from non-renewable wastes for electricity generation rose by 5.1% in 2020 and accounted for 2% of all fuel inputs and 1% of the electricity generated; and

•

net positive electricity imports fell to zero in 2020, down from 55 ktoe in 2019.

Fuels used to generate electricity The primary energy requirement for electricity generation peaked in 2001 at 5,258 ktoe. Between 2001 and 2014 the primary energy inputs to electricity generation reduced by 17%, while at the same time the amount of electricity generated increased by 15%. In 2020, 4,494 ktoe of energy was used to generate electricity, a miniscule increase from 4,483 in 2019 and 14% less than peak levels in 2001. The slight rise in inputs to electricity generation in 2020 is against the backdrop of a 0.3% increase in the amount of electricity generated and a 0.5% increase in indigenous demand. The difference between generation and demand is because of an increase in net imports of electricity. The fuel inputs to electricity generation were just over one-third (33.6%) of the total primary energy requirement in 2020.

Table 2.5 Growth rates and shares of electricity generation fuel mix 2005-2020 Growth % 2005–2020 Fossil fuels (total) -35.2 Coal -86.3 Peat -56.9 Oil -86.5 Gas 25.6 Renewables (total) 633.3 Hydro 47.7 Wind 938.7 Other renewables 63.3 Non-renewables (waste) Net positive electricity imports -100 Total -12.1

Shares % 2005 2020 93.0 69 27.8 4 9.7 5 15.5 2 40.0 57 3.5 29 1.1 2 1.9 22 0.6 1 2.0 3 0

Source: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2021

Table 2.5 demonstrates the significant changes that have taken place in Ireland’s electricity generation fuel mix over the past two decades, with the key trends being as follows: • overall energy inputs to electricity generation increased by 0.3% (13 ktoe) in 2020, to 4,494 ktoe (52,265 GWh), while the amount of electricity generated increased by 0.8%, to 2,464 ktoe (28,656 GWh). Net electricity imports decreased by 55 ktoe; • the overall share of fossil fuels used in electricity generation was 69% in 2020 (3,083 ktoe), down from 93% in 2005 and down on the 2019 figure of 71%; • in 2020, coal used for electricity generation fell by 70%, and it accounted for 3.4% of the energy used in electricity generation. However, this rose by 31.7% in 2020, with an increase of 47 ktoe accounting for 4% of the electricity generation fuel mix. Just 2% of the electricity generated in 2020 was from coal. From 2015-2020, coal use in electricity generation fell by 82.7%;

Chapter 2

Generation outlook Under the electricity market arrangements which ran until October 2018 when I-SEM went live, all available generators benefited from capacity payments. The I-SEM capacity market was designed to procure sufficient capacity to meet the adequacy standard. EirGrid is working towards the delivery of the second North South Interconnector in 2023. On 14 September 2020, Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon granted full planning permission for the North South Interconnector, an application originally approved in January 2018 but quashed by the courts following legal challenge. The North South Interconnector now has planning permission in both jurisdictions. In October 2021, a northern court ruled that the plan could go ahead despite a ‘legal flaw’ in its planning. EirGrid is progressing plans and development studies for the proposed Celtic Interconnector between Ireland and France. The planning application for the project was submitted in July 2021. Elsewhere, they are working with Element Power on its Greenlink 500MW interconnector linking the power markets in Ireland and Great Britain. Construction on a converter station site off the Wexford coast began in January 2022. On a combined all-island basis, the growth in energy demand for the next 10 years varies between 18% in the low demand scenario, to 43% in the high scenario.

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

Chapter 2

Electricity

Table 2.6 Registered capacity of dispatchable generation and interconnectors in Ireland in 2021 (MW) ID

Fuel type

Technology

2020

Comment

category All demand side units

DSU

Aghada

AT1

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

90 To close before end of 2023

AT2

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

AT4

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

AD2

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

431

Ardnacrusha

AA1-4

Hydro

Dublin Bay

DB1

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

Dublin Waste

DW1

Waste

Steam Turbine

Edenderry

ED1

Milled peat/ biomass

Steam Turbine

ED3

Gas Turbine

ED5

Gas Turbine

Erne

ER1-4

Hydro

EWIC

EW1

DC Interconnector

Great Island CCGT

GI4

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

464

Huntstown

HNC

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

337

HN2

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

408

Indaver Waste

IW1

Waste

Steam Turbine

Lee

LE1-4

Hydro

Liffey

LI1-4

Hydro

Moneypoint

MP1

Coal/HFO

Steam Turbine

285 Modelled as not available from October 2025

MP2

Coal/HFO

Steam Turbine

285 Modelled as not available from October 2025

MP3

Coal/HFO

Steam Turbine

285 Modelled as not available from October 2025

PBA

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

234

PBB

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

234

RP1

Gas Turbine

RP2

Gas Turbine

SK3

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

SK4

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

TB1

HFO

Steam Turbine

54 To close by end of 2023

TB2

HFO

Steam Turbine

54 To close by end of 2023

TB3

HFO

Steam Turbine

241 To close by end of 2023

TB4

HFO

Steam Turbine

243 To close by end of 2023

TP1

Gas Turbine

TP3

Gas Turbine

Turlough Hill

TH1

Pumped storage

Storage

292

Tynagh

TYC

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

389

Whitegate

WG1

Gas/DO

Gas Turbine

450

Poolbeg CC

Rhode

Sealrock

Tarbert

Tawnaghmore

540

86 415 61 118 Planning Permission runs out at the end of 2023

65 500

Total Dispatchable including DSU

7,313

Source: EirGrid *Estimate derived from generator information. * Some CHP biomasds &LFG units have registered as demand side units in the capacity market.

HFO: Heavy Fuel Oil DO: Distillate Oil

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

DSU: Demand Side Unit

Chapter 2

Electricity

The significant removals of capacity in 2015 and 2023 in Ireland can be explained by the decommissioning of the Great Island 1, 2, 3 plant in 2015 and the Tarbert 1, 2, 3, 4 plant in 2023. The commissioning of the second highcapacity transmission link between Northern Ireland and the Republic is assumed for 2023. The East West Interconnector (EWIC) has been in full commercial operation since May 2013, with the capability of importing or exporting up to 500MW at any given moment. Some older generators will come to the end of their lifetimes over the next five years. The main reason for decommissioning is because of emissions restrictions. The closure of three conventional generators at Great Island in 2014 resulted in a reduction of 212MW.

Figure 2.1 RES Fuel mix in Ireland in 2020 (%) -0.50%

3.00%

0.00% 0.70%

The closures of the peat-fired power stations in Lough Ree and West Offaly in 2020 resulted in a combined loss of 228MW. The closure of the four generators at Tarbert will result in a 590MW reduction from 2022. Moneypoint, assumed as not being compliant of the EU’s Clean Energy Package, is expected to close by 2025 with a 885 MW reduction. The Aghada has been designated a ‘limited lifetime derogation’, meaning it will have limited running hours and is expected to shut by 2023.

Table 2.7 Assumed closures of conventional generators in Ireland Plant Aghada ATI (2023) Moneypoint (2025) Tarbert 1,2,3,4 (2022) Edenderry

Export capacity (MW) 90 885 590 118

Source: EirGrid

Renewable generation 37.90%

The Irish Government has enhanced its renewable energy from electricity target ambitions for 2030 from 55% to 70%, but then revised to 80% upon the publication of the 2021 Climate Action Plan. As part of wider ambitions for Ireland to be carbon neutral by 2050, the publication of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020 commits to a requirement to annually revise the Climate Action Plan 2019, with actions to deliver carbon budgets and sectoral targets.

49.70%

1% 3.20%

Gas

2.5%

Coal

Peat

Other non-renewables Wind Other renewables Oil

Hydro Net imports

Figure 2.2 RES Fuel mix in Northern Ireland in 2020 (%) 6.60%

0.20% -5.80%

0.20%

49.30% 37.10%

12.40%

Coal Hydro Net imports

Other non-renewables Other renewables

Source: EirGrid

The 2015 White Paper on Energy committed to providing a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). Consultations first took place in 2015 and a final consultation phase occurred in late 2017. The initial round of RESS auctions took place in March 2020. In August 2020, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Eamon Ryan TD announced the provisional results of the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction. A total of 114 projects applied to participate in the RESS1 qualification process with 109 projects, including eight community projects, qualified, with 82 projects in total deemed successful.

0.04%

Gas Wind Oil

Renewable electricity was 68% of renewable energy in Ireland in 2020 and wind generated 86 per cent of all renewable electricity. The IWEA’s 2020 report outlines an increase in wind energy’s share of electricity demand in 2020 to 36.3%. Total installed wind energy capacity sat at 4,225MW at the end of 2020.

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

A total of 19 new wind farms (479MW of onshore wind), generating 1,469 GWh of energy were successful. The 63 new solar farms (796MW) that were successful will generate 767 GWh. Included in these projects were seven successful community-led projects.

Chapter 2

Electricity

Transmission System Map

Loguestown Sorne Hill

Coleraine

Trillick Ardnagappary Coolkeeragh

Limavady

Springtown

Rasharkin

Lisaghmore Letterkenny

Killymallaght

MOYLE INTERCONNECTOR

Brockaghboy Slieve Kirk

Ballylumford

Ballymena

Meentycat

Ballycronan

Strabane

Drumkeen

Kells

Tievebrack

Creagh Magherafelt

Binbane Clogher

Golagh Mulreavy Magherakeel

Belfast

Kilroot

Antrim

Omagh Tremoge Hannahstown

Drumquin Dungannon

Dromore Cathleen's Fall

Cliff

Lisburn

Tamnamore

Gort

Castlereagh

Waringstown Ballynahinch Drumnakelly Tandragee

Enniskillen

Banbridge

Sligo

Lisdrum

Tawnaghmore

Corderry

Srahnakilly

Newry

Aghyoule

Srananagh

Bellacorick

Corraclassy

Garvagh

Cunghill

Moy

Gortawee

Glenree

Arigna

Rathrussan

Shankill Carrick-on-Shannon

Meath Hill

Avra Flagford

Castlebar

Dundalk Mullagharlin

Louth

Tonroe Gilra

Carrowbeg Sliabh Bawn

Richmond

Drybridge Gorman

Dalton Navan

Platin

Knockumber

Lanesboro

Stephenstown Baltrasna Mullingar

EAST TO WEST INTERCONNECTOR

WOODLAND

Cloon PORTAN

Kinnegad Athlone Knockranny Derryiron

Screeb

Dunfirth

Dublin

Uggool Cashla Knockalough

Cushaling

Thornsberry

Shannonbridge

Somerset

Galway

Blake

Salthill

Mount Lucas

Derrycarney

Baroda Tynagh

Newbridge OLDSTREET

Derrybrien

DUNSTOWN Pollaphuca

Dallow

Turlough Hill

Agannygal

Portlaoise

Ballybeg

Stratford

Athy

Ikerrin Nenagh Ennis

Slievecallan

Carlow

Shelton Abbey

Arklow

Kellis Bolltiagh

Lisheen Drumline Ardnacrusha Sealrock Singland Castlefarm Aughinish Mungret

Tullabrack Prospect

Thurles

Ahane

Banoge

Killonan

Kilkenny

Lodgewood

MONEYPOINT Kilpaddoge

Castledockerall

Tarbert Rathkeale Athea

Trien

Monteen Limerick

Cauteen

Knockanure

Doon Cahir

Clahane

Anner

Charleville Tralee

Cloghboola Reamore

Ballywater

Crane Kill Hill

Tipperary Dromada

Ballydine Wexford Great Island

Knockacummer Cullenagh

Cordal Glenlara Ballynahulla

Waterford Killoteran Butlerstown

Mallow

Oughtragh

Barrymore

Knockearagh Ballyvouskill

Boogeragh

Garrow

Woodhouse Knockraha

Clashavoon

Clonkeen Coomagearlaghy Glanlee

Cork

Inniscarra Macroom

Coomataggart

Coolroe Carrigadrohid Carrigdangan

Brinny Bandon

Ballylicky

Dungarvan

Raffeen Glanagow

Agahda Longpoint

Dunmanway

Dublin Area WOODLAND

E N E R G Y I R E LAN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

Chapter 2

Electricity

Dublin area

WOODLAND Glasmore

PORTAN

Huntsman

Corduff

Dardistown

Clonee

Belcamp Poppintree Darndale Finglas Kilmore

Macetown College Park

Newbury

Grange

Cromcastle Cloughran Snugborough

Artane

Pelletstown

Ryebrook

MacDermott North Quays Misery Hill Northwall Irishtown Poolbeg

Cabra Wolfe Tone Francis St. Heuston Sq.

Rinawade Maynooth

Grange Castle

Griffinrath

Trinity Inchicore

Shellybanks Whitebank Harold's Cross

Kilmahud Corkagh Barnakyle

Ringsend

Milltown

Castlebaggot Airton Citywest

Cookstown

Bancroft

Blackrock

Taney

Fortunestown Central Park

Kilteel

Pottery Road

Cherrywood

Carrickmines

Monread

Fassaroe

Cork area

Belfast area Ballylumford

Ballymena

Larne

Kells

Ballycronan

Ballyvallagh

Knockraha Eden Midleton

Kilroot

Antrim

Kilbarry Liberty St. Trabeg

Marina

Carnmoney Glengormley

Castleview

Rathgael Belfast North Main

Old Court

Belfast Central

Cow Cross

Cragagh

Donegal

Newtownard

Knock

Ringaskiddy Haulbowline

Hannahstown

Rosebank Finaghy

Raffeen

Barnahely Agahda Longpoint Glanagow

Castlereagh Lisburn

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

Chapter 2

Electricity Table 2.8 Partially / Non-dispatchable plant in Ireland (MW)

At year-end:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Wind onshore

4,500

4,700

4,900

5,100

5,300

5,420

5,540

5,660

5,780

5,900

Wind offshore

395

1,445

2,745

3,345

3,500

Hydro

Biomass and LFG

Biomass CHP

129

938

1,000

Industrial Conventional CHP Solar PV Total

261

384

507

630

692

753

815

877

5,004

5,327

5,650

5,973

6,235

6,786

8,019

9,502

10,283 10,620

Source: EirGrid

Table 2.9 All renewable energy sources of generation in Ireland (MW) At year-end:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

All wind

4,525

4,725

4,925

5,125

5,325

5,815

6,985

8,405

9,125

9,400

All hydro

242

Biomass/LFG (including units registered in the capacity market and Biomass CHP)

Waste (assume 50% renewable)

Peat stations on biomass

Solar

261

384

507

630

692

753

815

877

938

1,000

Total

5,152

5,475

5,798

6,062

6,324

6,875

8,107

9,589

10,370 10,707

Source: EirGrid

The prices are significantly lower that the support price offered under the current REFIIT scheme, which is €80.25 per MWh and index linked. As Contracts For Difference (CFDs), it also means that a better price obtained on the wholesale market than the price obtained under RESS would see any excess returned to the PSO fund. The frequency of future RESS auctions is dependent on the renewable electricity project supply pipeline. It is envisaged that a minimum of four auctions will occur between 2020 and 2025 to deliver on the 2030 targets. The Programme for Government had outlined that the first RESS auction for offshore wind (ORESS) would be held in 2021, but it is now due to be held in 2022’s fourth quarter, targeting 7.5TWh–10TWh with plants to come online in 2027. RESS 2 is due to take place in the second quarter of 2022 with the aim of procuring 1TWh–3.5TWh from projects operational by 2024, according to an indicative schedule published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The RESS 3 auction is due to be held in the second quarter of 2023 with the aim of procuring 2TWh–5.5TWh to come online in 2025, with RESS 4 scheduled for 2024 with a target of 1TWh–5TWh with plants to come online in 2026. ORESS 2 is expected in to be held in 2024 or 2025, with a target of 15TWh–25TWh to come online in 2029. The tables above show existing and planned renewable energy generation in Ireland. Partially dispatchable plant and renewable energy generation capacity in Ireland is dominated presently by wind generation. This situation is forecast to continue and to be even more pronounced into the future with 9,400MW of wind forecast by 2030.

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EirGrid state that when considering the all-island system, a significant surplus of plant exists currently, however, this surplus is expected to be eroded by the growth in demand and expected plant closures over the next 10 years. Considering the all-island system in 2026, there is a surplus of plant for the system’s eight-hour loss of load expectation (LOLE) security standard as set by the SEM Committee. This surplus is eroded over the following years leading to deficits in certain scenarios. The low, median, and median-low availability scenarios all remain in surplus out to 2030, but do not take into account operational requirements such as reserve and requirements for transmission outage planning. In contrast, the high, the 8th demand level and 8th demand level with low generator availability scenarios result in all-island system deficit from 2027, 2030 and 2028 respectively. EirGrid believe the latter is the most credible scenario to consider. Total Electricity Requirement (TER) in Northern Ireland has remained stable in recent years except for a decrease in 2020 due to Covid-19 and EirGrid expect this to continue in the near future, however, it notes a number of enquiries and a connection application related to possible data centre demand. Based on supply-side analyasis on the median, high and low demand scenarios, Northern Ireland is within the adequacy standard of 4.9 hours LOLE for the full duration of the studies completed for all scenarios in the report out to 2030. This takes account of both the closure of the Kilroot coal units and generation capacity which was awarded new generation contracts in the SEM T-4 2023/2024 auction in April 2020 and the SEM T-4 2024/25 auction in January 2021.

Electricity While the recent capacity auction secured enough generation for Northern Ireland to ensure near-term security of supply, the North South Interconnector (as with existing interconnection to Great Britain) remains vital for medium to long-term security. It is noted that there are some uncertainties around new capacity becoming available for a given capacity year, retirement dates for ageing plant and risks around run hour restrictions on new capacity entering the market. EPUKI has indicated that the coal-fired generators ST1 and ST2 at its Kilroot site will cease operation in 2023. New generation was procured in Northern Ireland via the SEM T-4 2023/2024 auction in April 2020 and the SEM T4 2024/25 auction in January 2021. New generation procured via the SEM T-4 auctions may have running hour limitations. Run hour limitations will have an impact on security of supply and operational flexibility in modernising the grid. The adequacy position for Northern Ireland will be adversely impacted by any delay in plant delivery or running hour restrictions on new capacity. If a generator leaving the system impacts on system adequacy, the SEM capacity auctions endeavour to procure sufficient generation to meet system needs for the years in question.

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Electricity demand Demand in the Republic of Ireland is increasing and is forecast to increase significantly, due to the expected expansion of many large energy users. Coupled with the expected decommissioning of generation plant, increased demand will mean new generation will be required. The 80% electricity from renewable sources by 2030 target set out by the Government, with no generation from peat and coal, represents a significant change for the energy industry and the system operator. The long-term demand forecast in Ireland continues to be heavily influenced by the expected growth of large energy users, primarily data centres, which could account for 23% of all demand in Ireland by 2030 in our EirGrid’s median demand scenario. Furthermore, by 2030 there will be some new additional load from the heat and transport sectors as they move towards electrification. In the Republic of Ireland, the forecasted growth in electricity demand between 2021 and 2030 is between 28% in the median demand scenario and 43% in the high demand scenario. Table 2.10 Electricity demand by industry 2005-2020 Growth % Growth Shares Shares 2005- rate % % % 2020 2020 2005 2020 Industry -14.1 -6.5 31.0 23 Transport 50.2 12.1 0.2 0.3 Residential 16.3 7.4 30.8 31 Services 49 0.5 35.3 45 Agriculture/fisheries -15.4 0 2.6 2 Total 17.6 1.8 Source: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2021

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Electricity

A pivotal time in shaping Ireland’s energy future It’s been a challenging time for the energy sector as we experienced unprecedented all-time high energy prices, threats to the security of our electricity supply, alongside the continued difficulties presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. There was, however, also a welcome focus on sustainabity as the Government launched its updated Climate Action Plan with a suite of very ambitious targets, the much anticipated and reported on COP26 took place in Glasgow and EirGrid launched its “Shaping Ireland’s Electricity Future” plan. Whilst we will eventually be able to put the pandemic behind us (and that is far from certain as I write this), the energy sector and our customers will undoubtedly continue to face many significant challenges, not least the ambition to deliver net zero by 2050. We have never before embarked on a fundamental reshape of our electricity system which is going to require everyone in society to adapt and redefine the way in which we use energy. Notwithstanding the many challenges, it is also a very exciting and pivotal time for Ireland’s energy sector. There remain many questions to be answered as to how we are going to achieve net zero in a sustainable, secure and cost-effective manner and the targets set to 2030 are just one step on the road to total decarbonisation by 2050. The challenge faced will require an integrated cross sectoral approach and millions of conscious actions by everyone in society. The reality is that many currently don’t make the association between energy usage and lifestyle choices, but we will have to significantly change our relationship with energy if we really are to make a difference. As an energy supplier, Bord Gáis Energy wants to create a better way for our customers to adapt and change their behaviour. Looking ahead to 2022 and beyond, we will need to support energy users through this period of highly volatile energy prices and the market will need to secure energy supplies to provide confidence in the ability of our electricity system to support the decarbonisation transition.

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Beyond the immediate term, energy users need to be assisted on the pathway to efficient and sustainable homes through accessible and low-cost funding. At Bord Gáis Energy, we will work to provide customers with a one-stop shop for their needs and create a workforce to deliver a green and sustainable environment. At a policy level, we need the Government to coordinate EU support for low-cost funding options, to support the development of a renewable gas industry in Ireland to support our wind and solar investments and to support those customers who cannot afford to make the investments needed to transition to low carbon energy options. From a regulatory perspective, we need to ensure that the benefits of competition in the energy market continue to deliver value and choice to customers throughout the transition. This must also ensure that the energy infrastructure underpinned by the Irish energy customer delivers value and is optimised in terms of usage and growth. Collectively, as an industry of interested stakeholders, we must also help every person in Ireland understand what exactly they can and must do if Ireland is to achieve a sustainable and secure energy future. Bord Gáis Energy is committed to bringing customers on this journey and helping them to live sustainably, simply and affordably. Emma Burrows Director of Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Bord Gáis Energy

Electricity

Transmission and distribution The transmission network in Ireland consists of approximately 6,600km of 400kV, 220kV and 110kV (predominantly overhead) high-voltage lines, and over 100 transmission stations that provide the physical link to the distribution network. The Dublin area is the exception as 100kV lines and cables and some 220/110kV transformer stations in this area belong to the distribution network. The Irish power grid was originally established as an 110kV network but, as the demand for electricity grew, high voltage 220kV and 400kV lines were built. The 400kV lines provide a high-capacity path for power flows between north and south Dublin, County Galway and the Moneypoint generation station in County Clare. The network design ensures that power can flow freely to where it is needed and that if one power station, power line or transmission station is non-operational, whether due to a fault or for maintenance or any other reason, there are other options or routes available. High voltages are used to reduce or minimise losses which would otherwise occur when transferring power over long distances in a lower voltage system. For every doubling of the transmission voltage, the amount of power wasted in the form of heat is reduced by 75%. At the transmission stations power is transmitted from the grid, transformed into medium and low voltages, 38kV, 20kV and 10kV, and diverted into the lower voltage distribution system or directly to large industrial operations. The distribution system is separately managed by the distribution system operator (DSO), ESB Networks, and brings power directly to Ireland’s domestic, commercial and industrial customers. ESB Networks is the transmission asset owner and is responsible for carrying out new investments, undertaking works necessary to connect new users and for maintenance. EirGrid is the transmission system operator and market operator and is responsible for operating the high voltage transmission lines and substations to transport power from the generators to where it is needed around the country. EirGrid also owns the System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI), the licensed transmission system operator and market operator in Northern Ireland. The Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) is also part of the EirGrid group and operates the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland. EirGrid is responsible for the day-to-day operation, system planning and management of the allisland grid, and offers regulated third-party access to market participants for connection to and use of the transmission system. It was decided in 2011 that the ownership of Ireland’s transmission assets would remain with ESB, with EirGrid continuing to have responsibility for operation and development. A previous government report had recommended divesting ESB of its ownership of power grid assets. Network systems are considered to be a natural monopoly and are subject to economic regulation by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CRU determines the allowed revenues that the transmission

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business can earn from its customers to cover the cost of the transmission system operation and the transmission asset owner, through five-yearly price reviews. These price reviews include economic incentives for increasing the quality of supply by reducing power cuts. The latest CRU price review (PR5) was published in December 2020. Key aspects include: • a re-calibrated outage management incentive, with new financial value placed on the interaction between the TSO and TAO in short-term outage planning; • a new stakeholder engagement incentive, providing upside for the TSO for the quality and outcomes/impact of its stakeholder engagement activities; and • introducing a new framework to assess performance against the TSO’s strategic objectives. The distribution network is the medium and low voltage electricity network used to deliver electricity to homes and businesses across the country. The electricity distribution network contains approximately 160,000km of predominantly overhead lines as well as underground cables. The distribution system is operated by ESB Networks and owned by ESB. ESB Networks is responsible for the operation, development and maintenance of the Irish distribution system. Like the transmission network, the distribution network is considered a natural monopoly and is subject to regulatory reviews every five years. PR5 represented a step change in revenue when compared to PR4 (20162020) outturn expenditure including an approximate 20% increase in operational expenditure (€1.7 billion allowed by the CRU) and an approximate 84% increase in gross capital expenditure (€2.8 billion allowed by the CRU). With allowances reflecting the need to facilitate the changing role of the DSO and its role in facilitating the transition to a low carbon future.

Grid25 Review Grid25 was EirGrid’s programme to deliver the development of Ireland’s transmission system. The programme aims to support economic growth and job creation, facilitate a reliable supply of electricity for all consumers, provide the electricity to enable Ireland to realise its renewable potential and achieve the target of delivering 40% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020. The programme was reviewed in March 2015 and found that Ireland’s energy transmission needs can be met with reduced new infrastructure build due to new technological developments and updated projections of future electricity demand. The review outlined the need to reinforce the transmission system in the South East, but suggested an alternative to the original Grid Link proposal, which would involve upgrading existing transmission lines rather than building new lines. It also put forward a new option for Grid West, which would significantly reduce the amount of new overhead cable required. It reaffirmed the need for the North South project.

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Electricity

A pathway to realising Ireland’s 2030 renewable energy system ambitions Ireland has made very good progress to date in building out renewable generation, with 42% of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2020. Developing an energy system to meet the Government’s ambitious renewable electricity target of at least 80% by 2030 whilst safeguarding security of supply will be challenging. This challenge is accentuated by an expected increase in electricity demand from a 2020 level of 30 TWh to 50 TWh in 2030. Electricity demand is underpinned by a high level of electrification primarily driven by industrial demand, adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps, and data centre build out. It is expected that the electricity sector will further support growth of decarbonisation solutions across the wider economy. Our research has identified a technically feasible Pathway to realise the Government’s 80% ambition and meet electricity demand. The Pathway develops a renewable energy system in which the majority of electricity generation is provided by large scale generators, storage and interconnectors connected to the transmission system.

onshore wind capacity underpinning the 2030 energy system. By 2030 new onshore wind assets are assumed to achieve a 35% capacity factor, which is 4% higher than that of the existing fleet in 2025. Offshore wind will play an ever-increasing role in decarbonising the electricity system from 2025 onwards. This is driven by a combination of improving cost dynamics, the relatively high-capacity factor of offshore wind (45%) and the need to support high levels of renewable electricity demand. The Pathway assumes the Government’s offshore policy objective of 5GW of installed offshore capacity by 2030 is realised. Beyond 2030, offshore wind is expected to replace onshore wind as the dominant generation source and drive netzero ambitions with a significant build out of installed capacity. Three percent of total demand will be met by 1.5GW of large scale solar farms/parks by 2030. Collectively hydro, marine, waste, landfill and biomass CHP are assumed to provide 400MW of installed capacity. As Ireland’s renewable electricity generation share increases, complementary flexibility and storage solutions will be required to address the volatility of intermittent renewables over multiple time horizons.

Meeting the 80% and 50TWh targets will require an installed renewable generation capacity of 14.1GW by 2030. The Pathway has focused on proven technologies and considered those that are economically viable now, or are expected to become cost effective between now and 2030.

Interconnection is a critical component of the renewable electricity system’s security of supply and curtailment infrastructure. The Pathway assumes the on-time delivery of the currently planned Greenlink (2025) and Celtic (2030) interconnectors with the UK and France. To facilitate the higher RES-E levels the Pathway includes an additional 700MW of interconnection by 2030 with the construction of a second interconnector to mainland Europe.

Over the last 20 years Ireland has invested significantly in onshore wind infrastructure. The Pathway builds upon existing onshore wind assets with 7.2GW of installed

Additional system flexibility is provided by 620MW of installed DSM capacity with an assumed 20% movable load. The mass roll out of smart meters in combination

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Electricity

with time-of-use tariffs, heat pumps and smart technologies, including bi-directional EV charging, will enable tariffs which will deliver the required changes in consumer demand patterns. Battery storage and pumped storage play an important role in providing short-term storage solutions. The Pathway envisages 2GW of battery capacity by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government. A total of 652MW of pumped storage capacity is assumed by 2030, supported by the development of the 360MW Silvermines pumped storage infrastructure by 2026.

The technical composition of the Pathway results in electricity generation emissions declining to 4.2MtCO2 by 2030. This broadly aligns with the upper end of the emission target for the electricity sector in the Climate Action Plan 2021. Kim McClenaghan Partner PwC Energy & Utilities Practice

Green hydrogen produced during periods of renewable oversupply is assumed to meet the longer term storage requirements (via power-to-gas). The Pathway envisages relatively small levels (800MW) of power-to-gas capacity at 2030 as 3.8GW of thermal generation capacity is assumed to continue to provide fast responding system flexibility. Combustion of hydrogen for power production, in place of natural gas, is expected to expand significantly beyond 2030.

Luke Redmond Senior Manager PwC Energy & Utilities Practice

Table 2.11 Median electricity demand forecast 2020-2030 Median

Year

TER (TWh)

Ireland

TER Peak (GW)

Northern Ireland

All-island

Ireland

Transmission Peak (GW)

Northern

All-

Ireland

island

Ireland

Northern

All-

Ireland

island

2020

30.8

1.3

8.3

-4.3

39.1

0.1

5.48

1.68

7.1

5.36

1.65

6.98

2021

32.1

4.2

8.4

40.5

3.5

5.65

1.68

7.26

5.54

1.65

7.14

2022

33.3

3.8

8.5

0.9

41.8

3.2

5.84

1.68

7.45

5.72

1.65

7.33

2023

34.7

4.3

8.5

0.4

43.2

3.5

5.97

1.69

7.57

5.85

1.66

7.45

2024

35.8

3.1

8.6

0.4

44.3

2.5

6.07

1.7

7.69

5.96

1.67

7.57

2025

36.4

1.9

8.6

0.4

1.6

6.16

1.72

7.79

6.05

1.68

7.67

2026

37.5

2.8

8.6

0.5

46.1

2.4

6.26

1.73

7.89

6.14

1.69

7.77

2027

38.4

2.4

8.6

0.2

6.34

1.74

7.99

6.22

1.7

7.87

2028

39.3

2.5

8.7

0.2

2.1

6.41

1.75

8.09

6.3

1.71

7.97

2029

40.1

1.9

8.7

0.2

48.8

1.6

6.49

1.75

8.18

6.37

1.71

8.06

2030

40.9

2.1

8.7

0.1

49.6

1.7

6.57

1.75

8.27

6.45

1.71

8.15

*Figure is provisional Source: EirGrid

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Electricity

Grid Implementation Plan In 2017, EirGrid published an updated strategy titled ‘Ireland’s Grid Development Strategy: Your grid, your tomorrow’. This replaced Grid25. The Grid Implementation Plan (Grid IP) 2017-2022 sits alongside the 2017 strategy. The final Grid IP was approved in December 2018 and identifies, at a strategic level, the current best understanding of those parts of the transmission system that are likely to be developed from 2017 to 2022. The estimated cost of the delivery of Grid25 was €3.2 billion in 2011. The current strategy estimates that the cost of delivery of Grid25 is between €2.6 billion and €2.9 billion. This reflects the emphasis that EirGrid is now placing on refurbishing and upgrading existing grid assets. A total of 34 new projects have been brought forward in Grid IP including the Celtic Interconnector Project and the Regional Solution-Shannon Crossing.

Grid West The Grid West Project was intended to be a significant addition to the electricity grid. EirGrid developed this in response to growing plans in the North West for renewable generation. However, in September 2017, as a result of a review, it was decided the Grid West project is no longer required. With lower than expected amounts of wind generation in the north Connacht region it has been replaced with a smaller-scale development.

Retail electricity market (Republic of Ireland) Under EU direction, European electricity markets were required to open up progressively to the point that there was one single integrated market for the whole of Europe by 2014 (with a derogation for Ireland until 2016). Reform began with the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, which established a system of independent regulation, and continued under the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000, (SI 445 of 2000), which together provide the framework for the development of the reformed electricity sector.

Retail prices Over the last 10 years, end-user electricity prices (including taxes) in Ireland have increased by more than half. With a significant portion of electricity generated from imported fossil fuels, international fuel prices are the key driver of generation costs. Other factors that impact on electricity prices include the small size of the market, population dispersal and geographical location. The weighted* average price of electricity to business consumers in Ireland has been above the European average since the second half of 2011 and has fluctuated above and below the Euro Area since the end of 2016. From January to June 2021, the weighted average price in Ireland grew by 13.9% and was 14.5% and 5.6% above the EU and euro area average respectively.

Strategy 2020-2025 In September 2019, EirGrid launched a five year strategy aimed at transforming Ireland’s electricity system. ‘Transforming the power system for future generations’ proposed a €2 billion investment over five years and is shaped by climate change and the transition of the electricity sector to low-carbon, renewable energy. The strategies primary goal is to lead the island’s electricity sector on sustainability and decarbonisation. Recognising the Climate Action Plan 2019’s ambition for 70% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, since revised to 80%, the strategy outlined the necessity for a shift from the current operation capacity of the grid of up to 65% renewable power to 95% by 2030. Key to the new strategy is upgrading the power system so that it can handle world-leading levels of renewable energy, supplied through a combination of offshore and onshore wind, along with solar energy.

The weighted average price of electricity to household consumers has been above the EU average since the second half of 2007 with the exception of the first halves of 2010 and 2011. Since the first half of 2016, it has fluctuated above and below the euro area average. The weighted average price of electricity to households fell by 4.0% in the first half of 2021 and was 3.9% higher compared with 12 months previously. Ireland has low hydro capacity and a high reliance on imported gas for power generation, along with limited interconnection with the United Kingdom. A smaller market and smaller generation plans induce higher costs due to lower economies of scale. Furthermore, fuel transportation costs are higher than in the UK. Increasing the electricity interconnection capacity, through the second interconnector, will increase the possibility of importing cheaper electricity.

Market share The main suppliers in the electricity retail market in 2019 were: • • • • • • •

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BE Energy; Bord Gáis Energy; Electric Ireland; Energia; Flogas; Glowpower; GoPower;

• • • • • •

Iberdola; Naturgy; Panda Power; Pinergy; PrePayPower; and SSE Airtricity.

Electricity

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Achieving Ireland’s National Smart Meter Rollout Programme At ESB Networks, we’ve been connecting customers to Ireland’s power network for years, and as part of the National Smart Metering Programme, we are now connecting every customer to a smart electricity meter. Ireland’s meter replacement programme is being successfully rolled out by ESB Networks. At the end of 2021 there were more than 620,000 smart meters installed. When the programme completes in December 2024, all 2.4 million domestic and business premises will have a new modern meter installed, facilitating Ireland’s move to a clean electric future. This national upgrade is part of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and will bring benefits to customers, the economy and the environment. Customers will be able to participate in the carbon transition by using the more detailed and timely information about their usage patterns to make decisions on how much and when to use electricity. Additionally, smart meters benefit the environment by supporting more renewables and the electrification of heat and transport, and the economy by facilitating the development of a smarter, more efficient grid.

About the programme: In September 2017, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) announced details of the delivery plan for the introduction of smart meters across Ireland. The CRU tasked ESB Networks with the rollout of the National Smart Metering Programme (NSMP), which involves replacing all existing electricity meters with modern smart meters. The roll out programme is being delivered in a phased approach by ESB Networks in co-operation with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) and with all Electricity Supply Companies.

Deployment: Smart meter installations which commenced in Bandon and Portlaoise in September 2019, are being delivered by ESB Networks and supported by three deployment contractors and will generate more than 500 additional jobs over the lifetime of the project. Despite interruptions due to Covid19, the programme now has the capability to install over 500,000 meters per annum (2,000 per day). Smart meters are being installed at no additional cost to customers on an area-by-area basis and we anticipate having a presence in every county by the end of 2022. To keep up to date with the progress of the rollout across the country, view our map at esbnetworks.ie/smartmeter. Since 2020, all new general domestic 24-hour connections and meter replacements for homes and businesses have been smart meters.

Customers whose meters are scheduled to be replaced will be written to by ESB Networks in advance of the scheduled work. Customers who wish to receive a smart meter in advance of the planned rollout can apply to ESB Networks or their electricity supplier for a prioritised installation of a smart meter.

New services and products: Since February 2021 electricity suppliers are offering smart services to customers who have a smart meter installed enhancing competition, increasing the range of products available and improving customer experience. These new services and products provide customers with more information on their electricity consumption, enabling customers to make more informed choices, which helps them to shift some of their electricity consumption to (off peak) times when energy is cheaper. In trials, consumers reduced consumption by up to 3% and peak demand by 8%. Smart meters are also now read remotely significantly reducing the need for estimated bills and providing customers with more accurate bills, smart meters also allow customers to change suppliers in a more timely manner. Smart meters will support the recently announced microgeneration support scheme from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This will allow customers who generate their own electricity, (e.g., solar panels) to receive payment, from their electricity supplier, for any excess they send into the grid. Smart meters also support Ireland’s move to a clean electric future – smart grids, e-driving, e-heat and local renewable generation. In time smart meters will support ESB Networks to identify and remedy faults quicker. To find out more about the programme visit our website www.esbnetworks.ie/smartmeter.

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Electricity Table 2.13 Share of the Irish Medium Business Market 2019

Table 2.12 Share of the Irish Domestic Market 2020 Sites (Q4 2020)

Company Electric Ireland

Company

% share

Sales (MWh)

% share

Electric Ireland

Sites (Q4 2020)

% share

Sales (MWh)

% share

23,387

22.1

1,333,299

Bord Gáis Energy

1,123

1.1

262,823

7.2

9,308

8.8

614,181

16.9 31.1

1,074,215

50.6

4,346,470

Bord Gáis Energy

336,709

15.9

1,619,374

17.5

SSE Airtricity

36.8

SSE Airtricity

228,084

10.7

1,160,688

12.5

Energia

69,772

65.8

1,127,415

Energia

182,113

8.6

869,982

9.4

Naturgy

954

0.89

98,123

2.7

PrePayPower

171,533

7.6

657,327

7.1

Pinergy

387

0.36

52,208

1.44

Panda

52,401

2.46

242,705

2.6

Go Power

379

0.36

60,819

1.68

Pinergy

27,439

1.29

118,896

1.3

Flogas

465

0.44

39,216

1.08

Others

61,661

2.9

266,639

2.9

Others

275

0.26

38,820

1.07

2,123,093

100

9,282,081.00

100

Total

106,050

100

3,626,903

100

Total

Source: Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

Tables 2.12 to 2.14 set out the market share of the various participant companies overall, and in the domestic commercial and industrial market sectors. At the end of 2020, Electric Ireland had the largest share in the domestic electricity market segment, with 47.0% of the market in terms of consumption. This was followed by Bord Gáis Energy with 17.5%, SSE Airtricity with 12.5%, Energia with 9.4%, PrePayPower with 7.1%, Panda Power with 2.6% and Pinergy with 1.3%. Electric Ireland also had the largest share in the small business market segment, with 31.1% of the market in terms of consumption. This was followed by Energia with 25.3%, SSE Airtricity with 17.4% Bord Gáis Energy with 13.3%, PrePayPower with 4.4%, Flogas with 4.2%, Go Power with 2.0% and Pinergy with 1.2%. Again, Electric Ireland had the largest share in the medium business market segment, with 36.8% of the market in terms of consumption. This was followed by Energia with 31.1%, SSE Airtricity with 16.9%, Bord Gáis Energy with 7.2%, Naturgy with 2.7%, Go Power with 1.7%, Pinergy with 1.4% and Flogas with 1.1%.

Figure 2.3 Share of the Irish Small Business Market 2020

Source: Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

Electric Ireland experienced a decline in its market share over a number of years following price deregulation of the business market in October 2010, however its market share increased between 2012 and 2015 and remained fairly steady since. SSE Airtricity’s market share increased following deregulation but decreased between 2012 and 2017 before increasing again in recent years. Energia also gained a significant share in this segment with its market share fluctuating between 30-40% over the last 10 years. SSE Airtricity had the largest share in the Large Energy Users (LEU) market segment, with 37.0% of the market in terms of consumption. This was followed by Electric Ireland with 31.4%, Energia with 12.1%, Bord Gáis Energy with 6.2%, BRI Green Energy with 6.0%, Aughinish with 3.3% and Naturgy with 3.1%. The total number of customers in the electricity market at the end of 2020 was 2,416,801 and total consumption for the year was 27,915,882 MWh. This represents an increase of customer numbers of 1.1% and an increase of consumption of 0.9% overall compared to 2019. The total number of switches completed in the electricity market in 2020 was 304,267. This represents a decrease of 6.0% from 2019, when 323,566 customers switched.

Table 2.14 Share of the Irish Large User Market 2020 Company

Bord Gáis Energy SSE Airtricity

Energia

Flo Gas

Pinergy

Panda Power

Go Power

Others

Source: Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

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% share

Sales (MWh)

% share

783

3,677,207

31.4

Bord Gáis Energy

234

11.4

731,295

6.2

SSE Airtricity

290

14.1

4,341,717

Energia

442

21.5

1,418,920

12.1

Naturgy

126

6.1

365,613

3.1

BRI Green Energy Ltd

1.1

705,591

Aughinish

0.05

383,438

3.3

Others

Electric Ireland

Sites (Q4 2020)

Electric Ireland

Total

161

7.9

102,088

0.9

2,013

100

11,254,970

100

Source: Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

Electricity

North/South electricity Single Electricity Market 1 November 2007 saw the successful completion of the Single Electricity Market (SEM) project. The SEM combined the electricity markets of Northern Ireland the Republic of Ireland to create a single electricity market for the island of Ireland. The key design features of the SEM were: • the pool arrangements where all generators receive and all supplier units pay the same single system marginal price (SMP); • a system of collection and distribution of payments for capacity based on fixed amounts determined annually; and • the rules of the market are set out in the SEM Trading and Settlement Code. The fundamental feature of the SEM was the gross mandatory pool, through which all electricity (save for generators which have a maximum export capacity of less than 10MW for whom direct participation is voluntary) must be bought and sold across the island. The intention was for the SEM to combine two smaller markets to promote greater competition, bring improved reliability of supply, reduced energy costs and efficiency benefits to all consumers. The SEM was viewed as a stepping stone towards an integrated European energy market that would lead to closer harmonisation with the market in Great Britain and assist the development of a United Kingdom – Republic of Ireland – France reciprocal electricity market. The development of the SEM was the first stage in the establishment of the All Island Energy Market, to which both governments first committed to in 2004.

North/South co-operation in electricity In the context of European energy policy and political stability in Northern Ireland, both governments had been examining the prospects for greater North/South cooperation on energy. Although not a matter specifically identified for cross-border initiatives in the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, the energy sector undoubtedly offers significant scope for mutual benefit through co-operation. The key to an effective all-island energy market is an environment which is conducive to competition, which removes barriers to trade between North and South, and which encourages generators and suppliers to enter the market. Expected benefits from such a market included compliance with EU directives on energy, increased investment and competitiveness, and improved reliability of supply to customers at a reduced cost. Continued all-island co-operation is a theme of the 2015 White Paper on a range of energy matters including the regulation of the all-island single electricity market, the development of the I-SEM, energy transmission and the proposed North/South transmission line.

Chapter 2

Integrated Single Energy Market I-SEM replaced the SEM in October 2018. I-SEM is a wholesale market for Ireland and Northern Ireland. It was introduced following instruction to the SEM committee from authorities, North and South, to develop a new set of electricity trading arrangements to meet the requirements of the EU Target Model. The benefits of I-SEM include: increased access to cheaper sources of electricity; a more open and efficient pan-European electricity market; and a basis for the development of intraday, forward, futures and derivative markets that enable investors and operators to manage risk.

The North South Interconnector The second high-capacity transmission link between North and South is assumed to be commissioned in 2023. This project proposes the addition of a new 400kV overhead line to our grid, connecting the electricity grids of Ireland and Northern Ireland. This proposed line would run through counties Tyrone, Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan, Meath. Upon completion, the all-island system will be capable of operating electrically as one. It is hoped that the second North South Interconnector will improve the security of electricity supply across the island of Ireland. Ultimately, it will improve the efficiency of the electricity system, reducing costs and ultimately saving money for the end user, the electricity customer. The project has now been granted planning permission North and South.

East-West co-operation in energy Work on East-West electricity co-operation progressed in 2009 when the British-Irish Council set up a dedicated energy sector of work. This was sub-divided into marine energy, led by the Scottish Government, and grid infrastructure, led by the UK Government. The marine group focuses on raising the profile of the relevant marine renewable technologies as an emerging viable renewable energy resource within the EU. Within the grid infrastructure group, participants have shared information on current or planned grid projects and proposals. This includes increasing the capacity of the existing grid network through use of new technology and building new transmission lines. Administrations in the Republic, Northern Ireland and Scotland commissioned a study into the feasibility of creating an offshore interconnected transmission network and subsea electricity grid based on renewable energy sources off the coast of western Scotland and the Irish Sea. The study found that development of an interconnected network within a decade would ensure future sustainable energy supplies. The British-Irish Council summit discussion on energy took place in Derry in June 2013. The Council recognised the common challenges of moving to low carbon energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, whilst ensuring security of supply. This should be at a pace which minimises the impact on low-income families and does not hamper business competitiveness.

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Electricity

ESB Networks Dingle project overview Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, published in 2019 and refreshed in 2021, includes targets of achieving nearly one million electric vehicles on Ireland’s roads and 600,000 premises equipped with electrified heating by 2030. On this basis, transformative change will be required across every sector of our society and the energy required for electricity, transport, heating, and other activities in our economy will need to be radically decarbonised. ESB Networks is rapidly transforming the electricity network. Building a network that’s stronger than ever so we can all be kinder to the planet, connecting our network to natural resources and our customers to a clean electric future. By 2030, our network will be transformed to support Irish society on the journey to secure an affordable low carbon future, using clean electricity to drive fossil fuels out of heating, transport, and the wider economy. With all this in mind, ESB Networks had designed its Dingle Project to help understand the potential impact of low carbon or clean energy enabling technologies such as Solar PV, Residential Batteries, Air-Source Heat Pumps and Electric Vehicle Charging on the local electricity network – technologies which will become much more common place in our homes and businesses over the coming years. The project has three ongoing objectives: Network reliability: With more and more people relying on the electricity network in the future to heat their homes and power their cars, the Dingle Project has been exploring several new technologies on the overhead network on the Peninsula to minimise the instances of and duration of some types of faults.

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Residential flexibility: With the anticipated increase in clean energy enabling technologies in our customers’ homes over the coming years, ESB Networks was interested to better understand the potential to control these technologies to minimise their impact on the local electricity network and also to determine the potential of these technologies to offer a level of flexibility to the network operator so as, for example, to accommodate additional electrified heating and transport loads without the need to carry out reinforcements of the network. Active energy citizenship: To get the maximum benefit from the project’s technical trials, ESB Networks recognised the need to activate participation by citizens across the community so that we could better understand how their behaviours might affect the use of these technologies and thereby the impact on the network. So, ESB Networks set up a programme to engage the community on low carbon transformation and worked closely with a research organisation (MaREI) to understand the effectiveness of our initiatives in driving change and diffusion of behaviours across society.

Project progress – real trials, real people and real learnings ESB Networks has spent nearly three years working closely with individual citizens and community groups across the Dingle Peninsula to help us better understand the impact on the local network of low carbon or clean energy enabling technologies behind the meter in our customers’ homes. We selected five individuals, representative of typical citizens in the area, to act as Ambassadors and Advocates for all we are trying to achieve in our project. We equipped their “fully electrified homes of the future”, with the full suite of clean energy enabling technologies and worked closely with them to understand what transitioning to an active energy citizen really means for them.

Electricity

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We also provided electric vehicles and Smart EV Chargers to 10 additional participants and have equipped an additional 20 properties with Solar PV.

Initial high-level observations and insights

By working closely with the participants on our trials we have been able to better understand how they use these technologies in their day-to-day lives and what the impact of their patterns of use and behaviours are on the local network.

Programmes like the Dingle Ambassador Programme really do work. What we have seen through the engaged research carried out by MaREI and from our own interactions with the Dingle Ambassadors and other participants on the trials, is that while individual citizens hear what experts say, they really listen to the experience of the people that they know – whether that is family, friends or people in the local community. But these ambassadors cannot be expected to shoulder all the effort to switch other people onto low carbon. There is a role for structured support at a community level, whether that is a Community Engagement Manager or something similar, to help people along the path and point them to where they can get the answers that help them make the informed decisions that are best for them.

The core purpose of the EV Trial was for us to understand the impact of electric vehicle charging load, on the network. Additionally, what we have seen from analysis of trial participants’ EV journey data, is that today’s electric vehicles are a very good fit for people living in rural communities. Using home charging, the EV drivers regularly travelled the 50 / 60 Km each way to and from the large county towns of Tralee & Killarney, or the 150 Km each way distance to the cities of Limerick and Cork. The range on today’s EVs easily accommodates that. We have also seen people make the return journey of 700 Km to Dublin in a single day, typically recharging on the return leg at a motorway charging station. Our trial has shown that range anxiety is not a concern.

We have successfully implemented a system that can control and optimise a range of different low carbon technologies from different manufacturers and suppliers, situated and installed behind-the-meter in customer homes. Our trials have demonstrated that low carbon technologies in our customers’ homes can be scheduled to minimise their impact on the local network or at times provide support to the local network operator, while at the same time meeting the users’ needs.

Some of the high-level learnings that have emerged from the project are as follows:

We have rolled out a mobile app for all trial participants which provides them with next to real time information on their energy footprint and what’s happening in their premises, enabling them to make small improvements to their energy usage behaviours. We have also successfully integrated all these technologies and data with a back-end system, which is capable of optimising the operation of these technologies in the economic interest of the customer as well as enabling them to actively control their operation to provide flexibility support to the local network.

Active Energy Citizen – Engagement and diffusion of behaviours So today, the Dingle Ambassadors, EV Ambassadors and Solar PV champions are all highly engaged in sharing their experiences and telling their stories across their community and beyond. In Dingle we have achieved a good balance between an engagement strategy to switch citizens’ mindsets to one of low-carbon energy transformation and embedding the technical infrastructure and platforms that can enable the transformation that is in the best interest of our customers. This involved engaging the community holistically. From primary and secondary school initiatives, leveraging local media, sponsorship of multiple community events and participation on community-wide steering committees, the message of what the Dingle Project and wider low carbon transformation is about was shared with all demographics across the peninsula. By getting the community switched on to what our project was about and working closely with us, we now have a better understanding of how their evolving behaviours and energy footprint impacts are on the local electricity network. And how we can reinforce the network to further support our customers in making the transition to a clean electric future. Afterall, there is little point in developing the best IT Systems and platforms to manage and control energy usage, if the users of the electricity network, the local citizens and communities are not actively engaged to achieve those same objectives.

Network resilience With more people likely to be more dependent on the electricity network of the future – needing it to heat their homes and power their cars – we have been exploring how some new technologies and the analysis of data from these devices, might enable us to reduce the occurrence of certain types of faults, or in those instances where faults have occurred, help us to speed up their restoration and minimise supply interruptions.

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Electricity

Greenlink Interconnector Greenlink is a proposed subsea and underground electricity interconnector linking the electricity markets in Ireland and Great Britain. As an EU Project of Common Interest (PCI), it is one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure projects. The project, planned for commissioning in 2023, is now at an advanced stage of development and preparations for the start of construction are under way. Greenlink is anticipated to provide benefits on both sides of the Irish Sea for employment, energy security and integration of low carbon energy sources. It will provide Ireland with a link to EU and Nordic electricity markets via Great Britain.

Celtic Interconnector The Celtic Interconnector is a proposed electricity link between Ireland and France. The total length of the proposed interconnector is 575km, including approximately 500km of subsea cable. The European Commission has designated the Celtic Interconnector as a PCI. In October 2019, EirGrid and its French counterpart, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité (RTE) received €530 million in funding from the European Commission to pursue the project. The planning application for the project was submitted in July 2021. It is hoped that construction can begin in 2022, lasting until 2026.

union report since the adoption of the European Green Deal, an action plan to boost the efficient use of resources by moving to clean, circular economy and restore biodiversity and cut pollution. The EU aims to be climate neutral in 2050. The report looks at the energy union’s contribution to EU’s long-term climate goals and takes stock of the progress made in the five energy union dimensions. It also highlights how the NextGenerationEU recovery plan can support EU countries, through a number of EU funding programmes. The report is accompanied by the individual assessments of the national climate and energy plans (NECPs), analysing the contribution each country is committed to make to the EU 2030 energy and climate targets. The 2021 report shows that renewables overtook fossil fuels as the number one power source in the EU for the first time in 2020, generating 38% of electricity, compared to 37% for fossil fuels. To date, nine EU member states have already phased out coal, 13 others have committed to a phase-out date, and four are considering possible timelines. Compared to 2019, EU27 greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 fell by almost 10%, an unprecedented drop in emissions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought overall emission reductions to 31% when compared to 1990.

Proposed benefits of the Celtic Interconnector include: the ability to import and export 700MW; the enhancement of Ireland’s security of supply post-Brexit; the application of downward pressure on electricity costs for Irish consumers; assistance in facilitating Ireland’s transition to a low carbon energy solution; and a direct fibreoptic communications link between Ireland and France.

Primary energy consumption declined by 1.9% and final energy consumption by 0.6% last year. However, both figures are above the trajectory required to meet the EU's 2020 and 2030 targets. Fossil fuel subsidies dropped slightly in 2020, due to lower energy consumption overall. Renewable energy and energy efficiency subsidies both increased in 2020.

European electricity market reform

The Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action (EU)2018/1999 entered into force on 24 December 2018 as part of the Clean energy for all Europeans package.

European heads of state and governments pledged to create an internal market for electricity by 2014. On 25 February 2015, the Energy Union Strategy was published as a key priority of the Juncker Commission (2014-2019) and aimed to build an energy union that gave EU consumers (households and businesses) secure, sustainable, competitive and affordable energy. The five dimensions of the energy union are: • security, solidarity and trust; • a fully integrated internal energy market; • energy efficiency; • climate action, decarbonising the economy; and • research, innovation and competitiveness. Since its launch in 2015, the European Commission has published several packages of measures and regular progress reports, which monitor the implementation of this key priority, to ensure that the energy union strategy is achieved. The 2020 state of the energy union report was published on 14 October 2020. It was the first state of the energy

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The regulation emphasises the importance of meeting the EU's 2030 energy and climate targets and sets out how EU countries and the Commission should work together, and how individual countries should cooperate, to achieve the energy union's goals. It takes into account the fact that different countries can contribute to the energy union in different ways. The 2015 White Paper committed Ireland to engagement with the EU in its review of the wholesale electricity market design, with a view to ensure alignment with Ireland’s energy circumstances and policy goals. The Single Electricity Market (SEM) operating in Ireland required significant modifications to implement the target model. The magnitude of change required for the SEM in Ireland to achieve this was considerably greater than other European markets due to its centralised structure and gross mandatory pool design.

Electricity

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Table 2.15 Registered capacity of dispatchable generation and interconnectors in Northern Ireland 2020 (MW) ID

Fuel type

Technology category

B31

Gas*/Heavy fuel oil

Gas turbine

246

B32

Gas*/Heavy fuel oil

Gas turbine

246

B10

Gas*/Heavy fuel oil

Gas turbine

101

GT7 (GT1)

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

GT8 (GT2)

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

ST1

Heavy fuel oil*/coal

Steam turbine

238 Ceases operation in 2023

ST2

Heavy fuel oil*/coal

Steam turbine

238 Ceases operation in 2023

KGT1

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

KGT2

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

KGT3

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

KGT4

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

GT8

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

C30

Gas*/distillate oil

Gas turbine

408

AGU

Distillate oil

Gas turbine

DSU

Various

DSU

Ballylumford

Kilroot

Coolkeeragh

Lisahally

Contour Global Moyle

Gas

79 118

Biomass

CGA/CGC

2019 Comment

18 Not in capacity market, but assumed available for capacity requirement Gas turbine

DC interconnector

12 450

Total dispatchable plant

2,465

Source: EirGrid

For this reason, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), when it adopted the Framework Guidelines for Capacity Allocation and Congestion Management in 2011, provided a two-year transitional period for island systems with central dispatch to meet the requirements of the target model. Following this, the SEM Committee in Ireland launched its market integration project, led by representatives of the regulatory authorities and involving the market operator (SEMO) and the system operators (TSOs) to explore options to enable the SEM to meet the provisions of the target model. The Target Model is not a mandatory wholesale market design for Europe and does not explicitly prescribe the form of national market; rather it requires compatible cross-border trading arrangements between member states. However, its implementation presupposes a variant of the prevailing European market design of decentralised bilateral trading with self-commitment. The Target Model requires national electricity markets to conform to certain minimum criteria across each timeframe (forward, day ahead, intra-day and balancing), such that there is a homogenous set of cross-border rules and a single market place and rulebook for the same produce; each of which is a precondition for a functioning internal European electricity market.

Brexit On the 24 December 2020, following its decision to leave the EU, the UK agreed the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Prior to the deal, it was acknowledged that the EU and UK’s climate and energy ambitions would remain largely aligned. However, changes to the trading and supply of electricity came into effect from 1 January 2021. The trade agreement provided a framework for future electricity trading across interconnectors between the UK and the EU. However, it was acknowledged that the agreed model of trading will take time to develop and would not be in place by 1 January 2021. As a result, previously developed and communicated alternative arrangements, allowing the trade and mutual support for security of supply, were implemented in the interim and will endure until the agreed trading model can be put in place. In Northern Ireland, the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement provides the basis for the continued operation of the Single Electricity Market after 1 January 2021. The UK government is supporting the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to implement the Single Electricity Market provisions at Article 9 and Annex 4 of the Protocol, which apply key elements of European energy law in Northern Ireland, which are largely devolved, to enable the effective operation of the Single Electricity Market across the island of Ireland.

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From 1 January 2021 cross-border flows across electricity interconnectors have no longer been governed by EU legislation which provides for efficient trade and cross-border cooperation in operating the electricity system. In accordance with the agreed UK-EU FTA, a new model of efficient electricity trading across interconnectors will be developed, including for trade between Great Britain and the Single Electricity Market.

Electricity in Northern Ireland: Overview The Northern Ireland electricity industry was privatised in 1992. Previously it had been a fully integrated stateowned utility business, Northern Ireland Electricity. The Northern Ireland electricity sector consists of the wholesale market the networks and the retail market. The electricity wholesale market is where the generators and suppliers trade with each other. The networks are the wires used for the transportation of electricity to customers and the retail markets are where suppliers trade with final customers and with each other.

Table 2.16 Northern Ireland timeline Retail market sector

Date

Development

I&C

Jul-99

ESB Independent Energy (NI) t/a Electric Ireland enters market

I&C

Aug-99

Energia enters market

I&C

Jan-08

SSE Airtricity enters market

I&C

Apr-09

firmus supply enters market

Domestic

Jun-09

firmus supply enters market

Domestic

Jun-10

SSE Airtricity enters credit segment

Domestic

May-11

SSE Airtricity enters keypad segment

Domestic

Jun-11

Budget Energy enters market

I&C

Jul-11

Budget Energy enters market

Domestic

Oct-11

Electric Ireland enters market

I&C

Feb-12

VAYU (now Naturgy) enters market

I&C

Apr-12

LCC (now Go Power) enters market

I&C

Jun-15

firmus supply exits market

Domestic

Jun-15

firmus supply exits market

Domestic

Oct-15

Open Electric enters market

Domestic

Oct-15

Click Energy enters market

I&C

Oct-15

Click Energy enters market

Domestic

Dec-16

Open Electric exits market

I&C

Apr-18

3t Power enters market

Domestic

Oct-19

GoPower enters the market

I&C

Oct-19

Energy supply business transferred to PowerNI

Generation The first phase of privatisation of the electricity industry in Northern Ireland saw NIE’s power generation separated out from the transmission, distribution and supply businesses and sold to new owners. The power stations were sold to their new owners with long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with NIE’s Power Procurement Business (PPB), which guaranteed an earnings stream to the stations as long as they were available. Conventional electricity in Northern Ireland is generated by the power stations at Kilroot, Ballylumford and Coolkeeragh (see table 3.16), and also is imported (and exported) via the Moyle electricity interconnector between Northern Ireland and Scotland. While Moyle is technically able to transport 500MW between the two markets, due to constraints on the transmission networks at either end of the interconnector, the commercial capacity of the interconnector is lower than this. Interconnectors to GB, including Moyle, are no longer able to participate in single day ahead coupling (SDAC) as of 1 January 2021, and therefore financial transmission rights are not currently offered. Now Moyle interconnector capacity is made solely available for allocation in two coupled intraday auctions between the

Table 2.17 Partially/Non-dispatchable plant in Northern Ireland (MW) Year:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Large scale wind

1,095

1,196

1,251

1,274

1,405

Small scale wind

176

Large scale solar

144

165

Small scale solar

124

Small scale biogas

Landfill gas

Small scale biomass

Renewable CHP

Other CHP

Small scale hydro

Waste-to-energy

1,615

1,737

1,792

1,815

1,946

Total

*Bombardier and full circle Source: EirGrid

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Table 2.18 All renewable sources of generation in Northern Ireland (MW) At year-end:

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

All wind

1,271

1,372

1,427

1,450

1,581

268

289

Renewable CHP

Hydro

1,627

1,749

1,804

1,827

1,958

All solar PV All biomass/biogas/LFGas/WTE

Total RES

Source: EirGrid

SEM and GB. Market parties in the SEM may access these auctions via SEMOpx whilst GB market parties can access them via either the EPEX SPOT or Nord Pool power exchanges.

Generation outlook For details of forecast demand in Northern Ireland, see table 2.11 on page 79. Table 2.17 on page 88 shows the dispatchable generation and interconnectors in Northern Ireland at present. Ballylumford (units B4 and B5) closed at the end of 2018, having received a Grid Code derogation from the Utility Regulator to close earlier than required as per the Grid Code. In 2018, Kilroot lost out in a capacity auction process to supply the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM). Kilroot was facing closure by 2024 as the coal-burning technology would not meet environmental standards but the capacity auction result prompted the likelihood of immediate closure. A deal was agreed to keep the plant open but owners AES then sold all its Northern Ireland power assets to EPUKI. Energetický a Prumyslový Holding (EPH) acquired the Kilroot and Ballylumford stations in June 2019 and in July 2020 announced plans to transform the coal-fired power station at Kilroot into a new low-carbon energy park. Alongside gas-fired units, Kilroot Energy Park would feature solar, battery storage, hydrogen and a multi fuel combined heat and power (CHP) facility. The coal plant is due to close in 2023. Additionally, Belfast Power Limited (Evermore Energy) is proposing a 480MW gas fired power station in the Belfast Harbour Estate. The proposed power station will use combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology. Belfast Power has submitted an application for Planning Permission to the Northern Ireland Planning Service. On 25 March 2019 the Department for Infrastructure issued a ‘notice of opinion’ to approve the proposed power station which has a grid connection offer from SONI.

Security of supply While electricity demand in Northern Ireland is expected to remain relatively flat and fairly stable in the near future, there is a risk to security of supply in the short-to-medium term. The median demand scenario indicates the Northern Ireland energy system does not have sufficient capacity from 2025. This is due to the planned closure of the Kilroot coal units (ST1 and ST2) in line with UK policy.

The second North-South interconnector is vital to ensure the security of electricity supply for the future and to realise the potential economic benefits of the I-SEM. Security of supply in Northern Ireland is again at risk with the latest delay in completing the North-South Interconnector project.

Renewables The Northern Ireland Executive had a target of generating 40% of electricity consumption from renewable resources by 2020. For the 12-month period October 2020 to September 2021, 42.1% of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources located in Northern Ireland and 82.4% of renewable electricity was generated from wind. Both are slight decreases. In December 2021, Minister for the Economy Gordon Lyons MLA unveiled Northern Ireland’s energy strategy, the Path to Net Zero Energy, which set out a target of 70% of local electricity supplies coming from renewable sources by 2030. The strategy includes a plan to fully decarbonise Northern Ireland by 2050. In Northern Ireland a number of large-scale PV projects have connected in recent years. Capacity is approximately 144MW and SONI expects capacity to grow to 165MW by the end of 2022. These levels of wind and solar PV generation along with contribution from other renewable technologies contributed to meeting the renewable sources target in 2020. Currently in Northern Ireland, there is an estimated 46MW of small scale generation powered by biofuels, including biomass, biogas and landfill gas. Lisahally Waste Project became operational in 2015 in Northern Ireland. It is a wood-fuelled energy from-waste/biomass combined heat and power plant with a capacity of approximately 18MW. Table 2.19 Electricity Consumption in Northern Ireland (2020) Sector

Customer numbers Consumption (GWh)

Domestic credit

452,222

1,646

Domestic prepayment

370,957

1,238.70

74,062

4,528.20

897,241

7,412.90

Industry and commercial Total

Source: Utility Regulator

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Electricity

Why we’re over a barrel The rising costs of energy is a long-running story that is being played out daily in the media. We know there are many drivers; reduced supplies, low stock levels, oil production down massively and the horrific invasion of Ukraine have all played key roles in the energy squeeze. This is affecting countries in different ways due to government approaches to regulating their respective energy markets. Whilst the price cap in England (which doesn’t apply in Northern Ireland) temporarily protected consumers for a short period of time last year, it came at a huge cost to the industry. The majority of ‘challenger and disruptor’ suppliers have since ceased trading because they couldn’t increase prices to reflect market conditions and didn’t have the necessary capital to weather the storm. In the long-term, this will be to the detriment of customers as there is now less competition in England’s energy market. Furthermore, customers in England are now subjected to huge price increases to effectively correct the market there. In Northern Ireland, suppliers had to constantly pivot to move with the market. This approach is an unfortunate but necessary one in order to tackle what is an unprecedented period for the entire energy industry. This helps ensure that when the energy environment eventually steadies, consumers will still have the gift of choice for their own supply. In this respect Northern Ireland is arguably ahead of the curve but we fall short in so many other areas. The sharp rises in energy prices are a direct result of government policies, and it’s not about companies trying to make a profit. There is a fundamental lack of investment in the infrastructure regionally that’s blocking us all from moving with the times and this continues to be disregarded in conversations about our energy future. Furthermore, Stormont have voted to adopt a net zero position (and rightfully so) but without any real idea of how we will get there. This is primarily due to a lack of critical and strategic thinking within Stormont. This will have cost implications for consumers down the road… Contrary to popular belief renewable energy is not free, in fact it is hard to remember a time when it cost companies like ours as much to purchase as it does at the moment. How will all of this affect our decarbonisation efforts? The price of gas is obviously the most publicised energy topic but not being discussed to the same extent is the cost of oil, which still heats almost 70% of all households in Northern Ireland.

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Oil is unregulated and herein lies the problem. A quick search via cheapestoil.co.uk and you can see that the price has been creeping up daily since December of last year. The rise is subtle enough that customers won’t really recognise it on their bill – it is practically percentage points of pence per day although that has changed more recently with sharp dramatic increases happening more regularly. In a domestic context, getting homes away from oil should be the priority for Northern Ireland considering the net zero ambitions for 2050. How can we expect homeowners to make that decision when we are not contextualising the costs for all forms of energy? We know that heat pumps and the natural gas network (transmitting biomethane and eventually hydrogen) will play a key role for the Northern Ireland energy future, but it is abundantly clear that oil does not have a role to play. With cost being the key energy consideration for a consumer, it is important that communication on energy costs is greatly improved, particularly as we all recognise that a ‘just transition’ is fundamentally important in our efforts to reach net zero. At Click Energy we are committed to a net zero future, amplified by the fact we have a higher renewable energy complement in our fuel mix disclosure than any of our domestic competitors in Northern Ireland. Our track record in this area is proven over a prolonged period of time, and we look forward to playing a role in helping consumers understand how they can play their part in this battle against the climate emergency.

Damian Wilson Managing Director Click Energy For more information on Click Energy please visit clickenergyni.com

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Electricity

Introducing Hitachi Energy Electricity has improved our standards of living since its invention more than two hundred years ago. However, the transformative changes that increased electrification will bring over the next 30 years, supporting sustainability, will go beyond anything we’ve seen before. Analysis comparing recent studies of the evolution of the total world energy system shows that global electricity consumption will more than double from 20% (today) to over 40% of total energy demand by 2050. Certain regions of the world will go far beyond this level of electrification. In Ireland alone the Government Climate Action Plan 2021 target is to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

digitalization solutions are cost effective, agile, and innovative, delivering control, visibility, and stability for increasingly complex systems. Through digitalization we can improve reliability and resiliency and enable a wide range of sustainable choices. •

Grid Integration: Our Grid Integration portfolio spans a wide range of transmission and substation applications, which facilitate reliable and efficient system integration of the future digital electric network with minimum environmental impact. We incorporate the integrated systems, solutions and services of our business’s DC and AC fields, including HVDC, Substations, FACTS, Offshore Wind Connections, Semiconductors and Power Consulting, for utility and industrial grid applications, and electrification of transportation solutions.

•

High Voltage Products: Hitachi Energy is a leader in high-voltage technology, offering a wide range of products up to 1,200 kV. We help to enhance the safety, reliability and efficiency of power networks while minimizing environmental impact. Our technology leadership continues to facilitate innovations in areas such as ultra-high-voltage power transmission, enabling smart grids and enhancing eco-efficiency.

•

Transformers: Through our innovative and diverse Transformers team and pioneering technology we transform energy to add social, environmental, and economic value – powering future generations.

•

Service and Consulting: We offer an array of services – from traditional to advanced – for our products and systems that are offered a-la-carte or within an agreement. Our services support our customers in planning; building; operating and maintaining their grids.

Three building blocks are stacking up to deliver this carbon-neutral electric future: •

connecting larger volumes of renewables such as wind, solar and hydro;

•

electrifying the world’s transportation, building and industrial sectors; and

•

where direct electrification is either not efficient or impossible, introducing complementary and sustainable energy carriers, such as green hydrogen.

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is championing the urgency of a clean energy transition through innovation and collaboration – towards a carbon-neutral future. Hitachi Energy in Ireland, formerly ABB Power Grids, serves customers in the utility, industry, transport and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible, and secure whilst balancing social, environmental, and economic value. Our customers rely upon our highly skilled local team in Ireland and our advanced solutions to plan, build, operate, optimize, and maintain their power infrastructure, whilst increasing overall flexibility and resilience. Our solutions enable the safe, reliable, and efficient integration, transmission and distribution of bulk and distributed energy generated from conventional and renewable sources. To deliver maximum value, we have organized our operations around four global Business Units – Grid Automation, Grid Integration, High Voltage Products and Transformers. •

Grid Automation: Our Grid Automation hardware, software and services portfolio unites deep domain knowledge and innovative technologies that enable customers across the globe to optimize the critical systems that power, move, and connect us. Our

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In addition, Hitachi Energy is driving towards being carbon-neutral in its own operations by 2030, in line with its purpose, ‘Advancing a sustainable energy future for all.’ The first-step target, set out in the company’s Sustainability 2030 plan, has been achieved – the use of 100% fossil-free electricity in its own operations. Through this achievement, Hitachi Energy has reduced its CO2 equivalent emissions by over 50% compared to 2019. This will amount to approximately 175 kilo tonnes of CO2e per year, equivalent to removing over 35,000 passenger cars from the road. Contact us Hitachi Energy Ireland Limited Regus Block 1, Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin D15 AKK1, Ireland T: +353 1 574 7981 Email: contact-us@hitachienergy.com www.hitachienergy.com

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Electricity

Table 2.23 Industrial and commercial (I&C) market shares (2020)

Table 2.20 Total market shares (2020) Customer Supplier

Consumption

numbers

(GWh)

Customer

% Supplier

Power NI

491,690

54.8

3,150.1

42.5

SSE Airtricity

175,988

19.6

1,416.3

19.1

Electric Ireland Click Energy Budget Energy

102,191

11.4

1,709.5

23.1

29,932

3.3

109.6

1.5

(GWh)

Power NI

40,023

54.03

1,620.80

35.8

SSE Airtricity

14,432

19.49

791.3

17.5

Electric Ireland

10,678

14.42

1,372.30

30.3

Click Energy

257

0.35

0.33

543

0.73

12.9

0.28

7,654

10.33

611.8

13.5

0.09

27.4

0.61

411

0.55

76.7

1.7

74,062

100

4,528.20

100

88,615

9.9

305.5

4.1

8,289

0.9

617.7

8.3

Budget Energy Go Power

Go Power Naturgy

0.01

27.4

0.4

411

0.05

76.7

Naturgy

Bright

0.01

0.0

3T Power

Total

897,241

100

7,142.9

100

3T Power

Consumption

numbers

Total

Source: Utility Regulator

Table 2.24 Electricity customer switching (2020)

Table 2.21 Domestic credit market (2020)

Domestic Customer

Consumption

Period

Supplier

numbers

(GWh)

Power NI

291,456

64.6

1,006.90

61.17

97,407

21.6

400.7

24.3

635

0.14

5.9

0.35

Electric Ireland

49,429

10.9

184.6

11.22

Budget Energy

10,859

2.4

40.2

2.44

2,375

0.53

7.7

0.47

Bright

0.01

Total

451,483

100

1,646

100

Switching

I&C Switching

Customer SSE Airtricity Go Power

Click Energy

Customer %

numbers

2020 Q1

27,061

3.3

1,262

1.7

28,323

3.2

2020 Q2

10,919

1.3

5,329

7.2

16,248

1.8

2020 Q3

18,287

2.2

687

0.9

18,974

2.1

2020 Q4

26,938

3.3

1,167

1.6

28,105

3.1

Source: NIEN

Table 2.22 Domestic prepayment market shares (Q3 2020)

Table 2.25 Electricity market % by I&C consumption band (2020)

Consumption

Supplier

numbers

(GWh)

Power NI

160,211

43.18

522.4

42.17

SSE Airtricity

64,149

17.29

224.3

19.72

Electric

42,084

11.34

152.6

12.32

Budget

77,213

20.81

252.5

20.38

Click Energy

27,300

7.36

7.02

370,957

100

1,238.70

100

Total

Customer

numbers

Source: Utility Regulator

Customer

Total Switching

Source: Utility Regulator

Supplier

Annual consumption (MWh)

I&C % of I&C % of I&C connection connections consumption numbers

Very small

<20

71.85

7.2

53,212

Small

20-499

26.85

34.5

19,889

Small/medium

500-1,999

0.96

15.9

714

Medium

2,000-19,999

0.31

27.7

231

Large and very large

>20,000

0.02

14.8

Source: NIEN

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The plant is dispatchable and has been granted priority dispatch. There is currently an estimated 9MW of smallscale CHP connected to the distribution system (3MW of which is renewable and 6MW non-renewable). The smallscale hydro capacity in Northern Ireland is approximately 6MW and consists primarily of a large number of small run-of-the-river projects. In terms of waste-to-energy, in early 2018, approximately 15MW of energy from waste generation was installed at the Bombardier site in Belfast.

Transmission and distribution The Northern Ireland electricity grid comprises approximately 2,100km of transmission network and 47,000km of distribution network, including overhead lines and underground cables. There are more than 888,000 customers connected to the distribution system, which links the three power stations and external interconnectors to 300 major sub-stations. The transmission and distribution networks are owned by NIE Networks. In April 2014, SONI assumed responsibility for the transmission system design and planning functions that were previously under the remit of NIE Networks. This was done to the requirements of the European Union’s Third Energy Package (IME3), which has a number of requirements for the independence of transmission planning. NIE Networks retains ownership of the transmission network, and will continue to be responsible for transmission construction and maintenance. NIE Networks was bought from the Viridian Group by ESB in 2010 for £1.2 billion. As part of the acquisition, ESB also acquired some associated companies of NIE, including NIE Powerteam Limited and Powerteam Electrical Services (UK) Limited, which provide electricity construction and maintenance services; Powerteam was sold off by ESB in late 2013.

There are current plans to increase cross-border interconnection between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The new 400kV interconnector between County Tyrone and County Meath will increase the capacity, and the reliability, of interconnection between the two networks and will effectively eliminate current restrictions in cross-border support in the event of a shortage of electricity in one jurisdiction, thus enhancing the security of electricity supply throughout the island. Operating the two networks as one system will bring cost savings for all electricity consumers and will also facilitate further and greater connection of wind generation. The project was to be completed by 2017 but was delayed by the planning process. In January 2018, full planning permission for the overhead electricity line was granted. However, in February 2019 planning permission was rescinded due to a legal challenge. The legal challenges have since been dismissed and the project has been granted planning permission in both jurisdictions. The Northern Ireland electricity grid is also linked to the grid in Great Britain via the Moyle electricity interconnector which runs between Islandmagee, County Antrim, and Auchencrosh, Ayrshire, Scotland.

Retail electricity market As of year-end 2020, there were 897,241 electricity customers in Northern Ireland. Of the total customers in Northern Ireland, 91.7% belong to the domestic sector, the remaining are industrial and commercial (I&C) customers. Within the domestic sector, 45.1% of the market use prepayment meters and 54.9% pay by credit (by connections). Within the I&C sector, more than 99.9% of the customers are SMEs (consuming less than 19,999MWh), with 83.3% of the I&C consumption. The remaining are Large Energy Users (LEU) connections, that represent 9.04% of the total Northern Ireland volume in 2020, and 14.8% of the I&C consumption.

Consumption and demand NIE Networks continues to operate as a standalone business under the NIE brand and identity. Viridian retained ownership of other companies within the group including Viridian Power and Energy, the Power Procurement Business and Power NI. Northern Ireland Transmission & Distribution (T&D) is a monopoly business, so the Utility Regulator regulates the amount of revenue which NIE T&D can achieve via a price control. The costs associated with the electricity network are recovered through network charges, which make up between 20% and 25% of a domestic electricity bill.

Interconnection Northern Ireland’s electricity grid is linked to the Republic of Ireland through one major interconnector. The Louth to Tandragee interconnector consists of a 275kV double circuit overhead line and it has an approximate capacity of 500MW. There are also two 11kV standby North-South interconnectors (Strabane to Letterkenny and Enniskillen to Corraclassy).

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The most recent figure for electricity consumption (GWh) in Northern Ireland was 7,412.9 Gwh in 2020. Although historically, electricity demand in Northern Ireland has risen on average by 2% per annum, the electricity consumption in 2020 represented a year-on-year decrease when compared to 7,700 GWh consumed in 2019.

Competition in electricity in Northern Ireland The timeline on page 88 shows when competition effectively started in each of the electricity market segments. While there has been competition in the electricity market for industrial customers since 1999 and for business customers since 2005, domestic customers had no choice of electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland until relatively recently. The only supplier in the domestic sector was Power NI (formerly NIE Supply) until June 2010, when SSE Airtricity entered the market. Tables 2.20 to 2.25 show the breakdown of customers and market shares in total and for the various market sectors between electricity suppliers in Q3 2020.

Electricity Overall, PowerNI continues to be the dominant electricity supplier in the Northern Ireland market, retaining 54.8% of customers and 42.5% of consumption in 2020. The other significant players in terms of market share by units sold were SSE Airtricity (19.6%), Electric Ireland (11.4%) and Budget Energy (9.9%). Statistics for 2020 show that Power NI is most dominant in the domestic credit sector: 64.4% of supply. Its nearest competitor is SSE Airtricity: 21.5% of supply. In the domestic prepayment sector, PowerNI has a 43.2% share of supply. This is followed by SSE Airtricity with 17.3% of supply. During 2020, there were seven domestic electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland and eight active suppliers in the I&C market. A significant number of domestic customers remain with the previously incumbent supplier Power NI, however, the introduction of a number of new suppliers and the associated increase in competition indicates that the dynamic of the domestic market is gradually changing.

Electricity regulation in Ireland The overall structure of energy regulation is quite similar between the two jurisdictions North and South in that policy is determined by central government, but policy implementation and routine regulation is carried out by an independent regulatory authority established under its own legislation. Details of the two regulatory authorities for energy in Ireland are set out below. Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) The Grain House The Exchange Belgard Square North Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 400 0800 Web: www.cru.ie Email: info@cru.ie Chair: Aoife MacEvilly Commissioners: Paul McGowan, Aoife MacEvilly and Jim Gannon Director of Security of Supply and Wholesale: John Melvin Director of Energy Safety: Phil Hemmingway Director of Customer Policy and Protection: Karen Trant Director of Networks and Economic Regulation: Karen Kavanagh Director of Operations and Organisational Development: Loretta Lambkin The CRU is Ireland’s independent energy and water regulator. The CRU was established in 1999 and now has a wide range of economic, customer protection and safety responsibilities in energy and water. The vision of the CRU, acting in the interests of consumers, is to ensure that: • energy is supplied safely; • empowered and protected customers pay reasonable prices;

• •

Chapter 2

a sustainable, reliable and efficient future for energy and water; and a secure low carbon future.

Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation / Utility Regulator Queen’s House, 14 Queen Street Belfast, BT1 6ED Tel: 028 9031 1575 Web: www.uregni.gov.uk Email: info@uregni.gov.uk Chairman: Bill Emery Chief Executive: John French The Utility Regulator is the independent non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the electricity and gas industries and water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland. The Utility Regulator’s objectives are to: • protect the short and long-term interests of electricity, gas, water and sewerage consumers with regard to price and quality of service; • promote a robust and efficient water and sewerage industry, where appropriate to deliver high quality services; • promote competition, where appropriate, in the generation, transmission and supply of electricity; and • promote the development and maintenance of an economic and coordinated natural gas industry. The Utility Regulator’s powers include issuing and maintaining licences for electricity, gas and water companies to operate in Northern Ireland; setting the standards of service that regulated companies provide; and determining certain complaints, disputes and appeals. UReg is governed by a board of directors and is accountable to the Northern Ireland Assembly through financial and reporting obligations.

Electricity organisations and companies Bord Gáis Energy One Warrington Place, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 233 5000 Web: www.bordgaisenergy.ie Email: info@bordgais.ie Managing Director: Dave Kirwan Director of Energy, Marketing and Data: Colin Bebbington Assets & Trading Director: Nico O’Rourke Legal, Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Affairs Director: Emma Burrows Head of Strategy and Corporate Development: Barclay Clibborn Chief Financial Officer: John Dalton Director of Services and Solutions: Teresa Purtill HR Partner: Lorraine McCullen

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Technology Partner: Tom Grealis Bord Gáis Energy has been in operation since 1976 and supplies over 750,000 customers. Since mid-2014, BGE has been part of the Centrica Plc Group. Budget Energy Energy House 30-32 Ballinska Road Springtown Industrial Estate Derry, BT48 0LY Tel: 0800 012 1177 Web: www.budgetenergy.co.uk Email: talktous@budgetenergy.co.uk Click Energy 1st Floor, Timberquay 100-114 Strand Road Derry, BT48 7NR Tel: 0800 1070 732 Web: www.clickenergyni.com Email: chat@clickenergyni.com Managing Director: Damian Wilson Coolkeeragh ESB 2 Electra Road, Maydown Derry, BT47 6UL Tel: 028 7186 4700 Web: www.coolkeeraghesb.co.uk In a joint venture between Coolkeeragh Power and ESB, a new 400MW CCGT plant has been constructed on the site of the old Coolkeeragh power station in Derry. The project came into commercial operation during 2005. Edenderry Power Limited Ballykilleen, Edenderry, Co Offaly Tel: 046 973 3800 Web: www.edenderrypower.ie Email: info@edenderrypower.ie Operation & Maintenance Manager: Peter Gillespie Edenderry Power Plant has an installed capacity of up to 128MW of electricity and supplies around 2.5% of Ireland’s national requirement. Originally developed as a peat-fired power plant, Edenderry power plant is now cofired with a mixture of peat and carbon-neutral biomass. EirGrid plc The Oval, 160 Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 FW28 Tel: 01 677 1700 Web: www.eirgrid.com Email: info@eirgrid.com Chief Executive: Mark Foley Chief Chief Chief Chief Chief Chief

People and Information Officer: Siobhan Toale Operations Officer: Rodney Doyle Infrastructure Officer: Michael Mahon Financial Officer: Michael Behan Innovation and Planning Officer: Liam Ryan Strategy Officer: Martin Corrigan

EirGrid plc is the independent electricity transmission system operator (TSO) and the market operator in the wholesale electricity trading system. EirGrid’s role is to deliver connection, transmission and market services to

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generators, suppliers and customers utilising the high voltage electricity system and to put in place the grid infrastructure required to support the development of Ireland’s economy. Electric Ireland Republic of Ireland PO Box 841 South City Delivery Office Cork, T12 C825 Tel: 1850 372 372 Northern Ireland 1st Floor, 1 Cormac Quay The Gasworks Belfast, BT7 2JD Tel: 028 9051 1246 Web: www.electricireland.ie Email: info@electricireland.ie Electric Ireland is an energy supply and energy services company owned by ESB. It supplies gas and electricity to business and residential customers across the Island of Ireland and offers grant-assisted insulation and energy efficiency measures to householders nationwide. Electricity Association of Ireland 127 Baggot Street Lower Dublin 2, D02 F634 Tel: 01 524 1045 Web: www.eaireland.com Email: info@eaireland.com Chairperson: Peter O’Shea Chief Executive Officer: Dara Lynott Vice Chair: Ian Luney Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Two Gateway East Wall Road Dublin 3, D03 A995 Web: www.esb.ie Board Chairman: Terence O’Rourke Chief Executive: Paddy Hayes Deputy Chief Executive: Jerry O’Sullivan Company Secretary: Marie Sinnott Executive Director, People & Organisation Development: Pat Naughton Executive Director, Customer Delivery ESB Networks: Paul Mulvaney Executive Director Generation and Trading: Jim Dollard Executive Director, Customer Solutions: Marguerite Sayers Executive Director, Enterprise Services: Geraldine Heavey Managing Director, ESB Networks: Nicholas Tarrant Executive Director, Group Finance and Commercial: Pat Fenlon Founded in 1927, the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is a statutory corporation in the Republic of Ireland, with operations spanning generation, transmission and distribution and supply. ESB owns the electricity networks and operates the distribution network system which services all electricity customers on the island of Ireland. It also owns and operates a portfolio of thermal

Electricity and renewable power generation assets in Ireland and the UK and an energy supply and energy efficiency business, Electric Ireland. Other activities include a global engineering, consultancy, ESB International, and a dedicated innovation unit focusing on new technologies and solutions in the green energy and clean tech sectors, including electric vehicles, ocean energy and telecoms. ElectroRoute 1st Floor, Marconi House Diggies Lane Dublin 2 Tel: 01 687 7122 Web: www.electroroute.com Email: info@electroroute.com Executive Director: Ronan Doherty ElectroRoute is an independent energy trading and services company which actively trades power and gas across multiple European markets and is the leading provider of power and gas trading services to independent market participants. Energia Group PLC Greenwood House, 64 Newforge Lane Belfast, BT9 5NF Web: www.viridiangroup.co.uk Email: contact@viridiangroup.co.uk Group Chief Executive: Ian Thom The Energia Group is owned by Bahraini bank Arcapita. Following the sale of NIE’s transmission and distribution networks, and associated companies (NIE Powerteam Limited and Powerteam Electrical Services (UK) Ltd), the Viridian Group still owns PowerNI and PowerNI Power Procurement Business, Energia, Huntstown Power and EcoWind Power. EP Ballylumford Ballylumford, Islandmagee Larne, BT40 3RS Tel: 028 9338 1100 Contact: Ian Luney In 2010 AES purchased the 1,246MW natural gas power station from Premier Power in a deal worth £99 million. The station was then sold to Czech firm EPH in 2019. EP Kilroot Kilroot Power Station, Larne Road Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, BT38 7LX Tel: 028 9335 1644 Contact: Ian Luney Under the privatisation of the Northern Ireland power industry Kilroot station was sold to NIGEN in a joint venture between Tractabel of Belgium and AES corporation of the USA. AES then bought out its Belgian partner. It had two power stations in Northern Ireland: the 662MW coal/oil fired station at Kilroot and the coal-fired station at Belfast West, which has now been closed. Kilroot station was then bought by the Czech firm EPH along with Ballylumford in 2019.

Chapter 2

ESB International (ESBI) ESB International One Dublin Airport Central Dublin Airport, Cloghran Co Dublin K67XF72 Web: www.esbi.ie Email: marketing@esbi.ie ESB International provides engineering and strategic consultancy services to the global power sector. Since 1976 it has completed projects in 115 countries relating to thermal and renewable power generation, transmission and distribution and utility management. ESBI has operations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. ESB Networks Ltd St Bernard Place Carrignagroghera Fermoy, Co Cork Tel: 1850 372 757 (from Republic of Ireland) Tel: 021 494 7260 (from Northern Ireland and GB) Web: www.esb.ie/esbnetworks Email: esbnetworks@esb.ie Managing Director: Nicholas Tarrant ESB Networks is a separate legal entity within ESB and is the distribution system operator (DSO) in the Republic of Ireland. It owns and operates over 250,000 transformers and more than 170,000km of overhead lines and underground cables. As meter operator, it is responsible for the installation, maintenance and reading of all electricity meters. firmus energy A4-A5 Ferguson’s Way, Kilbegs Road Antrim, BT41 4LZ Tel: 028 9442 7800 Web: www.firmusenergy.co.uk Email: furtherinfo@firmusenergy.co.uk Interim Managing Director: Neil Martindale firmus energy, the sister company of BGE (Northern Ireland), obtained an electricity supply licence in January 2009 – allowing delivery of a dual fuel option in their own 10 towns, as well as Greater Belfast. Greenlink Interconnector Limited c/o Mason Hayes & Curran Limited South Bank House Barrow Street Dublin 4 D04 TR29 Web: www.greenlink.ie Email: info@greenlink.ie Omexom Power and Grid Unit 5B, 21 Old Channel Road Belfast, BT3 9DE Tel: 028 9095 8110 Web: www.omexom.co.uk

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OMICRON electronics Ltd OMICRON Service Centre Staples Close Redhill Business Park Stafford, ST16 1WQ Tel +44 1785 848 100 Web: www.omicronenergy.com Email: david.brazier@omicronenergy.com Contact: David Brazier Mutual Energy Limited 1st Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 7580 Web: www.mutual-energy.com Email: info@mutual-energy.com Chief Executive Officer: Paddy Larkin NIE Networks 120 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5HT Tel: 03457 643 643 Web: www.nienetworks.co.uk Managing Director: Paul Stapleton NIE Networks owns the electricity transmission and distribution network and operates the electricity distribution network in Northern Ireland which transports electricity to over 840,000 customers. Acquired by ESB in December 2010, NIE Networks remains an autonomous organisation with its own board and management teams and separate regulation via the Northern Ireland Utility Regulator. Pinergy Suite 1, Beaver House Beech Hill Office Campus Clonskeagh Dublin, D04 Y8X5 Tel: 0818 363 749 Web: www.pinergy.ie Email: customerservices@pinergy.ie Power NI Greenwood House 64 Newforge Lane Belfast, BT9 5NX Tel: 03457 455 455 Web: www.powerni.co.uk Email: home@powerni.co.uk Managing Director: Stephen McCully Power NI is the Viridian Group’s energy supply business, supplying around 600,000 homes and businesses across Northern Ireland. PrePayPower.ie Paramount Court, Corrig Road Sandyford, Dublin 18 Tel: 0818 323 920 Web: www.prepaypower.ie Email: queries@prepaypower.ie Smart Grid Ireland Unit 16, The Innovation Centre Northern Ireland Science Park Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT Tel: 028 9073 7950

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Web: www.smartgridireland.org Email: info@smartgridireland.org Chair: Bob Hanna CEO: Bob Barbour Naturgy 3rd Floor, Macken House 39-40A Mayor Street, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 884 9400 Web: www.naturgy.ie Email: info@naturgy.ie Chief Executive Officer: Liam Faulkner Naturgy supplies gas to businesses across the Republic of Ireland and has a licence to supply gas in Northern Ireland. SSE Airtricity Red Oak South, South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 655 6400 3rd Floor, Millennium House 17-25 Great Victoria Street Belfast, BT2 7AQ Tel: 028 9043 7470 Web: www.sseairtricity.com Email: info@sseairtricity.com Managing Director: Klair Neenan SSE Airtricity is owned by SSE which is the third largest generation capacity owner in Ireland, with 1,568MW in operation. SSE Airtricity is SSE’s energy supply business. SSE plc Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 8508 1220 Web: www.sse.com/ireland SSE Ireland is a subsidiary of SSE plc and includes SSE Generation, SSE Airtricity, Airtricity Utility Solutions and SSE Renewables. Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) The Oval, 160 Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Tel: 1800 778 111 Castlereagh House, 12 Manse Road Belfast, BT6 9RT Tel: 08000 778 111 Web: www.sem-o.com Email: markethelpdesk@sem-o.com Director of Market Operations and General Manager: Rodney Doyle SEMO, which is a joint venture between EirGrid and SONI, is the all-island electricity market operator, established as part of the Single Electricity Market (SEM). Tynagh Energy Ltd Block A, The Cresent Building Northwood Park Santry, Dublin 9, D09 X8W3 Tel: 01 857 8700 Web: www.tynaghenergy.ie Email: info@tynaghenergy.ie

Electricity

Electricity licences and authorisations Generation licences A full list of generation licences is available on the Commission for Regulation of Utilities website: www.cru.ie Electricity transmission system operator licence EirGrid Transmission asset owner licence Electricity Supply Board Distribution system operator licence ESB Networks Ltd Distribution system owner licence Electricity Supply Board Single Electricity Market Operator EirGrid and SONI Retail market licence holders (Ireland) BE energy Bord Gáis Energy Electric Ireland Energia Panda Power Pinergy PrePayPower SSE Airtricity Naturgy Electricity supply licences (Northern Ireland) Bord Gáis Energy Limited Budget Energy Limited Click Energy Electric Ireland (ESBIE NI Ltd) Electricity Supply Board (ESB) ElectroRoute Energy Energia Customer Solutions NI Limited EP Ballylumford Limited firmus energy (supply) limited Gaelectric Green Energy Limited Go Power (LCC Power Limited) LCC Group Limited Naturgy Limited Orsted Onshore Green Energy NI Limited Power NI (NIE Energy Ltd) SSE Airtricity Energy Supply Limited Starkraft Markets GmbH 3T Power Limited Generation licences (Northern Ireland) Altahullion Wind Farm Altamuskin Wind Farm Ltd Altaveedan Energy Limited Antrim Wind Energy Limited - Elginny Hill Wind Farm Bann Road Solar Project Limited Ballykeel Wind Farm Limited Belfast Energy Storage Company Ltd

Chapter 2

Brockaghboy Windfarm Ltd Carn Hill Windfarm Ltd Cornavarrow Windfarm Church Hill Energy Ltd ContourGlobal Solutions (NI) Coolkeeragh Power Ltd Craiggore Energy Limited Cregganconroe Wind Farm Limited Crighshane Energy Ltd Crockagarran Wind Farm Ltd Crockandun Wind Farm Ltd Curryfree Wind Farm Ltd Drumkee Energy Ltd Dunbeg Windfarm Limited Dunmore Wind Farm Limited EP Ballylumford Limited EP Kilroot Limited EP NI Energy Limited ERE Developments Limited Evishagaran Wind Farm Limited Full Circle Generation Limited Garves Wind Limited Gortfinbar Windfarm Ltd Gruig Wind Farm Ltd Hunters Hill Wind Farm Ltd Hunter’s Hill Wind Farm Ltd Carrickatane Site Hunters Hill Wind Farm Ltd Crockdun Site Hunters Hill Wind Farm Ltd Eglish Site Inishative Wind Farm Limited Lendrum’s Bridge Wind Farm Ltd Lightsource SPV 10 Ltd Lightsource SPV 48 Ltd Lightsource SPV 94 Ltd Lightsource SPV 231 Ltd Long Mountain Wind Farm Ltd Lough Hill Wind Farm Ltd Mantlin Ltd (Slieve Rushen Wind Farm) Molly Wind Limited Monnaboy Wind Farm Limited Mullavilly Energy Ltd Ora More Energy Ltd Owenreagh Wind Farm Ltd Seegronan Wind Farm Limited ScottishPower Renewables Screggagh Windfarm Ltd Short Brothers PLC T/a Bombardier Aerospace Slieve Divena Wind Farm Ltd Slieve Divena Wind Farm No. 2 Limited Smulgedon Windfarm Ltd SSE Renewables UK Ltd (Multiple Site) Generation Licence Tappaghan Wind Farm (NI) Ltd Teiges Mountain Wind Farm Thornog Windfarm Ltd Tyrone Wind Energy Licence WEL Solar Park 15 Limited Wheelhouse Energy (NI) Limited Willmount Ltd (Castlecraig Wind Farm) Other licence holders Moyle Interconnector Transmission Licence NIE Networks Transmission Licence NIE Networks Distribution Licence SONI SEM Operator Licence SONI Transmission System Operator Consolidated Licence Generic electricity distribution license

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Chapter 3 Gas in Ireland Natural gas: The global context

102

Natural gas in Ireland

103

Renewable gas

105

Hydrogen development

108

Gas usage in transport

112

Integrated gas market

112

Natural gas in Northern Ireland

114

Natural gas organisations and companies

117

Gas licence holders

119

Republic of Ireland

119

Northern Ireland

119

Oil and gas exploration bans

121

Developments in Irish upstream oil and gas

122

Oil and gas in Northern Ireland

126

LPG market

128

BioLPG

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Gas in Ireland Natural gas: the global context Natural gas is colourless, shapeless and odourless in its purest form. It is over 99% pure methane and when it is burned to release energy it burns almost completely causing minimal pollution in terms of sulphur dioxide or particulates. Natural gas accounted for 23.2% of total primary energy supply (TPES) globally in 2019 and has in the last 20 years become an even more significant part of the energy mix in Ireland. It is economical to build transmission pipelines and transport gas long distances under pressure. As a result there is considerable international import and export activity in the natural gas sector. Table 3.2 shows the share of natural gas in the global energy market regionally. Although a major part of Ireland’s energy picture, Ireland’s national gas production and consumption hardly registers at the global level. The most significant change in global natural gas production over the last 30 years (apart from an overall increase in total production) is the decline in OECD share of that production. Over the same period the contribution from other regions to global gas production increased significantly. Natural gas growth is expected to continue as emerging markets continue to expand economically, particularly Asian economies. Growing imports from China, greater levels of industrial demand and rising production from the US are set to shape the evolution of the market in the next five years.

In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global natural gas market. Mirroring reduced economic activity, both supply and demand contracted as governments across the world sought to impose restrictive public health measures to mitigate the virus’ impact. In its first decline since the global financial crash in 2009, global natural gas production reduced by 2.5% in 2020. At the same time, natural gas demand contracted by – 1.5%. Consequently, less natural gas was traded worldwide in 2020. In Europe, where around 40% of natural gas is imported from Russia, the ultimate impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and subsequent economic sanctions on natural gas production remains to be seen. However, as of March 2022, European gas prices were achieving record highs and were expected to remain so into 2023. As such, natural gas continues to flow and be traded normally, albeit at high prices.

Table 3.2 World natural gas production by region 1973–2020 (%) OECD Middle East Non-OECD Europe and Eurasia China Non-OECD Asia Non-OECD Americas Africa

1973 71.7 2.1

2020 38.3 16.1

22.3 0.5 1.0 1.6 0.8

23.8 4.8 7.4 3.5 6.1

Source: IEA Key World Statistics 2021.

Table 3.1 Reserves of natural gas 2020 Reserves Tcm

Production Bcm

% share of world reserves

Reserves to production

15.2

535

8.1

13.7

South and Central America

7.9

278.9

4.2

51.7

Europe

3.2

111.9

1.7

14.5

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

56.6

1,998.90

30.1

70.5

Middle East

75.8

2,677.10

40.3

110.4

Africa

12.9

455.2

6.9

55.7

Asia Pacific

16.6

584.8

8.8

25.4

Total world

188.1

6,641.80

100

48.8

North America

Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2021. Bcm = Billion cubic metres. Tcm = Trillion cubic metres.

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Reserves of natural gas Despite the reduction in both gas demand in most regions and production (with the largest decreases in Russia and the US), the gas share of primary energy continued to increase, achieving a record high of 24.7%. World proved gas reserves in 2020 decreased by 2.2 Tcm to 188.1 Tcm when compared with 2019. Russia, Iran, and Qatar are the nations with the largest reserves. The current global reserves-to-production ratio (R/P) shows that gas reserves in 2020 accounted for 48.8 years of current production. Middle East (110.4 years) and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (70.5 years) are the regions with the highest R/P ratio.

Gas in Ireland

Natural gas in Ireland Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, natural gas demand remained stable. As in 2020, natural gas contributed 30% of Ireland’s primary energy use in 2021. Natural gas powered 46% of Ireland’s electricity generation, down from 49% in the previous year, and over 40% of its heating. Ireland’s gas network is 14,617km long. It connects over 706,000 customers in 22 counties. It also supplies 11 gas power stations which feed electricity onto the grid. Ireland’s gas network is State-owned and among the most modern in Europe, operating to the highest safety standards. In 2020, across the network for Ireland, north and south, as well as the Isle of Man, 76.3 TWh of gas was transported through 14,617km of gas pipelines, including two subsea interconnectors. In the Republic, 57.88 TWh of gas was used. In this period, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) connected 8,091 new commercial and residential customers and contracted 635 GWh of new demand. Recent additions to the network included 12 new apartment blocks, 40 large industrial users, 420 commercial businesses, 1,598 new homes, and 2,435 existing homes. Ireland’s gas network has three supply points. Approximately 34% of gas came from the gas field at Corrib and less than 2% from Kinsale Head gas field prior to its closure in July 2020. The Corrib’s known resources have plateaued and production, which will continue for another decade, is in decline. The Kinsale field had served Ireland for over 40 years and was decommissioned in July 2020. While around 36% of Ireland’s gas demand was met by indigenous sources, 64% is imported via Gas Networks Ireland’s twinned interconnector to Scotland, which comes ashore in Brighouse Bay, north of Dublin. This interconnector also supplies Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. The Programme for Government 2020 committed to ending the issue of new licenses for the exploration and extraction of gas, on the same basis as the recent decision in relation to oil exploration and extraction. In February 2021, the Cabinet approved a ban new application for both oil and gas exploration licences. This commitment was provided for in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is no longer accepting new applications for exploration licences for natural gas or oil, nor will there be any future licensing rounds. A highly competitive gas market Since 2007, Ireland’s gas market has been liberalised and customers have been able to move easily between gas suppliers. This is true for both domestic and business customers. In 2020, there were nine retail gas suppliers active in Ireland. Ireland is one of the most active markets for customer switching with 113,000 gas customers switching in the period from January 2020 to December 2020, reflecting the healthy level of competition among shippers. Gas Networks Ireland operates the Gas Point Registration

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Operator (GPRO) and is responsible for the Change of Shipper process. The GPRO works independently and treats all shippers and suppliers in a non-discriminatory manner. A cleaner energy system Ireland’s energy use is balanced approximately one-third for transport, one-third for heating and one-third for electricity. Ireland’s heating market has traditionally had a very high level of home heating oil. Between 2005 and 2015, the gap between oil and gas for final energy heat closed significantly. Since 2015, the two energy sources were approximately equal, with oil consistently maintaining a narrow lead. In 2000, 59% of heat was from oil and 24% from gas whereas, in 2020, 44% of heat was from oil and 40% from gas. Replacing home heating oil with natural gas reduces emissions by approximately 20%. In terms of power generation, recent years have seen natural gas displace coal, peat, and oil as elements of Ireland’s power generation portfolio. As the Moneypoint coal-fired power station reaches the end of its current life, natural gas, and renewable energy are working together to ensure a cleaner energy supply. By their nature, renewables are intermittent and somewhat unreliable. The dramatic and welcome growth in wind energy on the Irish grid is only possible because natural gas provides the security of supply that means there is always energy available, regardless of the weather.

Decarbonising Ireland’s gas network As indicated, natural gas does currently help to reduce emissions in contrast to other fossil fuels, however it still accounts for approximately one-sixth of Ireland’s emissions. Gas Networks Ireland’s vision is for the gas network to evolve to become carbon neutral by 2050 and to support emissions reductions across every sector of the Irish economy at the lowest cost possible. They aim to achieve this vision by meeting half the projected 2050 gas demand with net zero carbon and zero carbon gases and by using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to abate the emissions from the remaining natural gas. The Programme for Government (PfG) 2020 and subsequent Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020 has committed to a 7% average annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions until 2030 and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In addition, the PfG outlines the Government’s opposition to the development of LNG gas import terminals and importing fracked gas. As recently as January 2022, Minister for the Environment told An Bord Pleanála that the proposed Shannon LNG terminal should not be permitted “under any circumstances”. Ireland’s €2.7 billion gas network is one of the most modern and safe gas networks in the world with no capacity constraints, it can be used with minimal investment to facilitate renewable energies including renewable gas and hydrogen.

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Ireland’s natural gas infrastructure

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‘Vision 2050’ outlines the role that the gas network and key technologies such as:

private stations in various stages of planning and development.

•

renewable gas;

•

compressed natural gas (CNG) for transport;

•

CCS; and

Alongside the roll out of a national CNG fuelling network, GNI has also launched a €2.9 million CNG Vehicle Grant Scheme to help Irish transport operators purchase 400 new CNG vehicles.

• hydrogen. These will play a key role in tackling climate change while also ensuring that Ireland has a sustainable and secure energy future. Vision 2050 demonstrates how the gas network supports decarbonisation for domestic customers, industrial users, transport, agriculture, and power generation. Renewable gas, often referred to as biomethane, is a clean, renewable and carbon neutral fuel. Its potential as a renewable fuel for heat, electricity and transport is wellrecognised in response to the EU’s commitment to becoming a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy. It can replace heavily polluting fossil fuels such as coal, oil and peat and is a direct substitute for natural gas, without the need to invest in alternative infrastructure. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is natural gas which has been compressed to fit into a Natural Gas Vehicle’s (NGV) tank and is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles. It is a proven alternative to diesel, reducing carbon emissions by up to 23% and nitrous oxide by up to 50%, while also reducing transport costs by up to 25%. There are an estimated 25 million NGVs in operation worldwide, and almost two million in Europe. While Heavy Good Vehicles (HGV) and buses account for only 4% of vehicles on Ireland’s roads, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector. Gas Network Ireland’s Causeway Project aims to deliver four high capacity fast-fill CNG stations, a single renewable gas injection point and a vehicle grant. The CNG Vehicle fund was delivered successfully and succeeded by the ongoing CNG Vehicle Grant Scheme. In December 2018, Circle K and GNI launched Ireland’s first publicly accessible, fast-fill CNG station at Circle K’s Dublin Port premises. This was co-financed by Gas Networks Ireland, NUI Galway, and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) as part of the Causeway Project. The state-of-the-art fast fill facility at Dublin Port has the capacity to fill up to 70 HGVs a day with each fill taking no more than five minutes. This station marks the first public CNG re-fuelling station in a network of 150 filling stations to be developed in Ireland in the coming years. Since then, GNI have announced partnerships with Panda and Applegreen to open public stations in addition to further stations with Circle K. In 2021, two public CNG stations opened in County Dublin and County Limerick. To date, there are seven CNG stations in operation in Ireland. Four public stations are open at Circle K forecourts at Dublin Port, Clonshaugh, Cashel, and the Ballysimon Road in Limerick city, with a fifth set to open in Cavan. Each station has enough capacity to fill up to 50 HGVs each day, with each fill requiring no more than five minutes. Three private CNG stations are also operational. An additional eight public stations and two

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a proven technology that captures up to 100% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by major industries and electricity generation. CCS technology takes carbon from the exhaust fumes created by natural gas power generation. The process absorbs the carbon from the exhaust fumes before it leaves the power plant, meaning the electricity is carbon free. The captured CO2 is then conditioned, compressed, transported, and stored permanently and safely deep underground. CCS prevents emissions from entering the atmosphere and causing climate change. Zero-carbon power generation from gas with CCS (abated gas) has the advantage of being completely reliable, making it the ideal long-term partner for wind and solar energy. In September 2019, Ervia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with multinational energy company, Equinor, on assessing the potential for Ireland to benefit from CCS. In December 2019, Ervia’s Cork CCUS project was included on the European Commission’s Project of Common Interest (PCI) list. This enables Ervia to apply for significant EU funding and support in meeting Ireland’s climate action targets. At the early stages of a feasibility study, the Cork CCUS project is seeking to use a Kinsale gas field as a potential store for carbon. In October 2020, the European Commission awarded Ervia €1.04 million for the carbon capture project in Cork under CEF Energy. Currently, the Cork CCUS PCI is in the early stages of a feasibility study to examine different scenarios of CO2 emissions, including volume and supply profiles. While initially focusing on the Cork CCUS cluster, this will be applicable to other potential clusters in Ireland. Simultaneously, the study will assess the potential to import CO2 as part of the development of Kinsale Head gas field as a geological storage facility.

Renewable gas and alternative gas supply Renewable gas is a very versatile form of bioenergy, as it can be produced from a range of feedstocks and utilised in all energy sectors: for electricity production, heat, and cooling and in transport. This renewable gas production and use contributes to the EU’s decarbonisation, renewable energy, and energy security objectives. Due to successful policies in various member states, EUwide biogas production increased rapidly in recent years. While Ireland has made solid progress in relation to developing renewable electricity, this counts for only a small portion of overall energy use. Renewable gas (biomethane) is a clean, sustainable, carbon neutral fuel for heat, electricity, and transport. It uses the same gas infrastructure as natural gas to supply energy to homes and businesses. It is produced by anaerobic digestion (AD), gasification and power to gas technologies.

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Of these technologies, AD of wet organic biomass is currently the most economically viable technology for renewable gas production. Currently, 6.3% of Ireland’s heat sector demand is met by renewable energy, such as biomass and biogas.

renewable gas is used on-site in the waste water treatment plants in CHP units to provide heat and electricity for the plants' own use. In 2018, approximately 31 GWh of electricity was produced from sewage sludge gas.

The potential renewable sources of fuel in Ireland are biodegradable municipal wastes, agri-food processing residues, wastewater treatment sludges, animal manures and grass. Renewable gas is produced when organic matter is broken down by anaerobic bacteria and ultimately converted to methane and carbon dioxide.

Biogas is also produced from the anaerobic digestion of animal slurries, waste in abattoirs, breweries, and other agri-food industries. In 2018, approximately 14GWh of electricity in Ireland was generated from biogas CHP in industry.

Table 3.3 Bioenergy in Ireland Quantity (ktoe)

Shares %

Growth %

2005

2020

2005

2020

2000-

176

288

174

15,789

195

491

152

2020 Biomass and renewable wastes Biogas and landfill gas Liquid biofuels Total bioenergy

Source: Energy in Ireland 2021 report, SEAI

Renewable gas can be upgraded to natural gas quality, injected into the gas grid, and used in the same manner as natural gas. It is clear from independent studies renewable gas offers Ireland a very significant source of renewable energy and could make a very large contribution to meeting Ireland’s renewable energy and GHG emissions targets for 2020 and beyond. The European Commission has indicated that Ireland has the greatest potential for renewable gas development of any of the member states and the Climate Action Plan has a target to establish 1.6TWh of gas on the network as biomethane by 2030. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is currently assessing the appropriate level of target that should be set for the level of energy to be supplied by indigenous biomethane injection in 2030, as per the Climate Action Plan. Renewable gas is produced by the anaerobic digestion of biological materials such as animal slurries, agri-food waste, and sewage sludges. Once renewable gas is produced, it can be burned in a boiler to produce heat, used in CHP plants to produce heat and electricity, or upgraded further to biomethane. In 2018, a total of 44 GWh of Ireland’s electricity was generated from biogas CHP in industry and waste-water treatment plants. Sewage sludge produced in waste water treatment plants can be anaerobically digested to produce biogas. This

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Table 3.3 shows the progress of bioenergy to gross final consumption in Ireland from 2005 until 2020. In August 2019, GNI confirmed that locally produced renewable gas has been successfully injected into Ireland’s gas network for the first time. The renewable gas enters the network at Ireland’s only purpose-built injection facility in Cush, County Kildare and represented the first step in Gas Networks Ireland’s plan to roll out a network of renewable gas injection facilities across the country. Achieving its first commercial flows in 2020, it is now facilitating the sale of renewable gas to large industrial gas users from both domestic and international sources. In 2021, the planning application for the first renewable gas central grid injection (CGI) facility, in Mitchelstown, County Cork, was granted planning permission and technical design is now being completed. This large-scale central grid injection facility is part of the GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural and Zero Emissions) gas project. The project is valued at €28 million, with €8.5 million in grant funding support from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications’ Climate Action Fund. The homes that are switching to natural gas today will ultimately be supplied by renewable gas, thus reducing net emissions to zero. A KPMG study, released in 2018, has identified that renewable gas offers the most costeffective way of decarbonising 300,000 homes which are currently running on oil, but which are close to the gas network. The development of renewable gas will significantly improve the sustainability of the natural gas network in Ireland and reduce the dependency on imported natural gas, by generating gas from indigenous sources. GNI aims to achieve a carbon neutral gas network by 2050. Renewable gas is a key part of this and, importantly, it can deliver savings in the pre-2030 timeframe. Depending on the level of ambition and support, Irish renewable gas producers could deliver 20% of gas needs by 2030. The model for rolling out renewable gas production is simple and is a familiar one in an Irish context, similar to the dairy co-op approach. It is likely that renewable gas plants will be located across rural Ireland based primarily on geographic proximity to feedstock and at a scale sympathetic to their local environment. These plants will be fuelled using agricultural waste, rotation crops, and grass silage produced from the increased productivity of currently underutilised land and through the diversification of the wider rural community. Standardisation of equipment, structures and funding packages shall drive economies of scale, regulatory compliance, and efficient deployment, while minimising the subsidy required to support the industry.

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Gas in Ireland

Recent years have clearly demonstrated that Irish agriculture and particularly the beef sector is being squeezed. In addition to the poor prices being achieved at meat factories, farmers are facing the brunt of calls to reduce emissions from their herd. The Irish agricultural sector accounts for one-third of overall Irish greenhouse gas emissions and is under increasing pressure to decarbonise, with suggestions from some stakeholders for a capping or even a reduction in cattle grazing. This in itself represents an existential threat to rural communities. Renewable gas production provides an opportunity to address this issue. Renewable gas production captures methane from slurry feedstock which will significantly decarbonise the dairy sector. The by-product is a nutrient rich digestate which reduces water pollution and enhances land quality. Importantly as well, the development of renewable gas production facilities helps farmers to create a meaningful diversified source of income. Gas Networks Ireland’s role is as facilitator, not as developer. GNI’s role is to support the sector’s development by investing in the roll-out of assets including grid injection points and specialist road tankers to transport the renewable gas from its rural production to the gas transmission network. Which is identical to GNI’s existing role as system operator for natural gas. GNI’s role is to also ensure that the best practices developed over the past decades in other jurisdictions are adopted, that the causes of failure in other markets are avoided and ensure that Ireland implements an AD sector which bypasses the early and challenging years experienced by most countries when establishing a new AD industry. The inclusion of renewable gas in the National Energy and Climate Plan is a positive step forward. Likewise, the Programme for Government outlines a commitment from the Government to explore and develop potential opportunities for farmers from anaerobic digestion.

Hydrogen production and use scenarios vary widely, but most net zero forecasts envisage a considerable growth in hydrogen use across sectors, from 150TW to almost 600TW by 2050. The Programme for Government published in 2020 commits to invest in research and development in ‘green’ hydrogen (generated using excess renewable energy) as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport. Climate Action Plan 2021 identifies green hydrogen as having the potential to support decarbonisation across several sectors, particularly in high-temperature heat for industry and in electricity generation, HGVs, shipping, and aviation. In 2021, Gas Networks Ireland commenced work on Commenced construction of a Hydrogen Innovation Centre in Brownsbarn, Dublin to test hydrogen’s suitability for use on its system and blend it with natural and renewable gas. Currently it is understood that blends of up to 20% hydrogen are compatible with existing gas infrastructure. Hydrogen will almost certainly play an important role in supporting our move towards a cleaner energy future. Similar to other gas network operators across Europe, GNI sees its gas network having a leading and enduring role in decarbonising Ireland’s energy system and providing security of supply to complement intermittent renewables. Trials for hydrogen heating networks are already underway in the north of England and there is significant potential in the Irish market. Energy stored in the form of gas is both energy dense and can be stored indefinitely in bulk. The gas network in Ireland and its interconnectors can currently store 310 GWh/d of energy, equivalent to two days average demand, this is far beyond the storage capabilities of batteries. However, Ireland remains one of only a few EU member states that does not have a hydrogen strategy.

Hydrogen development in Ireland Hydrogen is enjoying renewed and rapidly growing attention in Europe and around the world. Hydrogen can be used as a feedstock, a fuel or an energy carrier and storage, and has many possible applications across industry, transport, power, and buildings sectors. Most importantly, it does not emit CO2 and almost no air pollution when used. It thus offers a solution to decarbonise industrial processes and economic sectors where reducing carbon emissions is both urgent and hard to achieve. All this makes hydrogen essential to support the EU’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and for the global effort to implement the Paris Agreement while working towards zero pollution. Yet, today, hydrogen represents a modest fraction of the global and EU energy mix, and is still largely produced from fossil fuels, notably from natural gas or from coal, resulting in the release of 70 to 100 million tonnes CO2 annually in the EU. For hydrogen to contribute to climate neutrality, it needs to achieve a far larger scale and its production must become fully decarbonised.

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In the North, significant wind resource, a modern gas network, interconnection to the rest of the island and Great Britain, potential for salt cavern storage, and an engineering and manufacturing legacy represent a significant opportunity to accelerate hydrogen innovation and deployment. The Executive’s energy strategy, The Path to Zero Net Energy recognises an ambition to be a world leader in the new hydrogen economic. Already, funded by the Department for Infrastructure, Translink deployed three hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Belfast in December 2020. In Q1 2022, Translink plans to introduce an additional 20 hydrogen buses to its fleet and is procuring a new hydrogen fuelling station at Newtownabbey, County Antrim. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Water is set to procure a new 1MW electrolyser to be deployed at a major wastewater treatment works. B9 energy and firmus energy have identified a location and are currently investigating the possibility of a trial to inject hydrogen into a section of the natural gas network at the Silverwood Business Park in Ballymena, County Antrim. A new Hydrogen Training Academy at the Ballymena site is set to receive £511,000 from the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund.

Gas in Ireland

Calor is on a journey to a more sustainable future Many businesses across the island of Ireland are beginning to look towards economic recovery and what the future might hold for their company after the unprecedented nature of the pandemic. Similarly, Calor are taking stock and reflecting on their journey as a rural energy provider that has so far spanned over 80 years, while also setting out their path as a progressive energy partner as they aim to address the future energy needs of their customers. Calor are proud of a long-standing record of working with and understanding the energy needs of a wide spectrum of businesses across rural Ireland, ranging from the hospitality and leisure industry to the agriculture sector to large scale industrial manufacturing businesses. As a leading supplier of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) Calor are proud to have enabled thousands of Irish homes and businesses to switch to a cleaner alternative energy supply compared to oil and solid fuels. Calor LPG is a versatile, portable and manageable fuel which is easily stored and delivered in cylinder and bulk tank form. Homes and businesses around the country, regardless of their location, can operate on LPG. The benefit for homes, businesses, and our environment, is that LPG produces far lower carbon emissions than oil, coal, peat and even electricity. In a kilowatt hour, LPG emits 53% less CO2 than electricity, 33% less CO2 than coal, and 12% less CO2 than oil.*

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large energy users can make substantial emissions savings helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Looking to the future, Calor is committed to continue to bring innovative, renewable, and future-proofing products to meet customers’ evolving needs. Calor is part of SHV Energy, the largest distributor of LPG worldwide, fuelling industry, businesses, vehicles and homes in more than 27 countries. This benefits customers locally with access to global best practice in energy innovation, tailored by local experts, for their specific business needs. Following in the footsteps of their parent company’s 2040 pledge, Calor have pledged to be a supplier of 100% renewable products by their centenary year, 2037. With a logistics and distribution team that have already proven themselves skilled in sourcing and delivering a renewable energy to Ireland, the willingness and ambition to move towards a more sustainable future, as the next stage of Calor’s journey, is evident. *Based on carbon emission factors — SEAI.ie, (accessed January 2022.)

Visit www.calorgas.ie for further information.

Duncan Osborne CEO Calor

Building on their strong customer base, Calor is the first company to make a certified renewable form of LPG available to homes and businesses – BioLPG. Calor BioLPG is made from a mix of sustainably sourced renewable and waste materials. It is delivered, stored, and used in the same way as conventional LPG with no difference in performance and application and is fully traceable and certified under the International Sustainable Carbon Certification (ISCC) scheme. When launched in 2018, Calor set a very ambitious target by aiming for 10% of all its gas sold in Ireland to be renewable by the end of 2021 and were proud to achieve this target. The Calor BioLPG range has now expanded to include cylinder gas for the leisure sector – and also for the transport sector, forklift truck gas and Autogas with plans for further development in the coming years. The sustainability journey doesn’t end there as Calor also serve larger industries across the island of Ireland, delivering innovative energy solutions through LNG, a natural gas in liquid, cryogenic form. LNG is a popular choice for large energy users as natural gas delivers a very high intensity fuel, suitable for industrial processes which require a lot of energy. By switching from much more highly polluting fuel sources such as oil, to LNG,

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Green hydrogen: Legal and policy aspects As an island with extensive renewable electricity generation resources, Ireland should be favourably positioned to take advantage of the significant opportunities offered by green hydrogen production, storage and usage in the decarbonisation of Ireland's energy system. 'Green hydrogen' is essentially a carbon free fuel produced by splitting water into its constituent parts (hydrogen and oxygen) using an electrolyser powered by renewable energy sources. Proponents of the use of green hydrogen cite its ability to act as a clean source of fuel for back-up or buffer electricity generation required as a consequence of the significant increased penetration of variable renewable generation (such as wind and solar) in Ireland's generation mix. It is also commonly asserted that the development of green hydrogen has the potential to provide substantial volumes of a cost effective zero carbon fuel which can be utilised in areas which are less conducive to electrification and are more reliant on gases or fossil fuels. Such as domestic heating, industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, and transport for heavy vehicles (trains, buses, HGVs) aviation and shipping.

EU policy The EU's Green Deal outlines the EU's objective to being the first climate neutral continent by 2050. The EU has outlined various strategies to achieve this objective, including the EU Energy System Integration Strategy and the EU Hydrogen Strategy. The EU Hydrogen Strategy adopted in July 2020 outlines a target of achieving at least 6GW of green hydrogen electrolysers within the EU by 2024, with a longer term aim of installing at least 40GW of electrolysers by 2030. EU policy recognises that driving hydrogen development and usage needs critical mass in investment, both on new production infrastructure, on making gas networks fit for hydrogen injection and on stimulating consumer demand. The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance is aimed at building up a robust pipeline of investments to facilitate coordinated investments and policies along the hydrogen value chain. EU policy also recognises the importance of an enabling regulatory framework for hydrogen production and trading including incentives for both supply and demand in lead markets (for example discounts on network entry tariffs and elimination of cross-border tariffs), taxation, hydrogen certification rules and appropriate state aid rules. In this regard on 15 December 2021 the EU Commission released its Hydrogen and Gas Market Decarbonisation Package which provides for revisions of existing EU gas legislation to create some of this framework. Private sector funding support, as well as EU funding support such as through EIB financing, the InvestEU programme and the ETS Innovation Fund, is recognised as necessary to bridge the investment gap.

•

minimum requirements for the roll-out of alternative fuels infrastructure in the EU member states under revisions to the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive 2014/94/EU, including proposing binding targets for hydrogen refueling points.

The Irish Perspective From a policy standpoint, Ireland's Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21) and the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 (Act) set the backdrop for Ireland's hydrogen policy. CAP21 sets targets of identifying a route to deliver 1-3 TWh of zero emissions gas (including green hydrogen) by 2030 and the introduction of incentives for electrolyser production and grid connection of green hydrogen. CAP21 also sets out specific actions and corresponding completion dates relating to the development of green hydrogen. These include: •

Gas Networks Ireland testing the technical feasibility of safely injecting green hydrogen blends into the gas grid by Q4 2022 (as part of GNI's Vision for 2050);

•

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) to assess the potential for energy system integration between the electricity and gas networks including the production, storage and use of green hydrogen by Q1 2023;

•

DECC to develop a policy/ regulatory roadmap for green hydrogen use in the natural gas grid by Q1 2023;

•

National Transport Authority to complete pilot of hydrogen fuel cell double deck buses and review performance by Q4 2022;

•

Department of Transport to progress a study reviewing the profile, sustainability, and supply of renewable transport fuels in Ireland, such as biofuels, advanced biofuels, e-fuels, synthetic fuels, biogas, and green hydrogen by Q2 2022.

Many commentators have commented that Ireland now needs to formulate a detailed hydrogen strategy to help realise the significant opportunity from green hydrogen and provide signals for investment in green hydrogen projects. It would seem that one of the significant requirements is to stimulate sufficient demand for green hydrogen, by incentivising industrial and commercial usage, repurposing of the network to ensure hydrogen can be injected into the grid, and creating export opportunities. A&L Goodbody was pleased to advise Energia on its partnership with Translink to supply hydrogen from one of Energia's windfarms in Northern Ireland, to fuel public buses in Belfast. Let's hope that is the first of many hydrogen production and offtake transactions on the island of Ireland in the near future. Ross Moore, Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, A&L Goodbody

Other important EU policy initiatives include: •

revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) (Directive (EU) 2018/410) under the Fit for 55 proposals which proposes to include the production of hydrogen using electrolysers under the ETS, ensuring renewable and low-carbon facilities will be eligible for free allowances; and

Niall Hayes, Associate, Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources, A&L Goodbody

Other key contacts: John Dallas, Partner, Dublin, A&L Goodbody Mark Stockdale, Partner, Belfast, A&L Goodbody

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Gas in Ireland

Gas usage in transport While much of the focus in terms of emission reduction has been on power generation, transport contributes significantly to Ireland’s emissions. Policy makers are now seeking solutions which will not only reduce carbon emissions, but also NOx and SOx emissions, which can be harmful to health and are becoming a serious problem in urban centres. Natural gas is a globally proven alternative to petrol and diesel. In March 2021, the Minister for Transport announced the launch of the €2 million Alternatively Fuelled Heavy-Duty Vehicle (AFHDV) Purchase Grant Scheme as part of the Government’s plan to decarbonise the transport sector. The grant scheme is intended to support the owners of large vans, trucks, buses, coaches and refuse collection vehicles to switch to battery electric, plug in hybrid, gas, or hydrogen fuelled vehicles.

transport sector with a completely renewable indigenous fuel source. Through the Irish Government’s Finance Bill 2015, an excise duty of €9.36 MWh (the EU minimum rate) was set for CNG for the next eight years. This represents a significant reduction in the excise applied to diesel or petrol and reflects the Government’s commitment to providing alternatives for Ireland’s future transport energy needs. The Department of Transport has developed a national policy framework to underpin and support the deployment of infrastructure for the use of alternative transport fuels, including CNG. The 2015 Energy White Paper outlines several areas through which the Government intends to support the deployment and use of CNG as a transport fuel: •

Compressed natural gas (CNG) in transport, offers a cleaner, cheaper, and proven fuel solution for commercial fleets of trucks, buses, and vans. The benefits associated with natural gas in transport include: The use of natural gas instead of more polluting fuels like diesel and petrol will result in considerably lower emissions of climate changing greenhouse gases (GHG). The chemical properties of CNG compared to diesel contain significantly less polluting and harmful substances as outlined below: •

22% less carbon dioxide (CO2);

•

70% less nitrogen oxide (NOx);

•

80% less sulphur dioxide (SOx); and

•

99% less particulate matter (PM).

Fuel cost savings of up to 35% can be achieved with CNG compared to other fuels, making it an extremely attractive alternative fuel source. Government incentives encouraging businesses to invest in less polluting vehicles and supporting policies such as those contained in the Energy White Paper published in November 2015, the Climate Action Plan 2019, and the Programme for Government in 2020, will further support the adoption of CNG. CNG is a proven technology that has been in existence for decades. Worldwide there are over 25 million natural gas vehicles in use, with strong growth in Europe recorded on an annual basis. Gas Networks Ireland has conducted detailed on-theground trials with commercial consumers in key industry segments and is working closely with industry stakeholders in order to establish the CNG network. The European Deployment of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive has stipulated that Ireland must establish a refuelling infrastructure for CNG by 2025. CNG stations can be supplied with natural gas from the current gas network infrastructure and will allow for the introduction of renewable gas to natural gas vehicles (NGVs) without further conversion, thus providing the

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the Government will support the adoption of zero and low carbon tail pipe emissions vehicles such as electric vehicles and natural gas vehicles, using natural gas and renewable gas, through grants and/or tax relief; and

•

to support energy efficient and renewable transport, Government will establish a green bus fund to support the purchase of cleaner and greener public transport vehicles in the period to 2020. The 2019 Climate Action Plan outlined further priorities for the CNG Network including: •

develop a strategy for heavy freight designed to progress beyond existing commitments;

•

delivering 14 public CNG fuelling stations as part of the Causeway Project, with a view to further expansion of the network; and

•

installing the first transmission connected CGI facility for renewable gas and a grant scheme to support circa 74 CNG vehicles.

Green Connect Project The Green Connect Project will consolidate the Causeway Project and provide additional infrastructure to the national CNG refuelling network situated along the Core TEN-T road network. The planned delivery of 21 new CNG stations, four renewable gas injection facilities and the deployment of four mobile CNG refuelling stations will support the decarbonisation of Ireland’s transport sector and provide an affordable, proven, and viable alternative to diesel for Irish fleet operators.

Integrated gas market The ultimate goal is for gas markets in both Ireland and Northern Ireland to move towards full liberalisation. However, the current market structures and arrangements in both jurisdictions remain, different. The relevant authorities in both jurisdictions are seeking to establish an all-island Common Arrangements for Gas (CAG) whereby all market participants can buy, sell, transport, operate, develop, and plan a common natural gas market north and south of the border.

Gas in Ireland

The gas network: Ireland’s renewables-ready decarbonisation solution Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network is considered one of the safest and most modern renewables-ready gas networks in the world. It is the cornerstone of Ireland’s energy system and vital to the energy security we all enjoy, reliably powering 30% of Ireland’s primary energy needs, including 40% of our heating and almost half our electricity generation. A growing customer base of more than 710,000 Irish homes and businesses including many of the county’s largest industries reliant on gas for high heat processes, trust the national gas network to provide efficient and affordable energy for their heating, cooking, manufacturing and transport needs. With a key role to play in Ireland’s cleaner energy future, the gas network must be decarbonised in line with the electricity grid. By replacing natural gas with renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, complementing intermittent renewable electricity and ensuring a secure energy supply, the gas network will support emissions reductions across every sector of the Irish economy. Gas Networks Ireland is working to make this possible.

The importance of gas in Ireland’s energy mix Gas remained the primary source of electricity in 2021, generating 46% of Ireland’s electricity, down 3% on 2020 due to maintenance at a number of gas-fired power plants, public health restrictions and milder weather. Wind’s share of electricity generation also fell from 35% in 2020 to 29% in 2021 while coal generation climbed from 5% in 2020 to 11% in 2021. At their peak, gas and wind powered up to 82% and 77% of Ireland’s electricity needs respectively, but the intermittent nature of wind saw it drop lower than 1% at times, while the contribution of gas didn’t drop below 10% during 2021. Coal provided as much as 29% at times.

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Decarbonising the gas network with renewable gases While natural gas emits significantly less carbon than coal and oil, Ireland must transition to more sustainable alternatives to meet its climate action targets and enhance our energy security and diversity in line with European and national policy. A carbon-neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion, biomethane is fully compatible with the national gas network, existing appliances, technologies and vehicles, and began seamlessly replacing natural gas in small volumes in 2019. The 2021 Climate Action Plan has an initial target of 1.6TWh/yr of biomethane on the national gas network by 2030 and outlines the Government’s intent to explore opportunities to increase production and further reduce emissions in the agri-food sector. A domestic biomethane industry would also provide significant opportunities for local communities from the sale of biomethane, feedstock used to produce the renewable gas, and a bio-fertiliser digestate that is a byproduct of the process. Hydrogen is a carbon free, flammable gas, that can be made from renewable electricity, such as wind, and stored until needed, making it an attractive option to decarbonise Ireland’s energy system and strong example of how greater integration between Ireland’s gas and electricity networks can support a low carbon economy. While there is currently no hydrogen on Ireland’s gas network, it is believed blends of up to 20% could be transported on the existing infrastructure today. Gas Networks Ireland recently completed construction of a research and development facility in Dublin to develop a detailed hydrogen technical strategy and ensure that the existing gas network is capable of safely transporting and storing both blended and 100% hydrogen into the future.

With the opening of two more Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuelling stations in 2021, demand for gas as an alternative to diesel in the commercial transport sector was up 78% year-on-year with further growth expected in this market in 2022. There were also notable increases in gas demand from sectors such as retail (+18%), construction (+16%), laundry (+13%), leisure (+13%) and air travel (+10%), as Covid-19 restrictions eased during the year. Despite these sectoral increases, overall demand decreased by 4.7%, with the continued impact of Covid19 restrictions and relatively milder weather conditions also playing a role.

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In April 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on CAG was published followed by a cost-benefit analysis in 2009. The two governments and both regulators have continued to develop structural arrangements for system operation, tariffing, and other market arrangements, and the two governments are drafting the required legislation to underpin the CAG regime. The CAG project was envisaged to dovetail with the European Union’s goal of a single internal energy market, including a single panEuropean gas market. However, the CAG project has been superseded by EU internal gas market developments. The EU agenda requires the implementation, within specified timeframes, of binding EU gas network codes. These codes are set out in EU legislation and aim to enhance trading in gas between Member States. The Department, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the system operators for electricity and gas are working with their counterparts both at regional and EU levels towards electricity and gas market integration. The focus is currently on the development of Framework Guidelines and network codes (market rules) relating to both the electricity and gas markets which will apply across the EU. Brexit The UK and Ireland have a long trade history pre-dating the EU. Flows of gas between Great Britain and Ireland take place through gas interconnectors, with trade now facilitated by a European trading platform. Concerns had been raised about Ireland’s security of gas supply, particularly if the UK geographically blocked supplies from the EU to Ireland or if EU security for supply regulations no longer require the UK to provide security to Ireland. However, Gas Networks Ireland, stated its belief that there will be no adverse impact on gas flows due to Brexit.

Natural gas in Northern Ireland For many years Northern Ireland has, as a consequence of geographical location and absence of local sources of fuel, faced fuel costs significantly higher than elsewhere in the United Kingdom and Western Europe. While most main urban areas of Western Europe have enjoyed the benefits of an extensive natural gas supply network, Northern Ireland was an exception until 1996 having relied up to that time on ‘town’ gas. Since the demise of the many town gas suppliers in the 1970s as the cost of producing gas from coal became too expensive, local consumers had relied for primary energy sources on oil and coal. However, in 1996 a subsea natural gas interconnector with Scotland was commissioned that gave Northern Ireland access to natural gas for the first time. Scotland-Northern Ireland Pipeline (SNIP) landed at Islandmagee in County Antrim to supply the Ballylumford Power Station and was extended 35km from there to Belfast where a new distribution system (based substantially on the old town gas infrastructure) was established. The overall plan was to develop Greater Belfast before rolling out to other large provincial population centres.

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Gas to generate power Electricity was previously generated from power plants that were predominantly oil burning. This investment was a logical development in the 1960s when international oil prices were low relative to other available fuels. The oil price shocks in the 1970s made the reliance on oil a less attractive choice. In the previous decade, oil prices remained high enough to make the conversion of the bigger generating power plants to other fuels a viable option. However, in 2020, a dramatic decrease in oil prices was experience amid the Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war and the Covid-19 pandemic. Natural gas now plays a very important role in providing energy for both heating and electricity generation in Northern Ireland with over 60% of the electricity generated in Northern Ireland coming from gas. By the end of December 2021, approximately 239,853 customers had been connected to natural gas in the original Greater Belfast licensed area. The gas distribution network in Northern Ireland is currently divided into three distinct areas, the Greater Belfast and Larne area, served by Phoenix Natural Gas (PNGL); the Ten Towns area which is served by firmus energy (Distribution) Limited (feDL), and the West of Northern Ireland operated by SGN Natural Gas Limited (SGN). By the end of December 2021, firmus had connected approximately 61,088 customers in their Ten Towns license area and gas in the West area had 2,395 connections. By 2022, 60% of Northern Ireland’s homes and businesses had been predicted to be connected to natural gas. The large Ballylumford power station, with a capacity then of 1,000MW, was bought in 1992 by British Gas. At the time of purchase, a contract was signed that British Gas would convert the plant to burn natural gas, as an alternative to oil, and would construct a gas pipeline to Ballylumford from Scotland. During 2010 BG Group sold its interest in Premier Power to AES Ballylumford Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of AES Corporation, for £99 million. The power station changed hands again in April 2019 and purchased by Czech company Energetický a Průmyslový Holding (EPH). When the Scotland-Northern Ireland Gas Pipeline (SNIP) was completed in 1996 the station was converted to burn natural gas. A new 600MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant was commissioned at Ballylumford during 2003. The new gas-fired power plant, which was built alongside the existing station, has the capability to supply around half of Northern Ireland’s electricity needs. In 2020 EPH began a €96 million tender process to source gas fired generating units for Ballylumford and the Kilroot station, also owned the company, which is powered by coal and oil. Kilroot had been predicted to close by 2024. In addition, a new ESB power station at Coolkeeragh, near Derry, replaced the old heavy fuel oil station that dated back to 1959. The gas for the new plant is provided via the North-West pipeline, which was completed in October 2004. The plant was officially opened in June 2005.

Gas in Ireland

Sustainability at core of expanded Flogas energy portfolio From our original beginnings as a supplier of LPG countrywide from our base in Drogheda, we have expanded our suite of energy offerings and solutions to include certified 100% renewable electricity, natural gas, BioLPG, bio-methane, bioenergy and related services. We now employ around 350 people, and our company vision is to be Ireland’s leading provider of total energy solutions to meet customers’ changing requirements, delivered to the highest possible standards. In line with this vision, our portfolio of energy business units and brands now include Flogas, Clearpower, Budget Energy in Northern Ireland and most recently Naturgy Ireland, now rebranded Flogas Enterprise. It’s been a remarkable transformative journey for the business, of which I am proud to have been part since I joined the company as Managing Director in 2014. Budget Energy offers 100% renewable electricity, while Clearpower delivers bioenergy solutions either as turnkey installations, where the client purchases the solution through their own source of funding, or as a fully outsourced energy supply agreement, where Clearpower will fund the installation of the plant, delivers energy on demand as needed and the client only pays for the energy they use. Flogas Enterprise, with its portfolio of large energy user clients and track record in this area, represents an important step in our strategy to expand our energy solutions. We service residential customers, as well as small to medium businesses and large commercial energy users across the island of Ireland, in every area of business life that you can mention: large scale industry, commercial, catering, hospitality, agricultural and automotive. No matter where our customers are located geographically, we can deliver a cleaner energy supply solution for them. Our commitment to quality speaks for itself as we hold the NSAI Quality System Certificate from the I.S. EN ISO 9002 series. As a wholly owned subsidiary of DCC Group plc, we are extremely focused on sustainability and operating responsibly in everything that we do. The reduction of carbon emissions is central to our climate action initiatives and our commitment towards this goal is reflected throughout our business. As a utility company, we are at the forefront of the transformation of energy generation. We are fully aware that our role in the development of renewable forms of energy for all our futures has never been more important. Affordable sustainable energy alternatives and the reduction of carbon emissions are fast becoming key business drivers for our commercial customers and an important factor for residential customers too. The rollout of Flogas BioLPG in 2021 supports the government’s shared goal of tackling air quality, driving decarbonisation and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

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BioLPG allows off-grid homes and businesses to reduce their carbon footprint significantly without expensive retrofitting or changes to their heating system. BioLPG is a renewable version of LPG and works with existing gas appliances, equipment, and other machinery, made from sustainably sourced renewable vegetable oils, wastes, and residues, and delivers up to 90% certified carbon emission savings compared to conventional LPG. As BioLPG is a ‘drop-in’ fuel, the LPG infrastructure is already prepared for the future, so no new equipment is required. Amidst increased pressure on business to take more responsibility for their carbon footprint by driving down carbon emissions, in early 2020, we launched a carbon offsetting solution for our commercial customers. It allows them to offset 100% of their own carbon emissions by providing critical support for projects directly benefiting the environment that adhere to internationally recognised gold standards and the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) criteria. Despite the pandemic, in 2021 Flogas Ireland and Flogas GB collectively offset 10,000 tonnes of energy emissions on behalf of our customers, which equates to 3,793 cars driven for a year. On the residential side of our business, our Flogas Green Future product took home gold in the Best Customer Innovation category at the Bonkers.ie National Consumer Awards for 2021. Flogas Green Future provides customers with 100% certified renewable electricity combined with carbon-offset Natural Gas for our dual fuel customers. Flogas is now a member of the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI) supporting its mission to make Ireland a leader in renewable gas production and advance its aims of indigenous, sustainable energy and the decarbonisation of heat demand. On a final note, the success of every business ultimately comes down to the people within it. I want to pay tribute to all our employees who kept our essential services operating during the pandemic, powering homes and businesses in every part of Ireland. We could not have done it without their commitment and support. Together we are working towards a greener future for all of us.

John Rooney Managing Director Flogas Ireland

www.flogas.ie ROI: 041 214 9800

www.flogasni.com NI: 028 9073 2611

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Northern Ireland gas market If the gas industry in the Republic is considered relatively new, it is an even newer industry in Northern Ireland. There are three distribution licenced areas in the North: Greater Belfast, Larne, and East Down; Ten Towns; and West. In Greater Belfast, Larne, and East Down, there are two active gas suppliers for domestic customers – firmus energy and SSE Airtricity – and six for industrial and commercial customers – Electric Ireland, firmus energy, Flogas, Go Power, SSE Airtricity, and Naturgy. In Ten Towns, firmus energy is the sole active supplier for domestic gas customers, while Electric Ireland, firmus energy, Flogas, Go Power, SSE Airtricity, and Naturgy supply industrial and commercial customers. In the West licenced area, SSE Airtricity is the only active supplier for domestic gas customers, while Electric Ireland, firmus energy, Flogas, Go Power, and SSE Airtricity actively supply industrial and commercial customers. The first licence to develop a natural gas industry infrastructure in Northern Ireland was awarded to Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd. Phoenix Natural Gas Limited currently holds the licence to construct and maintain the gas network in the Greater Belfast and Larne area. Phoenix owns and operates the gas distribution system, which takes gas to its customers. The gas transmission system which transports gas from the Scotland-Northern Ireland Pipeline at Islandmagee to join with the Phoenix system at Knocknagoney outside Belfast, was purchased from Phoenix by Mutual Energy in 2008 for £99.3 million. The 26 km transmission line,

Gas to the West: Pipeline route

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known as the Belfast Gas Transmission Pipeline (BGTP), is owned, and operated by Mutual Energy. In December 2006, Viridian Group’s energy supply business, Energia, secured its first gas supply contract in Northern Ireland with animal feedstuffs company John Thompson in Belfast. The contract signalled a lifting of certain barriers that restricted competition in the Northern Ireland gas supply market. In March 2005, firmus energy Distribution Limited (feDL) was formally awarded supply and distribution licences for the development of the Ten Towns natural gas network comprising 10 key towns across Northern Ireland: Antrim (including Ballyclare and Templepatrick); Armagh (including Tandragee); Ballymena (including Broughshane); Ballymoney; Banbridge; Coleraine (including Portstewart); Craigavon (including Moira, Lurgan and Portadown); Derry (including Newbuildings); Limavady; and Newry (including Warrenpoint). Firmus also entered the domestic gas market in Belfast in 2010, where it now has over 60,000 business and domestic customers. The feDL network now extends to around 30 towns and villages across Northern Ireland and includes over 1,000km of pipeline infrastructure. Towns connected in 2016 included Moy, Benburb, Blackwatertown, and Charlemont. The North West and South North gas pipelines In 2002, BGE (Northern Ireland) Ltd (BGENI) was awarded a licence from Ofreg to build, own and operate two transmission pipelines in Northern Ireland. The North West Pipeline (NWP) comprises a 112km pipeline from outside Belfast to the ESB power station at Coolkeeragh

Gas in Ireland

on the outskirts of Derry. The power plant forms the anchor load necessary to make the building of the pipeline viable. Construction of this pipeline was completed in October 2004, with the power station officially opened in June 2005. BGENI has run spurs to most of the population centres and industrial loads along the line route and distribution networks are being rolled out locally. The 156km South North Pipeline (SNP) was constructed during 2006 and officially opened in November 2007. It runs from Gormanstown in County Meath to Ballyclare in County Antrim, where it ties in with the North West Pipeline from Carrickfergus to Derry. Gas from the two interconnectors between Great Britain and the Republic can also be supplied to Northern Ireland along this pipeline. However, perhaps surprisingly, so far all of Northern Ireland’s gas continues to come from the UK system via the SNIP. Nonetheless, the very existence of the south/north line contributes significantly to system security. Gas to East Down In October 2015, Phoenix Natural Gas announced a plan to extend its network to 13 towns across the east of County Down, Northern Ireland. These were Annahilt, Ballygowan, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Crossgar, Downpatrick, Dromore, Drumaness, Dundrum, Hillsborough, Newcastle, Saintfield and Spa. This represents a potential 28,000 additional homes and businesses that can access the natural gas network. The plan was approved by the Utility Regulator in December 2015, following a period of public consultation. Work is still underway on the Gas to East Down project, with construction in Downpatrick, Dromore, Newcastle, and Castlewellan set to be complete in 2022. Gas to the West Gas to the West is a major energy infrastructure project, which will bring the benefits of mains natural gas to around 40,000 homes and businesses in the west of Northern Ireland. The main construction phase of the Gas to the West pipeline was completed in January 2020, meaning natural gas is now available to Artigarvan, Coalisland, Cookstown, Derrylin, Dungannon, Enniskillen, Magherafelt, Omagh and Strabane. The competition for the provision of the transmission pipeline and town distribution systems was launched in February 2014. The winning bidders, Mutual Energy and SGN were announced in August 2014 with high pressure and low-pressure licenses awarded in February 2015. Mutual Energy owns and operates the gas pipeline between Scotland and Northern Ireland (SNIP) while SGN owns gas networks in Scotland and the south-east of England. SGN Natural Gas is scheduled to deliver mains gas and meters to 40,000 customers over the next 40 years in eight main towns in the western area. The investment in Gas to the West supported around 500 jobs during the construction phase and the new gas infrastructure is expected to sustain a significant number of ongoing jobs for installation sub-contractors and other related functions.

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Security of supply As Northern Ireland becomes increasingly dependent on natural gas as an energy source for power generation, there are important security of supply issues to be considered. Northern Ireland’s natural gas supply originally came through the SNIP pipeline, which raised the risk that problems on the gas network leading to the SNIP line or with the pipeline itself could lead to an interruption in supply to Northern Ireland. This reliance on a single pipeline was alleviated with the construction of the South North Pipeline but Northern Ireland remains highly dependent on imported gas.

Natural gas organisations and companies Bord Gáis Energy One Warrington Place, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 611 0151 Web: www.bordgaisenergy.ie Email: info@bordgais.ie Senior management team Managing Director: Dave Kirwan Director of Energy, Marketing and Data: Colin Bebbington Director of Assets and Trading: Nico O’Rourke Legal, Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Affairs Director: Emma Burrows Director of Services and Solutions: Teresa Purtill Chief Financial Officer: John Dalton HR Partner: Lorraine McCullen Head of Strategy and Corporate Development: Barclay Cibborn Technology Partner: Tom Grealis Bord Gáis Energy has been in operation since 1976 and supplies over 730,000 customers. Since mid-2014, BGE has been part of the global Centrica Plc Group. firmus energy A4-A5 Fergusons Way Kilbegs Road Antrim, BT41 4LZ Tel: 0800 032 4567 Web: www.firmusenergy.co.uk Email: furtherinfo@firmusenergy.co.uk Managing Director: Niall Martindale (interim) Director of Engineering and Sustainability: Eric Cosgrove Director of Sales, Marketing and Customer Operations: Paul Stanfield Director of Finance: Denise Curran In March 2005, firmus energy was awarded the licence to develop a new gas network in 10 towns across Northern Ireland – from Derry, Coleraine and Ballymena in the North-West to Antrim, Craigavon (including Portadown and Lurgan) and Newry along the South-North transmission pipeline. firmus energy now supplies gas to over 9,000 industrial, commercial, and domestic customers in these towns. In addition, firmus energy holds supply licences for both the natural gas market in Greater Belfast and electricity across Northern Ireland.

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Flogas Ireland Limited Knockbrack House Matthews Lane, Donore Road Drogheda, Co Louth A92 T803 Tel: 041 983 1041 Web: www.flogas.ie Email: info@flogas.ie Chair: Donal Murphy Managing Director: John Rooney Flogas Northern Ireland Airport Road Belfast Harbour Estate Belfast, BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9073 2611 Web: www.flogasni.com Email: info@flogasni.com Chair: Donal Murphy Managing Director: John Rooney Flogas Ireland, part of DCC Energy LPG, is a leading supplier of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and natural gas in both Ireland and Britain. Flogas was founded in 1977 and through sustained organic growth and acquisition, the company has grown to be one of the largest independent suppliers of liquified petroleum gas in both Ireland and the UK. Gas Networks Ireland Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Web: www.gasnetworks.ie Chief Operating Officer: Denis O’Sullivan Chief Legal Officer: Claire Madden Director of Customer and Business Development: David Kelly Director of Strategy and Regulation: Edwina Nyhan Director of Business Services: Ian O’Flynn Director of People: Nicola McSweeney Chief Financial Officer: Ronan Galwey Gas Networks Ireland is a designated activity company, limited by shares, incorporated in Ireland with registered number 555744 and having its registered office at Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96. Gas Networks Ireland owns, operates, builds, and maintains the natural gas network in Ireland. It is responsible for connecting all new gas customers to the network and for work on service pipes and meters at customers’ premises, on behalf of all gas suppliers in Ireland. The network extends into 22 counties and consists of 14,617km of gas pipeline and two sub-sea interconnectors linking Ireland to the UK and European gas markets. Gas Networks Ireland ensures that over 706,000 homes and businesses receive a safe, efficient, and secure supply of natural gas and is continually advancing the utilisation of the gas network for the benefit of Ireland. Gas Networks Ireland is a business division of Ervia.

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In 2015, in line with European unbundling requirements, Gas Networks Ireland was established as a separate legal entity having all the assets and responsibilities related to the natural gas network previously held by Ervia (formerly Bord Gáis Éireann, as asset owner) and Gaslink (as independent system operator). Gas Networks Ireland applied to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) to be certified as a fully ownership unbundled transmission system operator under the 3rd EU Gas Directive. The CRU certified Gas Networks Ireland as Full Ownership Unbundled (FOU) in March 2016 in accordance with the third European Union Gas Directive 2009/73/EC (the “Directive”). The full ownership unbundling (“FOU”) model provides that the same company cannot conduct electricity generation or supply and/or gas production or supply activities while owning and operating the gas transmission network. Gas Market Operator Northern Ireland 4th Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9590 9250 Out of hours: 028 9590 9259 Web: www.gmo-ni.com Email: info@gmo-ni.com Gas Market Operator Northern Ireland (GMO NI) is the single gas market operator for Northern Ireland (which went live in October 2017). Islandmagee Storage Limited (IMSL) 8 Portmuck Road Islandmagee Larne, Co Antrim BT40 3TW Tel: +44 (0)28 9332 1384 Web: www.islandmageenergy.com Email: information@islandmageeenergy.com Chief Executive: John Wood Mutual Energy 1st Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 7580 Web: www.mutual-energy.com Chief Executive Officer: Paddy Larkin Phoenix Natural Gas Limited 197 Airport Road West Belfast, BT3 9ED Tel: 03454 555 555 Web: www.phoenixnaturalgas.com Email: info@phoenixnaturalgas.com Group Chief Executive: Michael McKinstry PSE Kinsale Energy Mahon Industrial Estate Blackrock, Cork Tel: 021 435 7301 Web: www.kinsale-energy.ie Email: info@kinsale-energy.ie CEO: Fergal Murphy

Gas in Ireland Naturgy 24-28 Tara Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 884 9400 Web: www.naturgy.ie Email: info@naturgy.ie CEO: Liam Faulkner

Gas licence holders Gas licences: Republic of Ireland In the gas retail sector, there are two distinct activities – that of a shipper and that of a supplier. A gas shipper brings gas into the transportation system for delivery to individual homes and premises. The transportation system is managed by Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) under contractual arrangements (the Code of Operations) between shippers and GNI. Some very large final customers act as their own shipper. However, most customers must have a gas supplier who contract with them for the sale of gas. Both natural gas suppliers and natural gas shippers must be licensed by the CRU.

Gas transmission system and distribution system owner licences holder Ervia PO Box 900, Webworks Eglinton Street, Cork Tel: 021 423 9000 Contact: Cathal Marley Gas Networks Ireland Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Contact: Denis O’Sullivan Gas Networks Ireland a designated activity company, limited by shares, incorporated in Ireland with registered number 555744 and having its registered office at Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96.

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Flogas Natural Gas Ltd Dublin Road, Drogheda, Co Louth Panda Power Ballymount Road Upper Ballymount, Dublin 24 Pinergy Suite 1, Beaver House Beech Hill Office Campus Clonskeagh, Dublin 4 D04 Y8X5 PrepayPower Paramount Court Corrig Road Sandyford Industrial Estate Dublin 18 SSE Airtricity Airtricity House, Ravenscourt Office Park Sandyford, Dublin 18 Naturgy 28 Tara Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 884 9400

Gas licences: Northern Ireland Designated pipeline operators Premier Transmission Limited (PTL), part of the Mutual Energy group, operates the Scotland to Northern Ireland (SNIP) pipeline. Belfast Gas Transmission Limited (BGTL), part of the Mutual Energy group, is licensed to convey gas from Ballylumford power station to the Greater Belfast and Larne areas. GNI (UK) Ltd. (formerly BGE Northern Ireland (BGE NI)) is licenced to convey gas in the North West Pipeline and the South North Pipeline.

Gas transmission system and distribution system operator licences holder

West Transmission Limited (WTL) are licensed to convey gas through the Maydown Pipeline and the West Pipeline.

Gas Networks Ireland

Northern Ireland gas distribution companies

Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Contact: Denis O’Sullivan

Phoenix Natural Gas Limited (PNG) operates the distribution network in the Greater Belfast and Larne areas.

Gas supplier licence holders Bord Gáis Energy Supply PO Box 10943, Dublin 2 Electric Ireland Clanwilliam House Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2

firmus energy is licensed for the conveyance of gas within the towns along the route of North West and South North Pipelines. firmus energy is committed to the construction of distribution networks in the towns of: Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Derry, Limavady, Antrim, Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon and Newry. SGN are licensed to conveyance gas within the West distribution licensed area.

Energia Mill House, Ashtown Gate Navan Road, Dublin 15 D15 H70K

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Northern Ireland gas supply companies Several companies hold gas supply licences to supply gas to consumers within the gas distribution network areas in Northern Ireland. These suppliers are listed below, however some of the companies holding gas supply licences are not active within the gas markets. In addition, British Gas Trading Ltd, AES Ballylumford Ltd and Power NI Energy Ltd (formally NIE Plc) each hold a licence to supply gas within Ballylumford power station, and Coolkeeragh ESB Ltd hold a licence to supply natural gas within Coolkeeragh power station.

Conveyance licences Belfast Gas Transmission Limited First Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 7584 firmus energy Ltd – Distribution A4-A5 Fergusons Way, Kilbegs Road Antrim, BT41 4LZ GNI (UK) Ltd Gasworks Road Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Phoenix Natural Gas Limited – Distribution 197 Airport Road West, Belfast, BT3 9ED Premier Transmission Limited First Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 7580 SGN Natural Gas – Distribution Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth, PH1 3AQ Tel: 0800 912 1700 West Transmission Limited First Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 7580

Supply licences

Coolkeeragh ESB Ltd 2 Electra Road, Maydown Co Derry, BT47 6UL Tel: 028 7186 4700 Energia (Viridian Energy Supply) Ltd Energia House, 62 Newforge Lane Belfast, BT9 5NF Tel: 028 9068 5900 Electric Ireland Forsythe House, Cromac Square Belfast, BT2 8LA Tel: 028 9027 8400 ElectroRoute Marconi House Digges Lane Dublin, D02 TD60 ESB Gas Supply Two Gateway East Wall Road Dublin 3 D03 A995 Flogas Natural Gas Ltd Knockbrack House, Matthew’s Lane Donore Road, Drogheda, Co Louth Tel: 041 983 1041 firmus energy (Supply) Ltd – Ten Towns A4-A5 Fergusons Way Kilbegs Road Antrim, BT41 4LZ Tel: 084 5608 0088 firmus energy (Supply) Ltd – Greater Belfast Area A4-A5 Fergusons Way Kilbegs Road, Antrim, BT41 4LZ Tel: 084 5608 0088 Go Power Lissan Road, Cookstown Co Tyrone, BT80 8EN Tel: 01 866 5612 Naturgy 28 Tara Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 884 9400

AES Ballylumford Ballylumford Power Station Ballylumford, Islandmagee, BT40 3RS Tel: 028 9338 1100

Power NI Energy Limited 120 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5HT

Bord Gáis Energy Supply PO Box 10943, Dublin 2

SSE Airtricity Gas Supply NI Ltd 17 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AQ

British Gas Trading Limited Millstream East, Maidenhead Road Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 5GD Tel: 01753 431 051

SSE Airtricity Energy Supply NI Ltd 2nd Floor, 83-85 Great Victoria Street Belfast, BT2 7AF Tel: 028 9043 7470

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Shell Energy Europe

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Developments in the Irish upstream oil and gas sector Kinsale Head Discovery

Ballycotton Discovery

Seven Heads Discovery

Corrib Discovery

1971

1989

1973

1996

Discovery year Discovery type

Gas

Commercial discovery

Original discovery by Esso in 1973, not considered commercial at that time

Commercial discovery

Original authorisation

Petroleum Lease 01 (PL01)

Petroleum Lease 08 (PL08)

Frontier Exploration Licence 3/94 (FEL 3/94)

Current authorisation

Petroleum Lease 01 (PL01)

Seven Heads Petroleum Lease (SHPL)

Corrib Petroleum Lease

1970

2002

PSE Kinsale Energy (formerly Marathon)

Shell E&P Ireland Ltd

Celtic Sea

Slyne Basin

Active – in production since 1978

Active – in production since 1991

Active – in production since 2003

Active – under development

Status

Authorisation issued Current operator

Area Authorisation status

SSE Energy Supply Limited 17 Great Victoria Street Belfast, BT2 7AQ Viridian Energy 64 Newforge Lane Belfast BT9 5NF Storage licence Islandmagee Storage Ltd 1st Floor, The Arena Building 85 Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 1SH Tel: 028 9043 8009

Oil and Gas Exploration Bans In October 2019, former Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development Seán Canney TD confirmed the policy principles that underpinned the Taoiseach and Minister Bruton's announcement in his address to the United Nations Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019 to cease new exploration for oil offshore Ireland. This announcement came on foot of advice received from the Climate Change Advisory Council on what the future of oil and natural gas offshore exploration should be in the context of the 2019 Climate Action Plan. The Council noted that the Government's Climate Action Plan envisages a major shift away from oil combustion within heat and transport sectors towards renewables in the coming decade. Therefore, the Council advised that the exploration for, and recovery of new offshore oil reserves, is not compatible with a low carbon transition. The Council further advised that the continued exploration for, and extraction of new offshore natural gas reserves can be consistent with a low carbon transition. The following principles in relation to petroleum exploration in the Irish Offshore were announced by government in October 2019: 1. all future licencing rounds in the currently closed area offshore (Atlantic Margin – 80%) will be for natural gas only and not oil; 2. all new licence applications in the currently open area (Celtic Sea, Irish Sea, coastal areas – 20%) will be for natural gas only and not oil, applicable from the day of the Taoiseach and Minister Bruton's announcement on 23 September 2019; and

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3. all applications and authorisations in place before the announcement will not be affected by the decision. The Minister has asked the Department to prepare a policy statement which will set out: •

•

the basis for the underpinning principles in the broader context of the Government's Climate Action Plan; the future development management framework for the exploration and production of gas, as a transition fuel, in Ireland's offshore; and

•

the role of natural gas in ensuring Ireland's energy security. The 2020 Programme for Government (PfG) contains a specific commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction. Upon taking office, Minister Ryan made the commitment effective immediately. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is no longer accepting new applications for exploration licences for natural gas or oil, nor will there be any future licensing rounds. The Programme for Government commitment was given statutory effect through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. Gas is considered to be a transition fuel. This is particularly the case for Ireland, which does not have nuclear power, hydro power at scale or geo-thermal power, which other countries can use to provide backup. Therefore, gas is considered to be the lowest emitting fossil fuel that will provide the best electricity back up in 2030 when Ireland reaches 70% renewable electricity. DECC has now commissioned an Energy Sustainability and Security Review which will consider the role of fossil fuels during the transition. It will also consider the role other technologies can play.

Upstream oil and gas companies operating in Irish waters Antrim Exploration (Ireland) Ltd 192 Sloane Street London, SW1X 9QX Atlantic Petroleum (Ireland) Limited 2 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, D02 A342 AzEire Ltd 192 Sloane Street, London SW1X 9QX CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited Prospect House, 97 Oxford Street Uxbridge, UB8 1LU DNO North Sea (U.K.) Limited 8 Waterloo Place, London, SW1Y 4BE

Eni Ireland BV World Trade Center, 17th Floor B-Tower, Strawinskylaan 1727, 1077 XX Amsterdam, The Netherlands Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) Plc 6 Porter Street, London, W1U 6DD Europa Oil & Gas (Inishkea) Limited 6 Porter Street, London, W1U 6DD Europa Oil & Gas (Ireland East) Limited 6 Porter Street, London, W1U 6DD Europa Oil & Gas (Ireland West) Limited 6 Porter Street, London, W1U 6DD Equinor Energy Ireland Limited Regus House, Harcourt Centre Harcourt Road, Dublin, D02 HW77 Exola Ltd Airfield House, Airfield Park Donnybrook, Dublin 4, D04 CP49 Island Assets Porcupine Limited 3300 Lake Drive, City West Business Park Dublin 24, D24 TD21 Island Expro Limited 3300 Lake Drive, City West Business Park Dublin 24, D24 TD21 Island Oil and Gas Plc 3300 Lake Drive, City West Business Park Dublin 24, D24 TD21 Island JV Limited 3300 Lake Drive, City West Business Park Dublin 24, D24 TD21 Lansdowne Celtic Sea Limited 6 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6, D06 PH32 Lansdowne Oil & Gas PLC Paramount Court, Corrig Road Sandyford Business Park, Dublin 18 D18 R9C7 Lundin Exploration BV Amaliastraat 3-5, 2514 JC The Hague, The Netherlands Marginal Field Development Company Castlefield House Liverpool Road Manchester, M3 4SB Nephin Energy Limited 25-28 North Wall Quay Dublin 1, D01 H104 Petrel Resources Plc 162 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3, D03 F6Y0

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Gas in Ireland Predator Oil and Gas Ventures Limited 3rd Floor Standard Bank House 47-49 La Motte Street St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 4SZ Providence Resources Plc Airfield House, Airfield Park Donnybrook, Dublin 4, D04 CP49 PSE Kinsale Energy Limited Mahon Industrial Estate, Blackrock Co Cork, T12 PW92 PSE Seven Heads Ltd Mahon Industrial Estate, Blackrock Co Cork, T12 PW92 Ratio Petroleum Limited 85 Yehuda Ha’Levi Street, Tel Aviv 65796, Israel

Chapter 3

Government departments and agencies: Republic of Ireland Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 D02 X285 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.gov.ie/decc Minister: Eamon Ryan TD Secretary General of Department: Mark Griffin Assistant Secretary, Energy: Matthew Collins Assistant Secretary, Built Environment, Retail Energy and Regulation: Barry Quinlan Assistant Secretary, Natural Resources and Waste Policy: Philip Nugent Tel: 01 678 2000

Repsol Exploracion Irlanda, S.A. Paseo Castellana, 280, Madrid, 28046, Spain

The Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP)

Sosina Exploration Limited c/o Kerman & Co LLP, 200 Strand London, WC2R 1DJ

The programme is a joint industry/government programme that was established in 1997. PIP presently comprises two sub-programmes, the active Petroleum Exploration and Production Promotion and Support (PEPPS) and the now completed PIP (1997-2002) subprogrammes.

St Stephen’s Energy Limited 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, D02 R296 Supernova Ireland Resources B.V. Marsstrat 33, 2132 HR Hoofddorp, The Netherlands Theseus Ltd 2A Lord Street, Douglas, Isle of Man IM99 1HP

The overall aim of PIP is to promote hydrocarbon exploration and development activities by: •

strengthening local support structures;

•

funding research data gathering and land-based research in Irish offshore areas; and

• Valhalla Oil and Gas Limited 2nd Floor, 9-11 Church Street West, Surrey, GU21 6DJ Valhalla Oil and Gas (Porcupine) Limited Peachey & Co LLP, 95 Aldwych London WC2B 4JF, United Kingdom Vermilion Energy Ireland Limited 70 Sir John Rogersons Quay, Dublin 2, D02 R296 Vermilion Exploration and Production Ireland Limited Embassey House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, D04 H6Y0 Woodside Energy (Ireland) Pty Ltd 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000

Industry organisations Irish Offshore Operators Association Suite No 2119, Fitzwilliam Business Centre 26 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 675 3754 Web: www.iooa.ie Email: assistant@iooa.ie Chair: Alan Linn

providing a forum for co-operation amongst explorationists and researchers. Research under the programme goes beyond normal licence area specific work and is designed so as not to duplicate the efforts of other groups or of commercial contractors. PIP is funded by oil companies with licences offshore Ireland and DECC. More information can be found via the website: www.pip.ie

Irish Shelf Petroleum Studies Group (ISPSG) Strategy 2020-2023 The “Policy Statement Petroleum Exploration and Production Activities as part of Ireland’s Transition to a Low Carbon Economy” published by the then Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment on 17 December 2019 recognises the critical role of natural gas during the energy transition and the clear benefits in using indigenous over imported sources. The Policy Statement outlines the vision to sustainably develop Ireland’s natural gas resources and to encourage, enable and guide research initiatives directed at deepening knowledge of Ireland’s offshore potential. Focused evidence based scientific research is required to navigate Ireland through a socially just transition to the decarbonised energy system of the future.

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Helping to build a greener Northern Ireland Natural gas may have a dominant role in the news headlines at the moment as geopolitical factors affect wholesale prices, but the industry offers a lifeline for the Government’s new 22-point Action Plan for the Path to Net Zero Energy in Northern Ireland. In fact, the start of greening gas is not too far away. firmus energy is already engaged in a number of projects which will pay dividends in the joined ambitions of government and environmentalists alike in the quest for net zero carbon and sustainability. The company has teamed up with other key players in the Northern Ireland Natural Gas Industry to form a Gas Decarbonisation Working Group with a focus on the shared goal of decarbonising Northern Ireland’s gas networks by 2050. This collaborative working is leading to the first decarbonisation projects coming online from as early as 2022. Niall Martindale, Interim Managing Director of firmus energy explains: “There is no time to waste. Our ambition is clear. There is a desire for a more environmentally friendly way of fuelling business and heating our homes and that’s imminent. Natural gas has been supporting the decarbonising of energy in Northern Ireland since it was introduced here in 1996. We are now sharply focussed on the next phase in Northern Ireland’s energy transition and fully decarbonising the energy being transported by our modern gas infrastructure. We will continue to support businesses and homeowners along this journey. “Under the ‘Path to Net Zero Energy’ oil consumption and oil tanks will soon become a thing of the past,” he continues. “The Government’s new energy strategy simply does not allow for it. Consumers will be forced to look at alternative fuel sources and many savvy homeowners, who are energy aware, have already made the move to heating systems that are fit for the future, rather than replacing old oil boilers which will become obsolete in years to come. While natural gas may offer benefits in the short term, our infrastructure is ideally poised to offer long term sustainability options.” Connecting to the gas network is one of the simplest ways environmental targets can be met and homeowners can future-proof their central heating system. The carbon emission savings can be immediately felt. That’s because businesses and homeowners which convert to natural gas from oil immediately reduce their carbon emissions by up to 52%*. Alongside this, the recently published net zero action plan includes the desire for Northern Ireland to fully utilise its existing resources which is good news for firmus energy, which has invested heavily in its gas network since it was established in 2005. To date over £220 million has been invested over the 17-year period and today, it’s strategically placed pipework extends from L’Derry in the North West, to Antrim and on to Newry. Martindale continues: “Our gas network is amongst the most modern in the world and the build quality and Polyethylene (PE) pipework makes it ready to carry alternative gas, including renewable biomethane and blended hydrogen. Of course, the potential is also there to convert to 100% hydrogen in the future. This transition is front and centre of our company strategy.

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“We are focused on optimising the potential of our network as soon as possible. Over the past few years, the company has been investigating projects that fast track the introduction of biomethane and hydrogen, along with other emerging technologies, into the company’s network. We are committed and ready to progress our part in helping Northern Ireland transition towards net zero carbon,” he said. Initial studies undertaken by firmus energy have indicated that the potential for the production of renewable gas using anaerobic digestion with waste food by-products, along with slurry and other animal waste from globally recognised farming and food production industries, to produce biomethane is significant. Biomethane has very similar properties to natural gas which means that it can immediately displace natural gas as a renewable alternative that can be burnt in existing gas appliances with no need for disruptive change or any noticeable difference to the householder or business user. Benchmarking against other projects throughout the world has also proved the potential to blend hydrogen into natural gas at concentrations of up to 20%. This, once again, can be achieved without the need for conversion or adaption of either gas boilers or central heating systems in homes meaning no disruption or outlay to existing customers connected to the network. The abundance and indeed excess capacity of wind energy currently curtailed due to restricted demand at off-peak hours presents the ideal opportunity to utilise this otherwise wasted energy to generate hydrogen through electrolysis. This hydrogen can then be stored locally and injected into our gas networks as a blended constituent during daytime hours when consumers demand heat. Of course, it’s not just homeowners and businesses that need to make the transition. The transport sector also offers great opportunities for reduction of both carbon and particulate emissions. Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) do not lend themselves to electrification due to the sheer weight of batteries that would be required to power them and hydrogen engine or fuel cell development to mass production stage is still a few years away. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is available now and presents a great opportunity to effectively decarbonise HGV’s and buses, this is made all the more attractive when the use of biomethane supplied through existing gas networks is factored in. Martindale concludes: “We have been working hard to accelerate renewable energy projects so we can provide customers with the potential to decarbonise as quickly as possible. It’s all systems go company wide. firmus energy’s future is exciting and we are committed to delivering a net zero carbon environment and all the benefits this will deliver for our customers and the wider population of Northern Ireland.”

Niall Martindale Interim Managing Director firmus energy

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Gas in Ireland

Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland The new Energy Strategy – The Path to Net Zero Energy – was published by the Northern Ireland Executive in December 2021. It outlines a roadmap to 2030 aiming to deliver a 56% reduction in energy-related emissions, on the pathway to deliver the 2050 vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy.

Northern Ireland Energy Action Plan In January, the Department for the Economy (DfE) published a 2022 Energy Action Plan setting out 22 actions that will help deliver key Energy Strategy objectives. For the power sector the Action Plan prioritises a new support scheme to enable the development of a diverse mix of renewable electricity technologies including the offshore sector. For low carbon heat, there are actions take forward demonstrator projects to build skills and evidence for the roll-out of any future support, as well as examining where specific legislation changes may facilitate development. The Action Plan also looks at the role of local renewable gas and work to deliver electric vehicle infrastructure.

Geothermal Energy Geothermal energy is heat derived from the ground from depths of a few metres to multiple kilometres beneath the Earth’s surface. At shallow depths (<200 m), lowgrade heat stored in the subsurface is derived from solar radiation absorbed by the ground and distributed via natural groundwater systems or industrial structures such as flooded mines. This energy is widely described as ground-source energy or shallow geothermal energy. Higher temperature heat resources at depths of >500 m are termed deep geothermal energy and in Northern Ireland this resource is most easily accessible in buried hot sedimentary aquifers. In line with recommendations from the UK Climate Change Committee, DfE will assess the potential solutions to decarbonise existing heat networks; including taking forward heat network trials and demonstrators, using a range of energy sources including geothermal energy and, where feasible, waste heat. A Geothermal Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland was established by DfE in July 2021. The Committee, which is chaired by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, provides advice and guidance on the availability of geothermal heat.

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The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland has published a report on the Geothermal energy potential in Northern Ireland: summary and recommendations for the Geothermal Advisory Committee together with a geothermal reservoir map with temperature estimates based on the geothermal gradient. These publications will help developers and planners to determine if a location is suitable for geothermal heating and/or cooling. DfE plans to undertake feasibility studies to inform future decisions on suitable locations for accessing geothermal heat, and to better understand the potential role that geothermal energy can play in Northern Ireland’s energy mix. This work is intended help catalyse growth in this sector.

Potential for the underground storage of energy in Northern Ireland Shallow geothermal reservoirs across Northern Ireland have the potential to provide large-scale storage of heat energy. Additional energy storage potential is located within thick salt beds that are present in the subsurface in County Antrim. Recent exploration has indicated that these are thick enough and extensive enough to be suitable for the creation of storage caverns. These largescale energy storage solutions have the potential to support the resilience of the energy infrastructure and enhance existing security of supply arrangements. Salt caverns are commonly used in Europe and elsewhere in the world for strategic or utility-scale storage of gas, however, there is also the potential for such caverns to hold other media such as compressed air or, in the future, hydrogen.

Oil and gas exploration in Northern Ireland Onshore exploration for petroleum in Northern Ireland has taken place on a small scale since the Petroleum (Production) Act (Northern Ireland) was introduced in 1964. Although several wells have recorded the presence of oil or gas, it has not been in a sufficient quantity to be suitable for commercial development. There are two petroleum licence applications currently with the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy (DfE) for consideration; further details of these applications can be found on its website. In 2019, DfE carried out a public consultation on the two licence applications. There are currently no active petroleum licences in Northern Ireland with the last active licence (PL1/10, under which the Woodburn Forest No. 1 well was drilled) relinquished in April 2020.

Gas in Ireland

Ground source heating and cooling Open-loop GSHP

Closed-loop GSHP array

Chapter 3

Geothermal heat and power

Mine water energy

Hydrothermal system (direct use heat)

Petrothermal (EGS) system (power)

Water level

10 20

200

Shallow aquifer

10-14˚C

100

10-17˚C 25˚C

800 1000 2000 5000 Depth (m)

Deep aquifer > 60˚C

Granite intrusion > 130˚C

Different shallow geothermal (left) and deep geothermal (right) energy technologies. © UKRI. Abesser et al., 2020. Unlocking the potential of geothermal energy in the UK. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/20/049.

Parts of Northern Ireland remain prospective for hydrocarbons, however, future policy relating to onshore petroleum exploration in Northern Ireland is currently under review by DfE. In 2020, DfE Minerals and Petroleum Branch commissioned external consultants to carry out research into the economic, environmental and social impacts of oil and gas exploration and development in Northern Ireland. This research has informed the review of petroleum policy in Northern Ireland by DfE and preparation for a policy option consultation. Petroleum licensing in the territorial waters adjacent to Northern Ireland is administered by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), with headquarters in Aberdeen. There are currently no existing licences held. Geological Survey of Northern Ireland Dundonald House, Belfast, BT4 3SB Tel: 028 9038 8462 Web: www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni Contact: Dr Rob Raine Email: rob.raine@economy-ni.gov.uk gsni@economy-ni.gov.uk

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Data

Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) market

All technical data that are obtained under petroleum authorisations issued by the Minister must be reported to DECC, who manages and maintains the National Repository of such data. This Repository includes data from wells (including geological samples), geophysical surveys and technical studies.

Liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is a non-renewable gaseous fossil fuel, which turns to liquid under moderate pressure. LPG, a by-product of natural gas processing and oil refining, includes various mixtures of hydrocarbons. There are two types of LPG gas – propane and butane. They have similar properties but different applications. They are not interchangeable due to the different operating pressures and burner settings required. Valves and fittings are also deliberately different to avoid confusion or accidental use of the wrong type of LPG.

In order to assist effective petroleum exploration, DECC makes this data available publicly, as soon as the confidentiality period has expired. In June 2014 the confidentiality period for all new speculative and multi seismic data acquired in the entire Irish offshore area was increased to 10 years. The department engages specific Data Agents to prepare, manage, market and license exploration data. Data can be obtained from the following organisations: Basic Well Data and Basic Seismic Data IHS Markit Contact: Richard Longhurst Email: releaseddata@ihs.com Tel: +44 1666 501 822 Basic Gravity and Magnetic Data Getech Contact: Tom Kerrane Email: gravmag@getech.com Tel: +44 113 322 2200 For further information email: padadmin@decc.gov.ie

Other Government Agencies Geological Survey of Ireland Beggars Bush Haddington Road, Dublin, D04 K7X4 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.gsi.ie Director: Koen Verbruggen The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) is responsible for providing geological advice and information, and for the acquisition of data for this purpose. Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore Co Galway, H91 R673 Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie Chief Executive: Paul Connolly The Marine Institute is the national agency for marine research and development. The institute was set up under the 1991 Marine Institute Act with the following role: “To undertake, to co-ordinate, promote and assist in marine research and development and to provide such services related to research and development that promote economic development and protect the marine environment.” The Ocean Science Service section carries out offshore research and mapping.

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Propane has a lower boiling point than butane so it will continue to convert from a liquid to a gas even in very cold conditions. When stored as a liquid in a tank, it exerts a greater pressure than butane at the same temperature. Propane, as an LPG gas, is most suitable for exterior storage and use and is widely used as a fuel source for domestic and commercial heating, hot water and cooking as well as in industry and agriculture. Its ability to operate in low temperatures makes it the most suitable LPG fuel for many applications. In industry, propane is used for fuelling roadside emergency lighting, heating bitumen for road building and roofing, firing furnaces and welding equipment. The relatively clean exhaust from LPG makes it highly suitable for powering fork-lift trucks in warehouses. It is common in the agricultural sector for uses such as heating poultry and livestock sheds, crop drying and weed burning. Commercially LPG can be used for space heating and for the provision of hot water. In addition to its uses in industry, agriculture and for home heating, LPG has a role to play in the leisure sector. Butane has the lower vapour pressure at equivalent temperatures and is suitable for interior use or outside during the summer and so is a very common fuel amongst leisure users and owners of portable heaters. Liquified petroleum gas is a clean fuel option – targeted at geographical areas not yet accessing the natural gas pipeline network. In the domestic sector, it is widely used for home central heating and cooking. It is a popular fuel for rural locations where a self-contained LPG supply is essential. LPG can also be used as a vehicle fuel, and in the United States, it is currently the third most used transportation fuel, ranked behind gasoline and diesel. Other countries widely using LPG include Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Italy, and Japan. As it is a relatively ‘clean’ fuel, the use of LPG-fuelled vehicles in large cities can help to reduce urban smog. For storage and transportation, LPG is pressurised, and LPG tanks are sealed to eliminate evaporative emissions or spillage. The weight of LPG vapours at ambient temperatures is approximately 150% of the weight of air. If there is a leak, LPG vapours tend to sink to the ground and pool, creating a potentially hazardous situation. An odorant is added to make leaks more detectable. LPG is extremely volatile and burns twice as hot as a petrol fire. The Irish market is dominated by two players, Calor Gas (owned by SHV Energy) and Flogas, a subsidiary of DCC.

Gas in Ireland In June 2011 the functions of the Commission for Energy Regulation (now the Commission for Regulation of Utilities) were extended to include LPG safety. The expansion saw the incorporation of the new safety functions granted to the CER under the Energy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2012, including: •

the licensing of certain LPG activities;

•

LPG incident reporting and investigation;

•

LPG safety promotion for the public generally; and

•

increased enforcement powers relevant to all undertakings.

Chapter 3

BioLPG companies Calor Gas Long Mile Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 450 5000 Web: www.calorgas.ie Email: info@calorgas.ie Chief Executive Officer: Duncan Osborne Calor Gas Northern Ireland Limited Airport Road West, Sydenham Belfast, BT3 9EE Tel: 028 9045 5588

LPG companies Calor Gas Ireland Long Mile Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 450 5000 Web: www.calorgas.ie Email: info@calorgas.ie Chief Executive Officer: Duncan Osborne Calor Gas Northern Ireland Limited Airport Road West, Sydenham Belfast, BT3 9EE Tel: 028 9045 5588 Flogas Ireland Limited Knockbrack House, Mathews Lane Mathews Lane, Donore Road Drogheda, Co Louth A92 T803 Tel: 041 983 1041 Web: www.flogas.ie Email: info@flogas.ie Managing Director: John Rooney Flogas Northern Ireland Airport Road West Belfast Harbour Estate Belfast, BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9073 2611 Web: www.flogasni.com Email: info@flogasni.com Managing Director: John Rooney BioLPG BioLPG is similar in use and performance to conventional LPG, but it comes 100% renewable sources. It is made from a mix of wastes and residues, and sustainably sourced vegetable oils. BioLPG reduces carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions from at least 50% and up to 80%. Calor, producers of BioLPG, are aiming that 100% of all their gas sold in Ireland will be renewable by 2040.

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Introduction

132

European renewable energy policy

132

Renewable and indigenous energy in Ireland

147

Energy policy

162

Wind energy development in Ireland

165

Solar in Ireland

172

Waste-to-energy technology

172

Geothermal energy in Ireland

174

Bioenergy development

176

Renewable energy in Northern Ireland

177

Renewable heat

178

Offshore renewable energy in Northern Ireland

179

Renewable energy research institutions

186

Renewable and indigenous energy organisations

189

Renewable energy European renewable energy policy

Introduction Renewable energy is defined by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as ‘energy derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly’. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition are electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal sources, and biofuels and also hydrogen derived from renewable resources. Renewable energy sources are distinct from fossil fuels which are finite resources and not replenished at the same rate as they are consumed. There are three distinct segments for the exploitation and deployment of renewable energy: electricity, thermal (heat), and transport. Table 4.1 Sources of renewable energy by mode Sources

Electricity

Thermal

Transport

Wind energy

Biomass

Landfill gas, solid biomass

Solid biomass, biogas

Biofuels

Solar energy

Photovoltaic (PV)

Solar thermal

Hydropower

Ambient energy

Renewable Energy Directive The Renewable Energy Directive is the legal framework for the development of renewable energy across all sectors of the EU economy. It establishes common principles and rules to remove barriers, stimulate investments and drive cost reductions in renewable energy technologies, and empowers citizens, consumers, and businesses to participate in the clean energy transformation.

2021 revision of the Directive The Commission proposed a revision of the directive in July 2021, as part of the package to deliver on the European Green Deal. The proposal raises the ambition of the existing legislation to align it with EU’s increased climate ambition. It also seeks to introduce new measures to complement the already existing building blocks established by the 2009 and 2018 directives, to ensure that all potentials for the development of renewable energy are optimally exploited – which is the necessary condition to achieve the EU's objective of climate neutrality by 2050. The proposed revision aims to ensure that renewable energy fully contributes to achieving a higher EU climate ambition for 2030, in line with the 2030 Climate Target Plan. It seeks to convert into EU law some of the concepts outlined in the energy system integration and hydrogen strategies published in 2020. The two strategies outlined ways of creating an integrated energy system, based on renewable energy, and fit for climate neutrality, and turning hydrogen into a viable solution to help reach the objectives of the European Green Deal. In line with the EU Climate Law, the targets and measures set in the revised directive should be ambitious enough to

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Renewable energy supply chain How well do you know your supply chain? Companies in the renewable energy sector across the world are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that forced labour is not present in their supply chain. In this article, we focus in particular on the solar industry supply chain, which has recently come into focus due to the alleged use of forced labour in the manufacture of polysilicon (used in modern solar PV panels). Based on our recent experience, we have also provided some helpful tips on how to identify and address forced labour issues in your supply chain.

Industry response A number of solar industry bodies have condemned the use of forced labour and have issued industry guidance on the topic. In particular, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEAI) in the US has developed a supply chain traceability protocol and other industry bodies such as Solar Energy UK have discussed putting in place similar protocols. We would recommend that solar industry participants, in particular, use these protocols where possible.

Government response At an EU level, the European Commission has published guidance aimed at helping companies to combat forced labour in their supply chains. While this guidance is not specific to the energy industry, it will be of use to any energy industry participants that are looking to due diligence their supply chain. The European Commission guidance provides advice on how to recognise forced labour, how to update and implement appropriate policies and systems to combat forced labour, how to identify risk factors for forced labour and other actions that companies can take to address forced labour. Listed companies, banks and insurance companies will already be familiar with these types of obligations through the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive, which requires them to report on information with regard to human rights and social issues. Similarly, companies that are active in the United Kingdom will be familiar with the requirements of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. However, for other companies this type of due diligence will be new and we expect that these companies will find the European Commission guidance to be particularly useful.

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transparency or by ‘pushing’ a forced labour prohibition down the supply chain). Investors, financers and counterparties (e.g. corporate PPA buyers) should in turn consider what contractual protection they can receive from developers, so that they do not end up exposed to negative publicity in their dealings with developers. Many companies are currently under no general legal obligation to identify and address forced labour issues in their supply chain. However, this may change in the not-toodistant future. The EU is preparing a ‘Sustainable Corporate Governance’ directive which, when introduced, may require directors of certain companies to actively consider issues such as supply chain forced labour and could introduce a mandatory due diligence requirement for companies in respect of issues such as forced labour. A proposal for this directive was published on 23 February 2022. It is likely that a number of changes will be made to the directive before it is finalised, so any businesses interested in this directive and its possible requirements with regard to forced labour should follow developments closely. In any event, we recommend that energy companies begin investigating their supply chain as soon as possible to identify and mitigate potential issues. 3. Wind, battery storage and other supply chain issues Allegations of forced labour have primarily affected the solar industry to date. However, it is likely that other energy industries will come under increased scrutiny – for example, the wind industry and the battery storage industry. Developers in these industries would be well advised to anticipate future scrutiny of their supply chain and should proactively manage this issue. Similarly, forced labour is just one of many issues which can affect the renewable energy supply chain. Other issues (e.g. supply chain carbon intensity, conflict minerals, etc) may come into sharper focus in the coming months and years and, again, it would be prudent for developers to anticipate these types of issues. If you would like to discuss any aspect of this article and how it may affect your business, please contact: Garret Farrelly Partner | Matheson +353 1 232 2074 garret.farrelly@matheson.com

1. Trade restrictions, contracts and industry procedures In the short term, we expect that further trade restrictions and bespoke contractual obligations will be used to manage forced labour supply chain issues (and indeed we have advised on these obligations in a number of recent renewable energy transactions). In the medium to long term, legislation and agreed industry procedures (combined with appropriate contractual obligations) are likely to become the key tools for managing forced labour issues. 2. Increased supply chain scrutiny Renewable energy developers should expect to be asked detailed questions around their supply chain and to provide comfort to investors, financers and counterparties (including corporate PPA buyers) that forced labour issues do not exist in their supply chain. Given the time that it can take to identify possible issues, it would be prudent for developers to act sooner rather than later on this issue. Developers should consider whether their contracts might be updated to better protect them from possible forced labour issues (for example, by requiring information to establish supply chain

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Owen Collins Senior Associate | Matheson owen.collins@matheson.com

Seán Scally Senior Associate | Matheson sean.scally@matheson.com

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Figure 4.1 Timeline for renewable energy in the EU

Directive 2018/2001/EU In December 2018, the recast Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001/EU entered into force, as part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package aimed at keeping the EU a global leader in renewables and, more broadly, helping the EU to meet its emissions reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement. Building on the 20% target for 2020, it established a new binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of at least 32%, with a clause for a possible upwards revision by 2023 and comprises measures for the different sectors to make it happen. This included in particular new provisions to enable citizens to play an active role in the development of renewables – enabling renewable energy communities and self-consumption of renewable energy, an increased 14% target for the share of renewable fuels in transport by 2030 and strengthened criteria for ensuring bioenergy sustainability.

Renewable energy in the European Green Deal With the European Green Deal, the EU is increasing its climate ambition and aims to become the first climateneutral continent by 2050. To deliver on this, the Commission has pledged to make existing legislation fit for 55% emission reduction by 2030. The Fit for 55 package was proposed in July 2021 and may become law under an accelerated process in 2022. The aim of this revision is to ensure that renewable energy fully contributes to the achievement of the higher EU climate ambition for 2030, in line with the 2030 Climate Target Plan, and to support implementing the vision outlined in the energy system integration and hydrogen strategies, adopted on 8 July 2020. The strategies will help build an integrated energy system fit for climate neutrality and turn hydrogen into a viable solution to contribute to this vision.

Overall share of energy from renewable sources 2020 Source: EU Commission

reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% in 2030. This includes raising the overall renewables target (proposed to be increased to 40%), but also strengthened measures for transport or heating and cooling. The Commission is also aiming at a more energy efficient and circular energy system that facilitates renewables-based electrification and promotes the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels, including hydrogen, in sectors where electrification is not yet a feasible option, such as transport. On 21 July 2021, the Commission presented a proposal for a revised directive, as part of the package to deliver on the European Green Deal. The proposed revision of the directive is now being considered by the Council and the European Parliament. The adoption is expected by end of 2022.

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The EU reached a 22.1% share of its gross final energy consumption from renewable sources in 2020, around 2 percentage points above its target. In addition, this target is distributed between the EU Member States with national action plans designed to plot a pathway for the development of renewable energies in each of the Member States. The share of renewables in gross final energy consumption stood at 22.1% in the EU in 2020, compared with 9.6% in 2004. With more than half of energy from renewable sources in its gross final consumption of energy, Sweden (60%) had by far the highest share among the EU Member States in 2020, ahead of Finland (44%) and Latvia (42%). At the opposite end of the scale, the lowest proportions of renewables were registered in Malta (11%), followed by Luxembourg (12%) and Belgium (13%).

Share of electricity from renewable sources The growth in electricity generated from renewable energy sources during the period 2009 to 2019 largely reflects an expansion in three renewable energy sources across the EU, principally wind power, but also solar power and solid biofuels (including renewable wastes). In 2020, renewable energy sources made up 37.5% of gross electricity consumption in the EU, up from 34.1% in 2019. Wind and hydro power accounted for more than twothirds of the total electricity generated from renewable

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Corporate PPAs: Irish structures and issues Globally, Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (“cPPAs”) have become one of the most common means for renewable energy projects to achieve long-term price security with corporates buying renewable energy/renewable energy certificates from the generator. In Ireland, cPPAs are an increasingly viable alternative to the Renewable Energy Support Schemes. These arrangements are beneficial to both parties. For generators, cPPAs with financially strong counterparties, by providing long-term stable income, give the financial certainty needed by them to obtain the debt financing to build new facilities. For corporates, there are a variety of different reasons to source power from renewables, including providing additionality and obtaining guarantees of origin (“GOs”). The potential to secure fixed cost electricity is also a major factor, particularly given volatile market prices. Although the original instigators of cPPAs were high energy using data centres, the desire to enter cPPAs has not been limited to particular types of companies or geographical areas. Large banks, oil majors, retailers, restaurant chains, IT, pharma, telco companies and service providers have all widely published details of their cPPAs. Indeed, DLA Piper recently signed its own cPPA with NextEnergy Group relating to the energy generated from a 13MW new build solar farm in the UK. It is the first law firm anywhere in the world to undertake a cPPA with power equivalent to the power used in DLA Piper’s 15 European and UK offices.

Structures – physical or virtual There are two main types of cPPAs in use in Ireland being, virtual PPAs which largely follow the structure used elsewhere and physical or sleeved PPAs, the typical structure for which must be adapted for the Irish market. Physical PPAs involve delivery of power to the corporate which is facilitated by a utility. In Ireland, the mandatory nature of the Single Electricity Market and the requirement to have a supply licence to act as an intermediary for a generator alter these arrangements somewhat, however, it has been possible to develop structures to address these issues. Virtual or synthetic cPPAs are financial contracts for differences and are typically settled by reference to the Day-Ahead Market price with settlements based on the volumes produced by the generator’s asset. Under these arrangements the generator and the corporate will each maintain separate arrangements for the sale and purchase of physical power. Internationally, corporates also use private wire PPAs, however, the high bars imposed by the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 mean that they are not currently used in Ireland. It is hoped that this will change following the review under the Climate Action Plan.

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In all cases, the generator will transfer the GOs for the power generated to the corporate. Two of the issues which DLA Piper sees arising on cPPAs, including in Ireland, are volume risk and negative pricing.

Volume risk Under a utility PPA, a generator will receive reduced payments if its output is lower than expected. However, given the desire to lock in energy prices, certain corporates require the generator to assume further volume risk. In these cases, if generation is lower than agreed thresholds, the generator may have to pay liquidated damages. These clauses are often heavily negotiated and can include carve outs for grid issues or FM events.

Negative pricing Negative pricing occurs periodically in the SEM markets. Corporate offtakers may not want to pay the fixed price to the generator at these times allowing them to take advantage of the negative pricing. Floor prices may also be included. In such arrangements, for synthetic PPAs, no payments are made between the parties for times of negative pricing, however, they will each still be subject to separate physical contracts for power generated or consumed. For physical PPAs, the SEM arrangements are such that any power generated will be the responsibility of the registered intermediary (which may be the corporate or a supplier providing a pass through). To address this, parties frequently include provisions allowing the corporate to notify the generator and require it not to generate in relevant periods. If a generator still does, it often accepts the financial consequences of disposing of the power at negative prices. Natasha Luther-Jones Partner International Head of Sustainability and ESG Global Co-Chair, Energy and Natural Resources Sector, DLA Piper E: natasha.luther-jones@dlapiper.com William Marshall Legal Director, DLA Piper Energy and Natural Resources E: william.r.marshall@dlapiper.com

Éanna Mellett Partner, DLA Piper Head of Corporate, Ireland E: eanna.mellet@dlapiper.com

Elva Carbery Consultant to DLA Piper Planning and Environmental E: elva.carbery@dlapiper.com

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2022: A defining year for Codling Wind Park and Ireland’s offshore wind industry Eighteen years ago, seven offshore wind turbines were installed off the coast of Arklow, with the ability to generate 25MW of renewable electricity. Today, we still have just seven turbines – not a single additional offshore turbine has been installed anywhere in Ireland since. Rather than the symbol of a modern Ireland and a brave new age of offshore wind generation that they represented at the time, these seven turbines are now a stark reminder of almost two decades of inaction. But all is not lost. Ireland still has one of the best offshore wind resources in Europe and, in the coming years, has the opportunity to correct the mistakes of the past and use it to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. This means starting to deliver the first phase of new offshore wind farms, which, together, will make a major contribution towards the Irish Government’s ambition to generate 80% of the country’s electricity from renewables by 2030. In addition to providing enormous amounts of clean energy to power homes, farms and businesses, the Phase One projects – those that have been designated by Government as being most advanced – will put in place the foundations for a brand-new industry for Ireland, bringing with it billions of euros in new investment and thousands of new jobs. As a Phase One project, Codling Wind Park is a renewable energy project of strategic national importance and the largest offshore wind farm planned in the Irish Sea. With a potential output of between 900MW and 1,500MW, it could provide enough locally-produced renewable electricity to power up to 1.2 million Irish homes, 70% of all households in Ireland. So much progress has been made by the project since it was first established, with a number of significant achievements made during 2021 alone, including the selection of Wicklow Port as the preferred location for the Operations and Maintenance Base, the first phase of public consultation, a significant programme of onshore and offshore Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) surveys and other activities. The momentum built up last year is set to continue into 2022 – our most significant year yet – as we apply for a Maritime Area Consent, finalise our grid connection location, carry out further public consultation, progress our EIA and project design work, and enter the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. All of this will be in preparation for the submission of our planning application in 2023.

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2022 will be a defining year for the offshore wind industry in Ireland too, with significant progress to be made at Government level also, to ensure the first phase of offshore wind farms can be delivered in time to help Ireland meet its ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets. Representing one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade, Codling Wind Park is ready to play its part in meeting these targets, as well as delivering substantial benefits to the local, regional and national economy. Subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2025, and is expected to take two to three years to complete. We are proud to be at the heart of this energy transformation and are looking forward to Codling Wind Park being a project of which Ireland can be proud, creating a greener Ireland, not only for today’s generation, but for generations to come.

Arno Verbeek Project Director Codling Wind Park

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Unlocking Ireland’s offshore wind pipeline will be key to meeting Ireland’s renewables targets Ireland is a leader in Europe when it comes to onshore wind, with the highest percentage of onshore wind generation as a percentage of our total electricity generation at over 40%. This is a remarkable achievement for a country of our size and is testament to good policy support, visionary developers and committed investors over the last 25 years. Notwithstanding this achievement, Ireland must not be complacent. As Ireland seeks to rapidly increase its share of renewable electricity generation over the coming decade to 80%, more than 50% of this incremental generation capacity needs to come from the establishment of an entirely new offshore wind sector in the country. A clear offshore wind policy landscape is key to attracting international investment into the sector and enabling developers to progress with projects. This article considers where offshore wind sits in the context of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan targets, looks at the success of Scotland’s recent auction and considers what Ireland needs to do next.

Climate Action Plan targets Ireland is expected to experience strong, sustained growth in electricity demand over the coming years, with estimates putting it at c.30% growth by 2030 and c.80% growth by 2040. These are remarkable growth rates, driven primarily by specific growth in high energy industries such as data centres and electric vehicles. The Irish Government’s “80 by 30” target – whereby 80% of electricity will be generated by renewable sources by 2030 – is an ambitious one and articulated in

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the latest the Climate Action Plan 2021. This will see current renewable energy generation capacity increase from 4.5 gigawatts (GW) today to c.15GW by 2030, including 4GW of incremental onshore wind, 5GW of offshore wind and c.2GW of solar capacity. It is expected that the majority of this 5GW of offshore will be met by the existing Relevant Status offshore wind projects, which have a combined capacity of c.4.5GW. Much needs to be done to deliver on these projects alone, but the question is also being asked as to whether Ireland’s offshore wind ambition is big enough, particularly when we look at our counterparts across the Irish Sea.

Scotland has set a good example in offshore wind that Ireland should follow From a development perspective it was notable to observe the Scottish Crown Estate, which is the semistate agency that manages the rights to British foreshore licences, announce in January 2022 the results of its ScotWind tender process to secure development rights for offshore wind projects off the coast of Scotland. The Scottish Crown Estate awarded contract rights to 17 energy companies to build almost 25GW of offshore wind in Scotland, almost two thirds of which will be floating offshore wind. A cohort of some of the largest energy companies in the world paid a combined €838 million to secure licences to develop both floating and fixed offshore wind projects off the Scottish coast, with

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one single large project being a 3GW floating wind farm proposal from Scottish Power Renewables, a subsidiary business of Spanish utilities company Iberdrola. This project alone would represent 60% of Ireland’s offshore wind ambition to 2030. Other successful bidders included SSE Renewables, Falck Renewables, Vattenfall, BayWa, DEME, Magnora and Northland Power. It is notable that this auction has been achieved despite Scotland having poor grid capacity (similar to Ireland), resulting in limited options for local uptake of the huge volumes of power that will be generated from these projects. However, rather than wait for upgraded grid infrastructure, Scotland have deemed that the excess energy will find a suitable offtake or use through the utilisation of electricity from offshore wind to facilitate the production of green hydrogen and ammonia. The successful development of these projects should see Scotland become a major hub for the further development of this sector in the years ahead.

What Ireland needs to do From an Irish perspective 2021 saw initial signs of growing frustrations from some of the existing participants in the market at the pace of development in the sector. In November 2021 Equinor announced that it had pulled out of the Irish market in what was a blow to Ireland’s climate ambitions, particularly that it happened in the same week that the government published its new Climate Action Plan. Whilst senior government ministers, including Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister Michael McGrath were quick to downplay the significance of Equinor’s exit, the energy industry itself was concerned, highlighting that a key issue was the long outdated regulatory and planning system for foreshore developments in Ireland that were legislated for in the 1933 Foreshore Act.

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International appetite for Irish projects remains strong, but should not be taken for granted. From a KPMG perspective, we spend a lot of time speaking with large international players in the energy markets who have an appetite to invest in Irish projects. This appetite remains strong, notwithstanding the Equinor news in 2021. However, it is important that Ireland recognises that these international investors have opportunities in dozens of countries throughout the world, and Ireland is ultimately competing for their capital, against the likes of Scotland. We should not take their interest and appetite for granted and do what we can from a policy perspective to ensure that both the existing market participants are supported and enabled to deliver their projects and the Phase 2 projects are accelerated as quicky as possible to ensure Ireland harnesses its energy generation potential, become a leader in offshore wind and ultimately help Ireland achieve its decarbonisation ambitions.

Russell Smyth Partner KPMG russell.smyth@kpmg.ie

James Delahunt Director, Renewable Energy M&A Lead KPMG james.delahunt@kpmg.ie

It was positive to see The Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 pass through all stages of the Oireachtas in December 2021. The Bill establishes in law a new planning regime for the maritime area and will replace the existing State and development consent regimes and streamline arrangements on the basis of a single consent principle, i.e. one State consent (Maritime Area Consent) to enable occupation of the Maritime Area and one development consent (planning permission), with a single environmental assessment. However, this is just one component of the policy changes that Ireland needs to deliver. These include the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Agency, the introduction of legislation for designation of Marine Protected Areas, the design of a process for issuing seabed leases akin to ScotWind, and the delivery of the first offshore renewable energy support schemes.

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Kingspan works towards net-zero energy buildings with innovative PowerPanel solar solution As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, we are seeing a renewed focus on climate action and sustainability from governments, companies and consumers. At the COP26 gathering in November, world leaders committed to revisit their emissions goals. Progress has been made on the commitments pledged but it is important that momentum is maintained — and businesses have a part to play too. In Ireland, the Government has committed to a target of netzero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050, and a reduction of 51% by 2030.1 As it stands, the built environment contributes about 40% of global carbon emissions,2 so before we can meet these targets as set out in the Paris Agreement, there are a number of barriers we must overcome. One company that is leading the way with a long-term commitment to sustainability is Kingspan. Barry Sherry, Head of Energy Solutions at Kingspan Insulated Panels, explains that Kingspan understands its responsibility as a manufacturer and supplier of advanced insulation and building envelope solutions. “Kingspan has made a target to reach net zero operating emissions in our portfolio by 2030, and to advocate for all buildings to be net zero in operation by 2050. Our targets are aligned with those of the World Green Building Council, which is seen as one of the gold standards of our industry working to transforming the building and construction sector” says Barry. “For us, it is extremely important to enhance the environmental performance of our products and to do so in a meaningful way that is based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” The Irish-owned company is constantly developing innovative products to support low carbon circular approaches to the design, construction and operation of buildings. Its latest solar PV roof solution, PowerPanel, is part of the delivery on Kingspan’s mission to accelerate a net zero emissions future in a way that is sensitive to business’s needs. “When creating PowerPanel, we wanted to develop a product which accelerates the massive energy efficiency potential in commercial buildings and office spaces” explains Barry. What this means for large energy users is that PowerPanel will allow businesses to install one integrated roof solution instead of two products — put simply, the solution will “insulate and generate” renewable energy. “We believe that Kingspan PowerPanel is the next generation solution for pitched roof applications, combining industry leading QuadCore® insulated panels with high-efficiency monocrystalline photovoltaic (PV) technology in a single, factory-manufactured component. This makes it a perfect solution for those looking for an efficient and effective renewable energy solution” says Barry.

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“Through the QuadCore® advanced insulation (insulate’ technology), coupled with the factory integrated PV panel (‘generate’ technology) will allow businesses produce their own energy from the outset.” “The PowerPanel roof and PV solution is up to 74% lighter than traditional PV systems, and is ideal product for new build stage. It is also suitable for many existing roof structures without the need for additional structural works or aesthetic compromises.” The push towards zero emission buildings is part of Kingspan’s Planet Passionate programme, an ambitious 10year global sustainability strategy that aims to impact on three big global issues: climate change, circularity and protection of our natural world. Kingspan knows that innovation and deployment of clean energy solutions, on both existing buildings and new construction, is essential in meeting climate change goals. Developing innovative products to achieve that goal is paramount. In doing so, Kingspan opened its global innovation centre in Ireland, IKON, in 2019. PowerPanel is one of the first products developed at IKON and it is installed on its nearby manufacturing building to enhance its energy credentials, and is reflective of Kingspan’s commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability. For large energy users the PowerPanel solution has the ability to futureproof your building, optimise energy efficiency and create a healthy, resilient spaces in which to work. Visit www.kingspanpanels.ie to learn more.

Barry Sherry Head of Energy Solutions Kingspan Insulated Panels

Department of the Taoiseach, Climate Action Plan 2021 - Securing Our Future: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/16421-climate-action-plan2021-securing-our-future/ World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) report; Net-zero buildings. Where do we stand? https://www.wbcsd.org/contentwbc/download/12446/185553/1

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sources (36% and 33%, respectively). The remaining one-third of electricity generated was from solar power (14%), solid biofuels (8%) and other renewable sources (8%). Solar power is the fastest-growing source: in 2008, it accounted for 1%. This means that the growth in electricity from solar power has been dramatic, rising from just 7.4TWh in 2008 to 144.2TWh in 2020.

EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy Offshore renewable energy consists of many different sources that are abundant, natural, and clean, like wind, wave and tidal. These avoid some of the challenges onshore renewables fared by – hills, buildings, roads, or other human activities which make it difficult to connect to the grid – even if they face additional challenges, such as competition to sea space access. The energy of the oceans can be harnessed by modern technologies without emitting any greenhouse gases, making offshore renewable energy a potential cornerstone of the clean energy transition in the EU. The EU strives to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, as emphasised in the European Green Deal, and offshore renewables is therefore of key importance. Offshore renewable energy covers several energy sources and various technologies, which are at different stages of development. These come with their own set of challenges and opportunities for European energy systems, sea-users, industrial actors, and civil society. In the recovery period of Covid-19, it is important to front load investment in offshore renewable energy where possible, as this is likely to boost enduring jobs and

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economic activity and thereby contributing to the green recovery and long-term sustainable, inclusive growth. The continued development of European energy infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, market design, and research and innovation are equally necessary to foster and improve offshore renewable energy and facilitate the necessary investment. This includes integrating offshore renewable energy at sea basin level in the North, Baltic, Mediterranean and Black seas, the Atlantic Ocean and the EU’s outermost regions and overseas territories and ensuring ambitious objectives in national maritime spatial plans. Regional cooperation for onshore and offshore grid infrastructure developments is also being taken into consideration for the revision of the Regulation on TransEuropean Energy Networks (TEN-E). To ensure that offshore renewable energy can help reach the EU's ambitious energy and climate targets, the Commission published a dedicated EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy COM(2020)741 on 19 November 2020 that assesses its potential contribution and proposes ways forward to support the long-term sustainable development of this sector. To maximise its impact, the EU strategy goes beyond a narrow definition of the factors of energy production and addresses broader issues, such as: • access to sea-space; • industrial and employment dimensions; • regional and international cooperation; and • the technological transfer of research projects from the laboratory into practice.

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While reinforcing the role of offshore energy in the energy mix, the strategy underlines that sustainability and, more specifically, the protection of the environment and biodiversity will be key principles for all dimensions concerned.

projects in line with the European Green Deal. The mechanism will facilitate a more cost-effective roll-out of renewables across the EU, particularly in areas that have a greater access to natural resources or are better suited for it in terms of geography.

This strategy will be discussed with the Council and the European Parliament, with regional representatives, stakeholders, social partners, NGOs, and EU citizens, before taking forward the policy actions proposed. As a first step, the Council adopted conclusions on 11 December 2020 on fostering European cooperation in offshore.

Furthermore, in the context of the European recovery and the coronavirus pandemic, the financing mechanism will make it easier for regions to get projects off the ground at a time when their local economy is under pressure. To this end, EU countries can use the mechanism as an instrument to implement their recovery and resilience plans.

EU renewable energy financing mechanism

EU countries should contribute to the EU target of 32% share of renewable energy in gross final consumption by 2030, primarily through national measures. There is however, a second option, using cooperation mechanisms with others, such as statistical transfers or joint projects. The new financing mechanism opens a third possibility.

To better support renewable energy projects, and thereby encourage a greater uptake of renewable energy sources across the EU, the European Commission has established a new EU financing mechanism. The mechanism stems from article 33 of the Governance Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package. It has been in force since September 2020 and the Commission is in the implementation process. The main objective is to enable EU countries to work more closely together in the take-up and promotion of renewables. In so doing, the countries can more easily achieve both individual and collective renewable energy targets. The mechanism will also boost renewable

Renewable and indigenous energy in Ireland 2020 was a big year for Ireland in assessing whether it achieved EU renewable energy targets. There was some success, but ultimately, the country failed to meet the overall target. The overall share of renewable energy was 13.5%, well short of the 16% target. The lack of overall progress was mostly down to poor performance in renewable energy for heating.

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Offshore wind consenting: A lot done, more to do! The signing of the Maritime Area Planning Act (the Act) by President Higgins on 23 December 2021 represents a significant milestone in the reform of Ireland's antiquated maritime consenting system. The Act is the culmination of a significant undertaking by several Government departments who should be commended for delivering the Act before the end of 2021. But, if Ireland is to meet its policy objective of developing 5GW of offshore wind by 2030, a lot more work is required to deliver the wider regulatory framework envisioned by the Act.

What does the Act provide? The Act establishes the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to administer a new regulatory framework for the use and occupation of the maritime area. At the heart of the new framework are Maritime Area Consents (MACs) – the new state authorisation for the occupation and use of a part of the maritime area. Offshore wind developers will first need to apply to MARA for a MAC, receipt of which entitles them to apply to An Bord Pleanála (the Board) for planning permission. The Board is responsible for undertaking all the environmental approvals required under national and European law, while MARA will focus on the developer's technical and financial credentials. The Act includes a framework for maritime spatial planning in accordance with Ireland's obligations under the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive (Directive 2014/89/EU). The Act provides for the preparation, review and amendment of maritime spatial plans (MSPs) akin to the forward planning structures in the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2021, with the National Marine Planning Framework published in July 2021 designated as Ireland's first MSP. The system also provides for the creation of designated maritime area plans (DMAPs) which will focus on specified sectoral and/or geographical areas. It is expected that the offshore renewable energy development plan will be reviewed, updated and ultimately translated into one or more DMAPs.

Will the Act expedite the delivery of offshore wind projects? In acknowledgement of the fact that it will take at least 12 months to establish MARA, the Act contains transitional arrangements for the offshore projects identified in the Transition Protocol included in the General Scheme of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. These transitional provisions empower the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications (MECC) to grant MACs for “relevant maritime usages” – defined to mirror the definition of Relevant Project under the Transition

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Protocol. The intention behind these transitional provisions is to allow the first MACs to be granted to these projects (Phase 1 Projects) before the end of 2022. To achieve this the MECC will need to be ready to accept applications before June 2022. This will require the development of the formal structures for the application process and the terms of the MACs. To this end, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) initiated a public consultation in January 2022 on the detail of the application process for the Phase 1 Projects, with DECC aiming to commence accepting MAC applications by April 2022.

What's next? The Phase 1 Projects alone will not deliver 5 GW by 2030. While the transitional arrangement allows the MECC to award MACs for the Phase 1 Projects, subsequent phases will have to await the establishment of MARA. Work has commenced on establishing MARA with the aim to have MARA operational by the beginning of 2023. Any delay to this will likely call into question our ability to deliver sufficient projects by 2030. Secondary legislation is required to give effect to the new planning process under the Act. This needs to be in place by the end of this year at the latest to enable the Phase 1 Projects to seamlessly progress through the consenting process.

Conclusion Significant progress has been made in reforming our maritime consenting system. The momentum generated in the last year continues, with Government pressing forward with developing the required new structures and processes. But this momentum needs to be sustained if we are to deliver 5GW by 2030. Furthermore, putting the new structures in place is only the start, MARA and the Board will need to be adequately resourced with experts competent in maritime area development. A lot done, more to do!

Ainsley Heffernan Partner & Head of Energy & Natural Resourcing, Beauchamps

Stuart Conaty Senior Associate, Energy & Natural Resources, Beauchamps

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RESS-2 to define Ireland’s solar ambitions With Ireland set to ramp up its decarbonisation ambitions through the forthcoming Climate Action Plan, the size of the role solar PV has to play in 2030 targets will largely be defined by RESS-2. If 2020 was recognised as a major breakthrough for the solar PV in Ireland, then 2022 will undoubtedly shape its deployment over the next decade. The trend of Solar PV generation in Ireland since 2014 is one of rapid growth, however, given its low base start, Solar PV still makes up a relatively small percentage of overall renewable electricity generation. The awarding of 63 contracts to solar projects, totalling over 1,000MW (767.3 GWh), during the 2020 RESS-1 auction marked the first major move of solar farms into Ireland’s renewable energy mix and represented a clear signal from government that it valued the role of solar PV in Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions. However, how much emphasis the Government puts on the solar PV contribution will be defined by RESS-2, the next auction being planned by government to take place in 2022. Additionally, the 2021 Climate Action Plan increased the decarbonisation of its 2019 predecessor, and went some way to outlining solar PV generation targets and defining investor confidence in the market. While the Government has indicated its support for the solar industry, it has been slow to act on some of the rhetoric. The Programme for Government pledges to expand and incentivise microgeneration, including rooftop solar energy. There is also a pledge within to

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develop a Solar Energy Strategy for rooftop and ground-based photovoltaics, “to ensure that a greater share of our electricity needs is met through solar power”. The conclusion of the review of the current planning exemptions relating to solar panels, to “ensure that households, schools, and communities can be strong champions of climate action” was also signposted. Action 30 of the 2019 Climate Action Plan states that a support payment for excess electricity generated and exported to the grid will be available to all Irish microgenerators by late 2021, “whilst ensuring principles of equity, self-consumption and energy efficiency first are incorporated”; this payment mechanism has yet to be finalised, although the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) began consultation on such a scheme in January 2021. The consultation, which closed in February, looked to build on the Economic Assessment of Renewable Technologies undertaken to support the RESS, which was commissioned by DECC in 2017. The assessment found that challenges around microgeneration needed to be identified and addressed in order to support its rollout and to aid Ireland in its goal of reaching 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 as was outlined in the 2019 Climate Action Plan, a goal that will only increase if it is to be changed in the forthcoming plan.

Renewable energy

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Solar contribution to gross electricity consumption (RES-E normalised) 2014-2019 0.08 0.07 0.06

0.05 0.04 0.03 0.02 0.01 0 2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

According to the latest SEAI report, Renewable Energy in Ireland 2020, 66% of renewable energy in 2018 came from renewable electricity, with renewable energy accounting for 11% of gross final consumption. Ireland has a legally binding target of the latter figure being at 16% for 2020. Solar photovoltaics accounted for 0.1% of renewable electricity, illustrating the small role solar has thus far played in Ireland’s renewable energy developments.

growing rapidly”. By mid-2018, there were 245MW of installed capacity contracted for connection to the transmission grid; this had increased to 706MW by the end of 2019. The SEAI also states that there is “likely to be continuing growth in the residential sector due to the renewables requirement in the building regulations for new dwellings and also due to the introduction of a capital grant for domestic solar PV in existing dwellings”.

Solar power is the fastest-growing source for renweable electricity in Europe according to Eurostat: in 2008, it accounted for 1 per cent but now stands for 13 per cent. This means that the growth in electricity from solar power has been dramatic, rising from just 7.4 TWh in 2008 to 125.7 TWh in 2019.

Electric Ireland, the report notes, “voluntarily offered a domestic microgeneration rate of €0.09 per kWh for micro-generation exported to the grid, including domestic solar PV”. This rate will continue to be paid to existing participants until the end of 2020, but the scheme has been closed to new entrants since the end of 2014. In 2018, SEAI estimated that 16.7 GWh of electricity was generated from solar PV, representing 0.1 per cent of renewable electricity and 0.04 per cent of electricity gross final consumption. The report states that “in spite of its small contribution in 2018, solar PV is already

This shows the potential for the solar PV market that exists in Ireland, with Ireland being regarded as coming late to the game when compared with exemplars such as the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. Worries abound that Ireland will become a less attractive market for private investors looking to play their part in the solar market if frictions such as a lack of support are not addressed. With 1,900MW, or 1,800 GWh, of solar power potentially to be part of the RESS-2 auction and the forthcoming Climate Action Plan expected to lay out policy plans for the technology, the Government has the opportunity to allay these fears and begin the process of matching the solar growth seen throughout Europe.

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Decarbonising your business: Where do you start? Would you like to decarbonise your business but don’t know where to start? Climate change remains one of the biggest challenges we all face.

The forestry sector is bringing sustainable jobs and incomes to our rural economies. Ireland’s fast growing forest sector makes a €2 billion contribution to the island economy and employs 12,000 people. These are well-paid jobs in a sustainable industry that is an important part of our bioeconomy. The triple carbon benefit of forest biomass are:

What does decarbonising mean for your business? Decarbonising means reducing the carbon emissions generated from business activities. Businesses can take easy steps such as reducing energy usage or transitioning to renewable sources such as wood pellets to provide energy and heat in your business and your supply chain.

Why should you consider going carbon neutral with your business? The Government has committed to reducing Ireland's carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and to be Carbon Neutral by 2050. The Irish Government has committed to increasing carbon tax from €33.50 per tonne (2021) to (at least) €100 per tonne by 2030. Carbon Tax is the tax you pay on the CO2 Emissions that are generated by burning fossil fuels. For example, the carbon tax on a litre of oil is just over 6c, by 2030 it will be 25c. For a business using 100,000 litres of oil per annum this will mean an extra €120,000 in Carbon Tax over the next 10 years.

•

Trees sequester carbon as they grow;

•

Carbon is locked away in timber products that displace carbon-intensive products; and

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At end of life, forest products and residuals can be converted into carbon-neutral energy and used for heating and generating electricity.

Aligned to the Government’s strategy of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from using fossil fuels, our ultimate goal is to help businesses to decarbonise their heat source. By controlling every aspect of the supply chain from forest to flame, we guarantee a consistent supply and quality of highgrade wood pellets. From sustainable manufacturing, by using 100% renewable energy to create the woodpellets, to providing fully integrated heating solutions – we bring you the power to choose renewable by making it more reliable 12 months a year.

So how can we help you? We supply wood pellet fuel to thousands of domestic, commercial, and industrial customers in Ireland and the UK, and our team offers the complete alternative fuel solution to meet the needs of each client.

To further encourage businesses to shift away from fossil fuels, the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) has also been introduced and is planned to increase the energy generated from renewable sources in the heat sector. The scheme is open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector, and other non-domestic heat users.

We offer:

If all this sounds too complicated, who can help your business with this? Balcas employ close to 400 people with the same again indirectly. We have a large and growing team who are dedicated to the sustainable use of timber in a range of products including construction timber, fencing, pallet wood and wood pellet fuel. Forestry is a critical pillar of the nation’s climate action and air quality plan. As a business based in a rural part of Ireland that plays a large part in Ireland's forestry sector, we support this island's ambition to significantly increase forest planting each year. It is well known that forests play a key role in our battle against climate change; storing the carbon while absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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Full turnkey service, with a successful track record in designing, installing, commissioning, and maintaining biomass boiler solutions for steam and hot water;

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Customers can pay for the kWh’s of actual heat supplied;

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The secure and continued supply of ENplus® A1 Wood Pellet fuel, as the largest producer and distributor of wood pellets in Ireland and the UK;

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24/7 monitoring of the installed biomass heating system to detect any downtimes; and

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Expert team of Engineers and dedicated Account Manager.

More info at www.balcasenergy.com/carbon-tax Ian McCracken Business Development Director Balcas Energy

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Renewable energy

Pathways to the 2030 renewable electricity target MaREI Director Professor Brian Ó Gallachóir discusses the role of carbon budgets in the interface between climate ambition to climate action and explores some of the tough choices that need to be made in relation to pathways. Ó Gallachóir, a member of the enhanced Climate Change Advisory Council’s carbon budgets committee, believes that climate ambition has tended to focus on the end goals, rather than on the pathways required to get there. Discussing the enshrinement in policy of the 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions target in 2019, later raised to 51 per cent through the Programme for Government and bolstered by a net-zero carbon target by 2050, Ó Gallachóir says: “These endpoint targets are very important but they are not the full story. The pathway to get to that endpoint is critical and carbon budgets play a key role in that.”

correlating with significant economic growth. A 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2005, while welcomed, cannot be credited to successful climate policy alone, when considering the effect of the economic recession and the Covid-19 pandemic on emission reductions. Ó Gallachóir is quick to point out that some progress has been made, specifically pointing to success in greenhouse gas emission reduction in energy, which has removed some 12 MtCO2eq through things like renewable energy and energy efficiency. “When we consider the pathway to 2050, it is very important in the context of our cumulative emissions. The pathway has a key impact in terms of the contribution to climate change because it is the cumulative emissions that we release into the atmosphere that influence the level of temperature rise.”

Ó Gallachóir highlights that a climate neutrality objective by 2050 does not outline a pathway and examples the challenge in this by posing the question: “Do we look to a linear trajectory, or do we approach this in a different way?”

A discussion paper developed by MaREI (Figure 1) illustrates how alternative carbon budgets will deliver different pathways. All of the pathways illustrated reach carbon neutrality by 2050 but as Ó Gallachóir points out, each has very different implications for the temperature rise.

When seeking an answer to such a question, the academic states that it is worth reflecting on the past. From 1990 Ireland’s emissions grew to a peak in 2005,

The Climate Action Act calls for two different carbon budgets to be established in the period to 2030 and the Climate Change Advisory Committee (CCAC) is

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Figure 1: Illustrative decarbonisation trajectories to 2050

MtCO2 (illustra ve)

Early action

2020

2030

2040

Linear

2050

2020

2030

2040

Late action

2050

2020

2030

2040

2050

Each pathway above reaches the same 2050 goal of net-zero CO2 emissions, but in the late action pathway, cumulative emissions are double that of the early action pathway, leading to double the warming impact

undertaking proposals on what these budgets will be. Ó Gallachóir is a member of the carbon budgets committee set up by the CCAC. The Advisory Council is to advise on the first three of the five-yearly carbon budgets, with the first two focussed on the specific 51 per cent greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030. Offering a context to the scale of this ambition over a 10-year period, the Director states that from 2018, no other country in the world has achieved a 51 per cent greenhouse gas reduction over a decade. Ireland’s 51 per cent reduction target compares to a 46 per cent reduction sought by the UK over the same period, an EU equivalent reduction of 41 per cent and a US ambition of 47 per cent. “Only Denmark is ahead with a 63 per cent emissions reduction target over this period,” he adds. Ó Gallachóir states that a number of open questions exist in relation to the development of carbon budgets. The first and most critical open question is around whether carbon budgets to 2030 should target early action or delayed action. Additionally, some questions have been raised as to how 2018 should be the starting point for a baseline and whether land use, land use change and forestry should be included in these budgets. Finally, the academic poses a question around how to weigh up different topics which need to be taken into account such as climate science, economic competitiveness and climate justice. The academic demonstrates (Figure 2) a linear trajectory approach to 2030 which would point to a

cumulative 269 Mt CO2eq carbon budget one (2021 to 2025) and a 188 Mt CO2eq reduction in carbon budget two (2026 to 2030). “It might be appropriate to consider a linear trajectory because the EU policy framework that we also need to be mindful of effectively has a linear carbon budget for non-ETS emissions for the period to 2030,” he adds. Highlighting the difference in the potential approaches, the Director says: “Clearly, if we are focussing on the emission contribution to temperature change, early intervention would be the best pathway. However, if we are thinking about distributional effects, a just transition in an Irish context and the impact on jobs and economic competitiveness on requirements for people to change so quickly, then the steer would be more towards a delayed trajectory.” Concluding, Ó Gallachóir states that carbon budgets are key to determining the pathway to 51% MtCO2eq by 2030 and so many open questions remain under consideration by the CCAC. “Achievability depends also on sectoral allocations, effective policies and measures, and societal participation,” he states. “However, I believe that the definition of achievability has changed in light of our experience with the pandemic. We have shown in the last year that we can do things differently and this gives cause for hope. That being said, it does not take away from the scale of the challenge and the fact that there are a range of carbon budget pathways that we need to make decisions on.”

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Greenhouse gas emissions (Mt CO2 eq) GWP100

Figure 2: Possible carbon budgets 2021-2030 70

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

Greenhouse gas emissions (Mt CO2 eq) GWP100

Figure 3: Different pathways = Different budgets 2020-2030 70

10 2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029

2030

0 Early action

156

Linear

Delayed action

Title

Period

Early action

Linear

Delayed action

CB1

2021-2025

239

269

299

CB2

2026-2030

168

188

208

CB1+2

2021-2030

407

457

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Renewable energy Table 4.2 Renewable energy contribution to gross final consumption use by source 2020 Quantity (ktoe)

2005 Share (%)

Quantity (ktoe)

2019-2020 Share (%)

Overall change

2005-2020 Overall change

Biomass and renewable wastes

288

19%

176

49%

1.80%

64%

Liquid biofuels

174

11%

-7.20%

15789%

8.50%

63%

Total bioenergy

491

32%

195

54%

-1.30%

152%

Wind

918

59%

26%

8.90%

870%

Hydro

18%

2.60%

Ambient

9.70%

1247%

Solar

14.30%

4150%

1,551

100%

360

100%

5.30%

331%

Biogas and landfill gas

Total renewables

Source: SEAI

Despite this, renewable energy still avoided 6.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020, more than is emitted from all cars on our roads combined. The Government aims to produce up to 80% of electricity generated across the country from renewable sources by 2030. Table 4.1 shows the amount of renewable energy used each year, split by source. Most of the growth in renewable energy has come from wind. Wind provided 59% of all renewable energy in 2020. Solid biomass and bioliquids were the next largest sources of growth. Bioenergy, including solid biomass, renewable wastes, landfill gas, biogas and bioliquids, collectively accounted for 32% of renewable energy in 2020.

Renewable transport Ireland achieved the mandatory EU target of 10% renewable energy in transport, reaching 10.2% in 2020, almost entirely through the blending of sustainable biofuels in petrol and diesel.

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Renewable electricity Ireland had no mandatory target for renewable electricity (RES-E) for 2020, but renewable electricity formed the backbone of Ireland’s strategy to achieve the overall 16% renewable energy target for 2020, and there was an ambitious national target of 40%. Ireland fell just short of this target, achieving 39.1% RES-E in 2020. Despite this electricity generation has been the most successful of the three modes for the development of energy from renewable sources. Renewable energy sources are now the second largest source of electricity after natural gas.

Renewable heat There was no mandatory target for renewable heat (RESH), but Ireland set a national target of 12% RES-H by 2020 to help deliver the overall mandatory target of 16% renewable energy. Only 6.3% RES-H was reached in 2020.

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Renewable energy

Developing Ireland’s hydrogen potential Ireland will require a different roadmap from that of its neighbouring countries given the absence of an industrial use for hydrogen, explains NUI Galway’s Rory Monaghan. While the development of hydrogen supply projects in Ireland is welcome, failure to incentivise the progression of demand will inevitably force delays in hydrogen production, explains Monaghan. The academic, who is a Senior Lecturer of Energy Systems Engineering and leads the Energy Research Centre in NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute, highlights that associated with the European Union’s move to make hydrogen a central part of its decarbonisation plans out to 2050, a number of member states have also published their hydrogen strategies in 2021 and there is a clear momentum across Europe. However, Monaghan stresses that throughout the majority of these strategies, the first step is for renewable hydrogen to replace fossil-generated (grey) hydrogen. “Research across Europe shows that hydrogen is making its mark in the industrial sector, where grey hydrogen is already in use and where there is an existing demand,” he states. The challenge for Ireland is that, unlike its neighbouring countries, that industrial demand is minimal. Setting the context for the current momentum in hydrogen supply and demand across Europe, Monaghan is pleased that in a few short years the conversation has moved from explaining the potential uses of hydrogen to one of the specific challenges and

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opportunities for the role of hydrogen in Ireland’s future energy system. Hydrogen’s ability to be transported over long distances, its potential as a storage medium and the fact that it can be used in a range of different end-use sectors are clear benefits, however, as Monaghan points out, currently, most potential end-use sectors are not using hydrogen and the vast bulk of hydrogen that is being used is as an industrial feedstock, and is not coming from renewables. In July 2020, the EU published its Energy System Integration Strategy, setting out four over-arching priorities of how the energy system will be decarbonised. Alongside efficiency, circularity and direct renewable electrification, the Strategy listed ‘clean fuels for hard to abate sectors’ as a priority, relating to hydrogen, biofuels and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Hydrogen Strategy Subsequently, the EU Commission published its Hydrogen Strategy, mapping the development of 40GW worth of electrolysis capacity within the EU and a further 40GW in North Africa and the former Soviet Union (for import), by 2030. Monaghan estimates that Europe needs to avoid future emissions of around one billion tonnes of CO2eq in 2050 in addition to its projected CO 2 emissions reductions if it is to play its part in meeting the global aim of keeping warming to 1-2oC. Hydrogen can help close 50 per cent of that gap, spread across a number of key sectors including, but not limited to,

Renewable energy

transportation, as industrial feedstock and through industrial heat. By 2024, there is an aim to have 6GW (similar to Ireland’s total maximum electrical demand) of renewable hydrogen electrolysers installed across the EU, and the production of up to one million tonnes of renewable hydrogen. Falling equipment costs, the availability of cheap renewable power, strong government supports (especially in countries around the North Sea) for promoting hydrogen and existing large-scale demand for grey hydrogen, are driving current momentum across Europe but many large-scale projects remain in the planning or construction phase, with the 6MW at Austria’s H2Future remaining as the world’s largest green hydrogen facility. Monaghan reemphasises that in many of the projects either operational or in construction across Europe, the demand is coming from industrial sectors, where there is an existing usage of grey hydrogen.

Ireland The International Energy Agency recently studied the prospects for hydrogen in north-western Europe, focusing on Ireland’s seven neighbouring countries. The study estimated consumption of a combined 6.3 million tonnes per year of hydrogen, almost all from natural gas and it is expected that green hydrogen will replace a large portion of this between 2025-2030. By comparison, Ireland currently consumes only 2,000 tonnes per year, roughly equivalent to full-year production from a 12MW electrolyser. “We are seeing a lot of development of hydrogen supply projects in Ireland but we are not seeing huge developments in hydrogen demand,” states Monaghan. “That is starting to change slightly, particularly in the transportation sector, with recent Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus fuel cell bus trials, but we do not currently have that base of industrial use of hydrogen that other EU countries are relying on. Our roadmap is going to need to be different.” Posing the question as to how Ireland can increase the demand for hydrogen, Monaghan points to an initial need for this to be stimulated by government. Highlighting evidence of the formation of a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario, whereby supply projects will start to experience delays in getting off the ground without the availability of off-takers, Monaghan suggests a number of possibilities which could change this. The first is the co-funding for trial and purchase of hydrogen buses, trains and trucks, given the likelihood that transport is going to the Ireland’s first major mover in relation to green hydrogen adoption. Secondly, the academic says that co-funding for the deployment of

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hydrogen filling stations for these vehicles has been recognised as highly successful in Switzerland, especially in relation to HGVs, and such a model could be mirrored in Ireland. A further enabler, and one which has been adopted by the UK, is incentivising or co-funding of hydrogen hubs and valleys, clustering suppliers and users to reduce risk and driving economies of scale in the hydrogen value chain. Another approach in the UK, which could be transferable, is the inclusion of hydrogen in renewable transport fuel supports. Away from transport, Monaghan believes that future hydrogen development could benefit from a detailed analysis on the full system costs and emissions saving of heat decarbonisation in the built environment, with a pointed question of ‘what is the role of hydrogen in the residential gas grid?’. The Government has committed to the role out of some 600,000 heat pumps by 2030 but as Monaghan points out, it is not yet clear what role the gas grid, potentially carrying hydrogen, has in this. The question of residential heating matters more in Ireland due to that sector’s outsized importance relative to other countries. “In its sixth Carbon Budget, the UK Climate Change Committee has found that the most cost-effective full decarbonisation route for residential heating is predominantly via heat pumps, but with an appreciable amount of hydrogen. This hydrogen provides the heating system with storage capacity that is harder to achieve to in all-electric scenario. Such an assessment has yet to be done in Ireland but I believe there are some important findings to be made,” he says. Concluding: “If we base our heat policy on completely pushing hydrogen to the side, we create the potential for a lot of inflexibility to be built into our energy system.” Monaghan is a co-leader of a recently announced three-year collaborative industry-academic project, HyLIGHT, which is seeking to inform a comprehensive plan for hydrogen deployment at scale in Ireland. HyLIGHT is co-funded by a consortium of 25 partner organisations organisations from across the emerging hydrogen value chain and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) through MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine. Dr Rory Monaghan is the Director of the Energy Systems Engineering Programme at NUI Galway, Energy Research Centre Lead in the NUI Galway Ryan Institute, and a Funded Investigator in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy Climate and Marine.

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Energy policy Climate Action Plan 2019 The previous Government committed to a goal of 70% of Ireland’s electricity being derived from renewable sources by 2030, a more than doubling of the current level of 30% that would add 12GW of renewable energy to the national grid. These commitments were made under the 2019 Climate Action Plan, much of which was either upheld or saw its targets raised under the 2020 Programme for Government (PfG). A pilot scheme allowing homeowners to sell surplus energy generated by at-home solar panels back to the national grid is set to be fully rolled out nationwide in 2021. This 12GW will be made up of: • at least 3.5GW of offshore renewable energy (since revised to 5GW by the PfG); • up to 1.5GW of grid-scale solar energy; and • up to 8.2GW total of increased onshore wind capacity. The plan says: “Increasing onshore and offshore wind capacity are the most economical options from the MACC for electricity production. This will include replacing existing coal- and peat-fired plants, as well as installing the new electricity capacity required to meet the increased power demand from transport and residential heating electrification.”

Programme for Government 2020 The PfG agreed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green party to enter government together in 2020 pledged a National Energy Efficiency Plan, a “revolution in renewables”, and an increase in the number of Ireland’s Sustainable Energy Communities.

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Measures outlined in the PfG to ensure that Ireland reaches its 70% goal by 2030 include: • holding the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction by the end of 2020 (since achieved), with auctions held each year thereafter, including the first RESS auction for offshore wind in 2021; • giving cross-government priority to the drafting and publishing of the Marine Planning and Development Bill; • producing a whole-of-government plan setting out how to deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and how to develop the necessary skills base, supply chains, legislation, and infrastructure to enable it. This new plan will make recommendations for how the deployment of renewable electricity can be sped up, for example the provision and approval of grid connections; • completing the Celtic Interconnector to connect Ireland’s electricity grid to France; • commencing planning for future interconnection with our neighbours; • finalising and publishing the Wind Energy Guidelines; • developing a Solar Energy Strategy for rooftop and ground, based photovoltaics, to ensure that a greater share of electricity needs is met through solar power; • continue EirGrid’s programme ‘Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System’ (DS3);

Irish Bioenergy Association Who are we? IrBEA was founded in 1999 and is the representative body for the bioenergy industry on the island of Ireland. IrBEA works on behalf of its members across the bioenergy sectors of biomass, biogas, biofuels, biochar, woodfuels and energy crops. IrBEA is recognised by Government and key stakeholders as the voice of the Bioenergy industry. The organisation is one of the founding members of Renewable Energy Ireland and is affiliated to Bioenergy Europe and the European Biogas Association (EBA). The organisation’s activities are managed by the CEO assisted by a small executive staff team. IrBEA is governed by a Board of Directors which includes an elected President and Vice President. Policy direction is provided by a Management Committee and specific subcommittees.

Our membership The diverse membership includes farmers and foresters, fuel suppliers, energy development companies, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, engineers, financiers and tax advisers, legal firms, consultants, planners, research organisations, local authorities, education, and advisory bodies — anyone with an interest in the bioenergy industry.

IrBEA is involved in a number of Bioenergy Research and Development projects in the areas of Biochar and Biogas. IrBEA administers a register of Biomass Designers and Biomass installers. Current Projects include: • Interreg NW Europe Three C Project • European Innovation Partnership Small Biogas Demonstration Programme • Midlands Bioenergy Development Programme — A Just Transition Fund Project

Full details on www.irbea.org

Our mission and objectives: INFLUENCE

IMPROVE

LIAISE

•

Influence policy makers to promote the development of bioenergy

PROMOTE •

Promote and represent the interests of members

Improve public awareness of bioenergy as a realistic option for renewable energy supply

NETWORK •

Networking and information sharing among those interested in bioenergy development

Liaise with similar interest groups and stakeholders

PROJECTS •

Promote the implementation of bioenergy projects

Are you a wood fuel supplier or consumer? Ensure quality wood fuels through the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance scheme. Full details at www.wfqa.org • @WoodFuelQA The WFQA is managed and administered by the Irish Bioenergy Association. Certifying Firewood, Wood Chip, Wood Pellets and Wood Briquettes

For more information and to apply for IrBEA membership visit us online at www.irbea.org

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•

Renewable energy

ensuring that the energy efficiency potential of smart meters starts to be deployed in 2021 and that all mechanical electricity meters are replaced by 2024; strengthening the policy framework to incentivise electricity storage and interconnection; supporting the clustering of regional and sectoral centres of excellence in the development of lowcarbon technologies; and investing in research and development in ‘green’ hydrogen (generated using excess renewable energy) as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport.

The Government also pledges to produce a longer-term plan setting out how they plan to “take advantage of the massive potential of offshore energy on the Atlantic Coast”. This plan will set out how Ireland can become a major contributor to a pan-European renewable energy generation and transmission system, taking advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in the deeper waters in the Atlantic.

Climate Action Plan 2021 The Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting us on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050, as committed to in the Programme for Government and set out in the Climate Act 2021.

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Among the most important measures in the plan is to increase the proportion of renewable electricity to up to 80% by 2030, including an increased target of up to 5 Gigawatts of offshore wind energy. This will not just reduce emissions from electricity, it will allow us to electrify other sectors such as transport and heat and reduce emissions in these sectors too. In addition to the upcoming microgeneration support scheme for householders the government will introduce a small-scale generator scheme for farmers, business, and communities to generate their own electricity and feed into the grid. As well as developing improved storage, we will also begin to deploy renewable gas such as biomethane and green hydrogen. The government will review its strategy on data centres to ensure that the sector will be in alignment with sectoral emissions ceilings and support renewable energy targets.

Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) The previous Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes were designed to ensure Ireland meets its goal of 40% of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020. They also provided certainty to renewable electricity generators by providing them with a minimum price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a 15-year period. The last REFIT schemes closed in December 2015. In 2020 REFIT was replaced by the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme provides support to renewable electricity projects in Ireland. With a primary focus on cost effectiveness, the RESS delivers a broader range of policy objectives, including:

Renewable energy •

• • •

an Enabling Framework for Community Participation through the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects; increasing technology diversity by broadening the renewable electricity technology mix; delivering an ambitious renewable electricity policy to 2030; and increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy.

The Government aims to produce 80% of electricity generated across the country from renewable sources by 2030.

RESS 1 RESS 1 is the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme by the Government of Ireland and is a pivotal component of the Government’s Climate Action Plan. RESS 1 uses a competitive auction process to determine which generators receive support. For projects that are successful in the RESS 1 Auction, this support typically applies for approximately 15 years.

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Wind energy development in Ireland: Onshore and offshore Wind energy is currently the largest contributing resource of renewable energy in Ireland. It is both Ireland’s largest and cheapest renewable electricity resource. In 2020 Wind provided over 86% of Ireland’s renewable electricity and 36% of our total electricity demand. It is the second greatest source of electricity generation in Ireland after natural gas. Ireland is one of the leading countries in its use of wind energy and second place worldwide in 2020, after Denmark. Wind energy is and will continue to be a major contributor to Ireland’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector. New wind farms commissioned in Ireland in 2020 brought the total wind capacity to 4,300 MW, contributing to the increase in overall RES percentage to 43.3%. Other sources of RES include biomass, hydro, solar PV, and renewable waste. Table 4.4 shows the importance of wind energy to the overall renewables sector.

Action Number 28 of the Climate Action Plan 2019 addresses the design and implementation of RESS. The action calls on the need to increase the volumes and frequencies of RESS auctions to deliver on the 70% renewable electricity target by 2030, ensuring an appropriate community/enterprise mix to achieve an efficient delivery of renewables. RESS 1 is the first step in this important component of the Climate Action Plan. The RESS 1 Auction ran as per the RESS 1 Auction Timetable following the Auction Submission Closing Date in July 2020. A total of 114 projects applied to participate in the RESS 1 qualification process. The Final Qualification Results as approved by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment qualified 109 projects (including eight Community Projects) to participate in the RESS 1 Auction.

RESS 2 The RESS 2 auction will support the achievement of the increased ambition of 80% renewable electricity by 2030 as set out under the National Development Plan and the policies and measures in the Climate Action Plan 2021. The RESS Scheme ensures that we are on a pathway to meet our ambitious climate targets and lays the foundations of a thriving and cost-effective renewable electricity market. This will support the growth of the green economy, create sustainable work opportunities, and ultimately benefit the consumer as renewables become more cost effective. The RESS 2 auction process has commenced, qualification for RESS 2 opened 7 December 2021.

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Heating and cooling in Ireland The vast majority of energy used for heating in Ireland is consumed by the residential and industry sectors, which, combined, account for a useful heating demand that constitutes 79 per cent of the total for all sectors in Ireland. In comparison, useful heating demand for the agriculture sector accounts for just 1 per cent. The total final energy consumption for the year 2019, per sector, was found to be: 26.32 TWh in the residential sector; 5.87 TWh in the commercial sector; 4.18 TWh in the public sector; 22.48 TWh in the industrial sector; and 0.79 TWh in the agricultural sector. In the residential sector, heating is supplied by solid fuels, oil, gas, or electricity. Final energy consumption for 2019 shows oil (16.04 TWh) to have been the dominant fuel in Irish homes, with electricity (1.11 TWh) the least used. Gas boilers (2.51 TWh) represented the most used option in the commercial sector, with electric heating (1.88 TWh) and oil boilers (1.49 TWh) behind. In terms of cooling, energy consumption is split across industry, agriculture, commercial, and public sectors, as there is no measurable cooling demand for the residential sector given that no cooling degree days requiring active cooling have been recorded in Ireland in recent years. Data centres are also included in the stats, with cooling demand figure for the centres “based on the assumption that one kWh of electricity consumption generates one kWh of waste heat within data centres, hence the annual data centre cooling demand is modelled to be equal to the annual data centre electricity consumption”. This approach “assumes that the heat gains from the environment (e.g., from incoming solar

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radiation) are negligible compared to the waste heat generated within data centres” and also “assumes negligible passive cooling, which in reality will likely be used to meet a significant amount of the cooling demand”. The vast majority of cooling demand in Ireland comes from the commercial sector, which accounts for 63 per cent of total demand. Total final energy consumption for cooling in 2019 stands at: 2.87 TWh in the commercial sector; 0.22 TWh in the public sector; 0.80 in the industrial sector; 0.09 in the agricultural sector; and 0.30 TWh in the data centres. With demands from new builds included, the SEAI’s heating demand forecasts show no sign of lessening demand between 2020 and 2050, even during its decarbonisation scenario of forecasting, with every year projected to be between 40 and 50 TWh over the 30year stretch. Heating fuel final consumption forecasts in the decarbonisation scenario to 2050 (not including new builds) show levels dropping from 50 TWh in 2020 to just over 30 TWh in 2050. The only sector in which cooling demands are projected to increase is data centres. “As a by-product of the data management processes that occur within data centres, large amounts of low-grade excess heat are generated. Because of this, and due to improved data centre operation at low temperatures, up to 40% of a data centre’s total electricity consumption can be on cooling, depending on the efficiency of the data centre’s servers and cooling method,” the SEAI states. Electricity demand from data centres is projected to grow from 2

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Total final energy consumption (TWh) for heating and cooling in buildings and industry by sector, 2019 30 25 20

15 10 5 0 Residential

Commercial

Public

Industry

Heating

TWh per annum in 2019 to 12 TWh per annum in 2050. In October 2020, the European Commission’s climate ambition was raised to a 55% cut in emissions by 2030, envisioning climate neutrality by 2050. The 2020 Programme for Government commits to an average 7 per cent per year reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 to 2030, which will result in a 51% reduction over the decade if successful, and to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. In 2021, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 established a national climate objective, committing Ireland to a “climate resilient, biodiversity rich, environmentally sustainable and climate neutral economy” by 2050. To achieve this goal, the heating and cooling sector of energy has seven major objectives and targets broadly aimed at decarbonisation, energy efficiency and energy security, as they are included in the National Energy and Climate Plan: the retrofitting of 500,000 residential hoes to a B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) or “cost optimal” by 2030; the installation of 600,000 heat pumps in the residential sector from 2021-2030; all public sector buildings are to have a B BER or carbon equivalent by 2030; one-third of all commercial buildings are to have a

Agriculture

Data centres

Cooling

B BER or carbon equivalent by 2030; an additional 1,600 GWh of renewable heat will be generated via the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat, heat pump grants and the EXEED programme; 1.6 TWh of indigenous biomethane will be generated by 2030; and additional district heating of 0.12 TWh will grow linearly from 20232028 through the development of a national policy framework for district heating.

% 38 of all energy consumption in Ireland is used for heat

35%

of annual energy emissions come from heat

% 94 of energy for heat still comes from fossil fuels

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Table 4.3 Renewable energy sources as part of Ireland’s fuel mix 2020 Wind energy Solar Hydro Other renewables Total renewables Net imports Other non-renewables Gas NR peat Oil

37.9% 0% 3% 2.3% 43.3% -0.5% 1% 49.7% 3.2% 0.7%

Table 4.5 Wind as % of Demand 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Northern Ireland 17% 21% 20% 27% 31% 33% 37%

Ireland 18% 23% 21% 25% 28% 32% 36%

All Island 18% 22% 21% 25% 29% 32% 36%

Source: EirGrid

Installed capacity of wind generation has increased from 135MW at the end of 2002 to 4,300MW at the end of 2020. This value is set to increase as Ireland endeavours to meet its renewable targets in 2030 and beyond. The Government had a target of 40% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020, as was restated in the 2015 White Paper on Energy. The 40% RES-E target was a part of the Government’s strategy to meet the overall Irish target to achieve 16% of all energy consumed to come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland achieved this target in 2020, with 43.3% of electricity generated from renewable energy sources. The Climate Action Plan 2021 recommits Ireland to the ambition to install 5GW of offshore wind capacity in maritime area by 2030, and introduces a new objective, that by the same year, up to 80% of electricity will be sourced from renewables. In addition to increasing the renewable energy share, these targets will support our carbon emission reduction commitments, meet anticipated increases in domestic electricity demand and increase security of electricity supply. The first phase of offshore wind in Ireland will be necessary but not sufficient to reach the 2030 5GW ambition. An additional phase is required, comprised of projects which can deliver by 2030. Offshore Wind Phase Two closed for consultation in March 2022.

Table 4.4 Total Wind Generation GWh 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Northern Ireland 1,343 1,696 1,499 2,034 2,385 2,462 2,629

Ireland 5,058 6,536 6,061 7,228 8,684 9,497 11,070

All Island 6,401 8,232 7,560 9,262 11,068 11,958 13,699

Source: EirGrid

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Ireland or the Republic can achieve the deployment of 11-16GW of onshore wind and 30GW of offshore wind by 2050, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s wind roadmap. The Climate Action Plan and Programme for Government plans coming to fruition would deliver at least 12GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. The potential economic value of electricity generated could reach €15 billion. The number of direct jobs could increase from around 1,000 at present to 20,000 by 2050. Under two growth models used by SEAI, the cumulative resource value expressed in cost per barrel of oil is €29-59 billion (baseline growth model) and €148-295 billion (ambitious growth model). In 2019, SEAI announced a new pan-European project, Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN). The aim being to accelerate the development of the ocean energy sector. With a three-year budget of €2.6 million, SEAI will partner with various organisations. These are located in the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The aim is to explore ways to unlock the potential of this renewable energy resource.

National Marine Planning Framework The National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) was launched by An Taoiseach on 1 July 2021 and is Ireland’s first comprehensive marine spatial planning framework. The NMPF brings together all marine-based human activities for the first time, outlining the Government’s vision, objectives, and marine planning policies for each marine activity. The NMPF details, which will apply to a maritime area of approximately 495,000km², how these marine activities will interact with each other in an ocean space that is under increasing spatial pressure, ensuring the sustainable use of our marine resources to 2040. The NMPF is intended as the marine equivalent to the National Planning Framework. This approach will enable the Government to: • set a clear direction for managing our seas; • clarify objectives and priorities; and • direct decision makers, users, and stakeholders towards strategic, plan-led, and efficient use of our marine resources.

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Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 The Bill, key component of the NMPF, establishes in law a new planning regime for the maritime area and will be a key enabler of decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy sources and the development of offshore energy. It will replace existing State and development consent regimes and streamline arrangements on the basis of a single consent principle, i.e. one State consent (Maritime Area Consent) to enable occupation of the Maritime Area and one development consent (planning permission), with a single environmental assessment. The Maritime Area Consent (MAC) closed for consultation on 18 February 2022.

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) was published in 2014 and reviewed in 2018. It identifies the opportunity for the following: • • • • •

the sustainable development of Ireland's abundant offshore renewable energy resources; to increase indigenous production of renewable electricity; to contribute to reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions; to improve the security of our energy supply; and creating jobs in the green economy.

The OREDP sets out key principles, policy actions and enablers for delivery of Ireland's significant potential in this area. In this way, the OREDP provides a framework for the sustainable development of Ireland's offshore renewable energy resources. Under the OREDP, Ireland is developing a suite of world class test infrastructure to encourage the development of our offshore renewable energy potential.

ISLES project The Irish Government, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive commissioned a project to look at a credible marine resource beyond 2020, by examining the feasibility of creating an offshore interconnected transmission network and subsea electricity grid based on renewable energy sources off the coast of western Scotland, the Irish Sea, and North Channel area. Approximately 16GW of capacity was considered within the ‘notional’ ISLES development zone and timeline, considering wind, wave and tidal. The study developed a Northern Isles concept and a Southern Isles concept, the former concentrating on connection between Northern Ireland and Scotland, the latter focused on Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. In June 2011, energy ministers from the UK and Ireland agreed to co-operate on exploiting the major wind and marine resource in and around the islands through the British-Irish Council. This was re-affirmed in the joint statement on Anglo-Irish relations over the next decade, published by the then Prime Minister David Cameron and Taoiseach Enda Kenny in March 2012.

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A consultation on the ISLES project’s findings took place in 2012. The governments have stated that the further development of the economic business case, planning and environmental regulation harmonisation, and improved access to environmental data are the main next steps for advancing offshore grids in the ISLES area.

ISLES II The project partners secured additional INTERREG IVA funding for ISLES II ‘Towards Implementation’ in June 2013. The second phase included three distinct workstreams as detailed below as well as a programme of stakeholder consultation and dissemination activity. The ISLES II delivery phase concluded at the end of June and the reports finalised and uploaded to ISLES website in September 2015. The key outputs detailed in the reports include: • a cross jurisdictional Spatial Plan providing locational marine guidance to potential developers; • a recommended regulatory model that outlines principles for arrangements to facilitate efficient coordination of development; and • an ISLES business plan that proposes an overarching governance framework, through which future development might be supported.

Political Declaration on energy cooperation between the North Seas Countries The governments of nine EU countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden) and Norway to collaborate on a project to develop an offshore grid. Three working groups were established to work on grid configuration and integration, market and regulatory issues, and planning and authorisation procedures. In December 2010, the governments of nine EU countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Sweden) and Norway agreed to collaborate on a project to develop an offshore grid. Three working groups were established to work on grid configuration and integration, market, and regulatory issues, and planning and authorisation procedures. Since 2016, this cooperation has been integrated into the new Political Declaration on energy cooperation between the North Seas Countries. This initiative focuses on building missing electricity links, enabling increased trading of energy and further integration of energy markets, which will assist in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhance security of supply. Friends of the Supergrid is a Brussels-based coalition of energy and technology companies and other interested organisations with a mutual interest in promoting and influencing the policy and regulatory framework required to enable large-scale interconnection in Europe.

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Solar energy in Ireland Solar panels that produce electricity are known as solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. These panels generate DC electricity when exposed to light. In the period since 2010 solar PV has been the fastest growing power generation technology worldwide. The sharp decline at a global level in the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has resulted in significant interest in this renewable technology across Europe and in Ireland. Solar power is the fastest-growing source for renewable electricity in Europe according to Eurostat: in 2008, it accounted for 1% but now stands at 13%. This means that the growth in electricity from solar power has been dramatic, rising from just 7.4 TWh in 2008 to 125.7 TWh in 2019. Ireland’s Energy White Paper recognised an increasing role for solar power in the future Irish energy mix and its contribution will grow, especially as system costs continue to decline. However, the use of this technology in Ireland is less efficient than, for example, areas of southern Europe where solar penetration is stronger. It is generally recognised that the deployment of solar PV in Ireland has the potential to contribute to the country’s renewable energy targets. Solar PV can be deployed in roof-mounted or ground-mounted installations, and in this way, it can empower Irish citizens and communities to take control of the production and consumption of energy. The Climate Action Plan 2021 aims to produce up to 80% of electricity generated from renewable energy, with a mix of 5GW from offshore wind, 8GW from onshore wind and 1.5-2.5GW from solar PV. If 2020 was recognised as a major breakthrough for the solar PV in Ireland, then 2021/22 will undoubtedly shape its deployment over the next decade. The trend of Solar PV generation in Ireland since 2014 is one of rapid growth, however, given its low base start, Solar PV still makes up a relatively small percentage of overall renewable electricity generation. The awarding of 63 contracts to solar projects, totalling over 1,000MW (767.3 GWh), during the 2020 RESS-1 auction marked the first major move of solar farms into Ireland’s renewable energy mix and represented a clear signal from government that it valued the role of solar PV in Ireland’s decarbonisation ambitions. However, how much emphasis the Government puts on the solar PV contribution will be defined by RESS-2, the next auction being planned by government to take place at the end of 2021 or beginning of 2022. According to the latest SEAI report, Renewable Energy in Ireland 2020, 66% of renewable energy in 2018 came from renewable electricity, with renewable energy accounting for 11% of gross final consumption. Ireland has a legally binding target of the latter figure being at 16% for 2020. Solar photovoltaics accounted for 0.1% of renewable electricity, illustrating the small role solar has thus far played in Ireland’s renewable energy developments.

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The SEAI report estimates that there were 24.2MW of installed solar PV capacity in Ireland in 2018, split between 17.7MW in the residential sector and 6.5MW in the commercial/industrial sector. This amount in the residential sector is mostly made up of solar PV installed in new homes to meet the requirements of the building regulations for use of energy from renewable sources, with estimates of installed capacity of solar PV on new dwellings based on the BER database. At present, financial support is available for solar thermal heating technology through the provision of grants offered by the SEAI. Large industry and Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) can avail of these grants, while households can also avail of grant support for investment in solar thermal under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.

Micro-generation Micro-generation is the general term used to refer to the generation of electricity from renewable technologies including solar photovoltaic (PV), micro-wind, microhydro and micro-renewable combined heat and power (CHP). A payment, or Clean Export Guarantee (CEG), will be available to all renewable generators that export to the grid, regardless of what energy provider they have a supply contract with. The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a commitment to introduce a Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) which supports deployment of an expected 260 MW of new micro-generation by 2030. The final design of the MSS received government approval on 21 December 2021. The scheme design will be published in Q1 2022 and supports will be introduced on a phased basis during the year.

Waste-to-energy technology The main waste-to-energy technologies are anaerobic digestion, direct combustion (incineration), pyrolysis and gasification. Anaerobic digestion is the biological treatment of organic waste in the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis is the decomposition of organic material through the application of heat in the absence of oxygen. Gasification converts organic materials into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, resulting in synthesis gas (syngas). Currently, Waste-to-Energy Plants in Europe can supply 18 million inhabitants with electricity and 15.2 million inhabitants with heat. This is based on 90 million tonnes of remaining household and similar waste that was treated in 2015 in Europe. Ireland’s first incineration plant, operated by Indaver, has been operating at Duleek, County Meath, since 2011 and has a capacity of 21MW. It can process up to 235,000 tonnes of waste annually; Indaver have lodged an application to increase this capacity to 250,000 tonnes. Indaver is also proposing to build a 240,000-tonne capacity plant at Ringaskiddy, County Cork (23MW) with the potential for a combined heat and power system.

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The application was delayed by an initial refusal and a revised planning application was submitted in 2016. With the decision initially due in July 2016, An Bord Pleanála deferred the decision seven times before granting planning permission in May 2018. However, a challenge against the permission was heard in the High Court in 2019. In October 2021 the application was refused and will now be examined afresh from a certain point in 2017. An additional 600,000 tonne capacity waste-to-energy plant is based at Poolbeg, County Dublin as part of a public-private partnership. The project agreement, between Covanta and Dublin City Council, was signed in September 2014. It is operating now at full capacity after a series of performance tests and is processing approximately 1,800 tonnes of solid waste per day. It is also generating 60 megawatts of continuous electricity which is exported onto the national grid – enough to power 80,000 Irish homes.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, published a Draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy for a Circular Economy on 28 December 2021. The Draft Statement delivers on the Roadmap for Geothermal Energy published in November 2020.A public consultation on the draft Policy Statement will formally gather the views of the public and key stakeholders, such as environmental groups, geoscientists and engineers, and potential operators of geothermal energy projects. The final Policy Statement will outline the regulatory framework. It will also highlight the requirement for meaningful engagement with the public and for further work in the collection of data on Ireland’s geothermal resources. Further research will also be needed for a better understanding of the economics of geothermal energy projects. These elements aim to realise Ireland’s geothermal energy potential.

Geothermal energy in Ireland

Geo-Energy Europe

Geothermal energy is heat stored in the ground from the hot core of the planet and the sun. It is classified as either 'deep' or 'shallow' geothermal, depending on the depths involved. Geothermal heat from the earth’s core is accessed through fault lines on the earth’s crust, areas where there is volcanic activity or drilling through the surface to access it. Geothermal energy takes the form of heat (usually hot water or steam) or electricity.

The Geo-Energy Europe (GEE) project began in 2018 following a successful application to the European Commission’s Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. GEE currently represents over 600 members, including 300+ SMEs, from 23 EU countries, and covers the entire deep geothermal value chain. GEE is funded under the European Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (COSME) programme. Its two major objectives are to: build a transnational cluster on geothermal energy; and help European SMEs internationalise on global geothermal energy markets. GEE involves nine partners from eight EU and COSME participating countries and is coordinated by coordinated by Geoscience Ireland.

Geothermal energy is not only renewable, but also secure, reliable and local. It can be used for heating and cooling buildings and for generating electricity. Advances in technology, proven over the past decade, mean that geothermal energy can now play a significant role in our transition to a carbon neutral and circular economy. Geothermal energy has been used for a very long time in volcanic regions such as in Iceland, Italy, and New Zealand. Advances in technology mean that geothermal energy can now be used in Ireland for heating and cooling buildings, and possibly even to produce electricity. Geothermal energy is now being used in non-volcanic countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, and Germany. In 2004, SEAI produced a geothermal resource map of Ireland that identified potential resources of geothermal energy in Ireland. The review found that Ireland is particularly well suited for using ground source heat pumps due to its temperate climate and rainfall. It also found that the two main areas of warm spring development are in the north Leinster and Mallow regions. The Department has published an assessment of geothermal energy and a nontechnical roadmap for a policy and regulatory framework. The assessment states that Ireland has a potential for lowto-medium temperature geothermal energy resources (>400m deep) suitable for large-scale or district heating and cooling in municipal, residential, and industrial areas. North/south collaboration on geothermal energy research existed through the IRETHERM project. Initiated in March 2011, the project was a Science Foundation Ireland funded collaboration involving the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, UCD, UCC, Geological Survey of Ireland, the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, SLR Consulting and other partners. The project concluded in 2016.

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Heat from renewable energy sources (RES-H) Although there is no mandatory target for RES-H set in the RED, Ireland set a national target of 12% RES-H by 2020 to help deliver the overall mandatory target of 16% renewable energy. Only 6.3% RES-H was achieved in 2020. Between 2008 and 2014 there was a reduction in overall amount of energy used for heat, which contributed positively towards the RES-H target, as the share of renewable heat is measured against a smaller total. During this period, the quantity of renewable heat energy increased by 38% but the share of renewable heat energy increased by 81%. This trend reversed after 2014, when the total energy used for heat began increasing again following the return to economic growth and a reduction in international oil prices. Between 2014 and 2020 the quantity of renewable heat increased by 16%, but so did the overall amount of energy used for heat, meaning that the share of renewable heat remained virtually unchanged. Renewable heat energy is dominated by the use of solid biomass and renewable wastes in industry 59%. The use of ambient energy (ground-source and air-source) has grown more than ten-fold between 2005 and 2020 and is now a significant source of renewable heat energy, accounting for approximately 19% of renewable heat energy in 2020. Recent growth in renewable energy use for heat has been due to increased use of renewable

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wastes in industry and increased use of heat pumps delivering ambient energy in the residential and services sectors. The latter is mostly due to revisions to building regulations for new dwellings and also the support of grant schemes. Ireland currently has 6.3% of its heat sector demand met by renewable energy like biomass and biogas, which is the lowest percentage of any country in Europe and well below the European Union average of 22%. While some progress is being made in terms of increasing renewable heat in Ireland, more will need to be done. The Climate Action Plan sets ambitious targets for heat pumps to heat our homes and businesses, and a renewable source of liquid and gaseous fuels will need to be established in Ireland for heating purposes, especially to decarbonise high temperature heat where electricity may not provide a practical solution. An obligation in the heat sector will incentivise the use of renewable heat while spreading the obligation across all non-renewable fuel types. This spreads the cost impact over all consumers of non-renewable fuels and so does not place the financial burden on one particular subsector or area. The Consultation on the Introduction of a Renewable Heat Obligation closed in December 2021.

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Bioenergy in Ireland Bioenergy has historically been the largest contributor to Irish renewable energy through heat generation. It is expected to continue to play a significant role in further displacing fossil fuels, especially in the larger heat users in the commercial and industrial sector. The Draft Bioenergy Plan for 2014-2020 was published by the Department in 2014. The draft Plan recognises that meeting the demand for biomass from indigenous sources could deliver significant economic and employment benefits. The SEAI bioenergy roadmap to 2050 states that bioenergy has the potential to be an indigenously derived cornerstone of national energy requirements across transport, electricity generation and heat. Over 3,500ktoe of indigenous resources are available for the bioenergy supply chain by 2050. In its projections to 2020 the roadmap states that waste-to-energy and peat plant cofiring will form a substantial part of electricity generation, refined wood supplying the bulk of generation for heat, and domestic chip and pellet stoves and boilers driving domestic thermal consumption demand from bioenergy. The report states that in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, bioenergy should meet 27% of total primary transport energy demand, 28% of total electricity demand and 40% of total heat demand.

Renewable energy

Renewable energy in Northern Ireland

•

The new Energy Strategy – The Path to Net Zero Energy was published in December 2021 after being agreed by the Executive. It outlines a roadmap to 2030 aiming to deliver a 56% reduction in our energy-related emissions, on the pathway to deliver the 2050 vision of net zero carbon and affordable energy.

•

The Strategy sets out the aim to: • meet at least 70% of electricity consumption from a diverse mix of renewable sources; • replace high carbon heating sources with lower and zero carbon sources in households and businesses; and • support the transition to low and zero carbon fuels for vehicles. The Strategy aims to double the size of the low carbon and renewable energy economy to more than £2 billion turnover by 2030. It aims to deliver £10 million of funding through a new Green Innovation Challenge Fund, which will support green technology innovation.

• • • •

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review permitted development legislation for low carbon heat installations to ensure it is up to date and fit for purpose; develop an action plan to deliver 1GW of offshore wind from 2030; develop and commence delivery of low carbon heat demonstrator projects; develop and commence delivery of a geothermal demonstrator project; establish a cross departmental working group on biomethane production; publish an EV infrastructure action plan.

Northern Ireland, in contrast to the rest of the UK and Ireland, does not currently have dedicated climate legislation. There are currently two climate bills passing through the Assembly, with the second Bill moving to consideration stage. New features to the Bill brought through amendments include a 2050 net zero target and an independent Climate Change Commissioner’s office. However, the collapse of the Stormont Executive and the approaching election has threatened its completion.

More renewable energy sources in Northern Ireland need to be developed. For the power sector, a new support scheme will be introduced to enable the development of a diverse mix of renewable electricity technologies including for the offshore sector. For low carbon heat, demonstrator projects are planned to build skills and evidence for the roll-out of any future support, as well as examining where specific legislation changes may facilitate development. The Department is also looking at the role of local renewable gas and taking forward work to deliver electric vehicle infrastructure.

The most recent figures from the Department for the Economy show that for the 12-month period October 2020 to September 2021, 42.1% of total electricity consumption in Northern Ireland was generated from renewable sources located in Northern Ireland. This represents a decrease of 5.5% on the previous 12-month period. The decrease over this period in the proportion of electricity consumption generated from renewable sources was driven largely by the reduced volume of wind generation.

Actions to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy include: • consult on a renewable electricity support scheme in 2022 for delivery in 2023;

Of all renewable electricity generated within Northern Ireland over the 12-month period October 2020 to September 2021, 82.4% was generated from wind. This compares to 84.5% for the previous 12-month period.

Table 4.6 Comparable renewables by country UK

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

England

2008

5.60%

18.10%

2009

6.70%

20.80%

4.50%

6.30%

3.60%

5.50%

10.20%

4.20%

2010

6.90%

19.20%

5.30%

10.20%

4.80%

2011 2012

9.60%

27.30%

7.70%

13.80%

6.40%

11.30%

29.10%

6.90%

16.00%

8.50%

2013 2014

14.90%

32.00%

6.70%

19.50%

12.40%

19.10%

38.10%

9.60%

21.60%

16.50%

2015

24.60%

42.40%

13.70%

25.50%

22.50%

2016

24.50%

42.80%

12.30%

25.30%

23.10%

2017

29.20%

51.50%

19.70%

33.70%

26.00%

2018

33.00%

54.90%

22.10%

42.30%

29.80%

Source: Department for the Economy

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The Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) has been the main supporting mechanism for increasing the level of electricity consumption generated from renewables and is now closed. The NIRO closed to new large scale onshore wind on 31 March 2016, to new small scale onshore wind on 30 June 2016 and to all other technologies on 31 March 2017, with exceptions to those projects that met the criteria for grace periods. All grace periods have expired, and the NIRO is now closed to all new renewable electricity generation. It is important to note that all those projects already accredited will continue to receive ROCs for 20 years from their accreditation date or until 31 March 2027, whichever is earlier. The Northern Ireland Energy Strategy 2021 set out plans to consult on a renewable electricity support scheme in 2022 for delivery in 2023.

Bioenergy development A Bioenergy Action Plan 2010-2015 was published in February 2011, containing four objectives: • raise awareness of bioenergy; • create a supporting policy and regulatory framework; • target support in key areas of the supply chain; and • encourage focussed R&D. Among the actions contained in the plan are a new Sustainable Energy Support mechanism, development of an Innovation Road Map for the land-based sector and continued development of the Renewables Research Programme carried out at AFBI (the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute).

Renewable heat A Renewable Heat Study published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (now Department for the Economy) in 2010 showed that 10% of heating could come from renewable sources by 2020, with an interim

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target of 4% by 2015. Set up in November 2012, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was a scheme set up to encourage uptake of renewable heat technologies amongst householders, communities, and businesses through financial incentives. From 9 May 2016, the new Department for the Economy (DfE) assumed the roles and responsibility of DETI including policy responsibility for the Northern Ireland Non-Domestic RHI. The scheme is similar to one in Great Britain but crucially, there are some important differences. In Northern Ireland, applicants signed up to a generous subsidy that was to be paid at a flat rate guaranteed for 20 years. In Great Britain, there is a tiered rate with the upper amount paid for a percentage of the heat generated and a much lower rate for the rest. In addition, the Northern Ireland scheme had no allowance for ‘degression’, a price control measure to allow for the reduction of the subsidy in response to demand and to close the scheme quickly. As a result, costs in Northern Ireland spiralled in a way they have not in Great Britain. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) suspended the Non-Domestic Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to new applications from 29 February 2016. Mired in much controversy, amid allegations of incompetence on the part of the Departmental Minister, Advisers and Civil Servants, the RHI scheme has had huge ramifications for Northern Ireland. The public inquiry into the botched scheme began towards the end of 2017 and finished taking submissions of evidence in December 2018. The Report was published in 2020 and found that “corruption did not cause” the scheme’s issues, but that it had simply been a “project too far” for the Executive and should “never have been adopted”. The report carried with it numerous recommendations on providing for greater accountability for the behaviour of Executive ministers, their special advisors, and civil servants.

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Other indigenous energy in Northern Ireland

Offshore renewable energy

Northern Ireland has deposits of lignite, or brown coal. The existence of lignite on flat land between Crumlin and Lough Neagh has been known since 1757. There are also deposits at Ballymoney in County Antrim and Stewartstown in County Tyrone.

The Northern Ireland Energy Strategy, published in December 2021, sets out the aim to meet at least 70% of electricity consumption from a diverse mix of renewable sources.

In the ranking of coals, lignite has a lower calorific value than bituminous and sub-bituminous coal but greater than that of peat. In the ground lignite has a high moisture content (50%), which makes it uneconomic to transport from the mine in its raw state. The most common use is in power stations near the site where the lignite is mined. A three-year moratorium on lignite prospecting in the Ballymoney area was imposed in October 2004 and extended to cover the whole of Northern Ireland for a further three years by the then Energy Minister in 2007. The decision was made in the light of significant public opposition to lignite mining and the department’s focus on renewables and gas for electricity generation, which it expects to reduce the need to exploit lignite and other fossil fuels. The Department for the Economy recognises the lignite deposits near Ballymoney and around Lough Neagh as mineral resources of strategic importance to Northern Ireland which should be protected, so far as is practical, from surface development i.e. via the continuing moratorium on mineral prospecting licences.

The direction of offshore renewable energy policy is currently driven by the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan 2012-2020, published by the Department for the Economy in March 2012. It identifies up to 900MW of offshore wind and 300MW of tidal energy that could be developed in Northern Ireland waters. Four zones for development are identified: two each for tidal and offshore wind. Wind Resource Zone 1 and Tidal Resource Zone 1 overlap and are located off County Derry. Tidal Resource Zone 2 lies around Rathlin Island and Wind Resource Zone 2 is off south Down. Wave resource was identified off the north coast, but it was insufficient for a specific zone. The department decided that this does not preclude wave development, should projects come forward. A Habitats Regulations Assessment was completed alongside the action plan and recommended mitigation measures; the Department for the Economy and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency pledged to update the plan with the most recent best practice on environmental protection.

Crown Estate leasing rounds

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In 2011, the UK and Irish governments signed a memorandum of understanding which clarified the marine jurisdiction of both states in the waters around Northern Ireland. The Crown Estate, which owns and manages the UK seabed, subsequently announced two leasing rounds for offshore wind and tidal stream in Northern Ireland waters. This resulted in three leases being announced in October 2012: a 660MW offshore wind farm off South Down; a 100MW tidal energy project at Torr Head; and another 100MW tidal project at nearby Fair Head. However, at the end of 2014 it was announced that a £1 billion plan to build up to 120 wind turbines off the coast of Northern Ireland has been abandoned, with the developer blaming delays to new market and incentive arrangements. The First Flight Wind consortium, comprising B9 Energy, DONG Energy and RES, announced that despite making

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“significant progress”, it would not be going ahead with the development, marking the end of the only offshore wind scheme in Northern Irish waters. As it currently stands, only one of those projects remains in development, that is, Fair Head Tidal. The consortium taking forward the Torr Head project was dissolved in 2019. A £50 million investment to develop an offshore wind logistics terminal at Belfast Harbour operated by Dong Energy, was completed in 2013. It is the first bespoke offshore wind installation and pre-assembly harbour in the UK and will serve wind farms in the Irish Sea. In 2019, a Department for the Economy report stated that Northern Ireland’s coastline was not suitable for offshore wind farm development due to likely objections to how they

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would appear, meaning that Northern Ireland was excluded from the 2019 leasing round by the Crown Estate. The 2021 Northern Ireland Energy Strategy has committed to develop an action plan to deliver 1GW of offshore wind from 2030. In February 2022 it was announced that Dutchbased SBM Offshore was considering building a multi-millionpound floating wind energy development off the coast of Northern Ireland.

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Renewable energy

Unlocking biomethane as a key driver to decarbonise Granville Eco Park, a Dungannon-based company, which creates valuable, renewable products such as electricity, digestate fertiliser and biomethane by utilising food waste as a resource, is in advanced discussions on an exciting collaboration with SGN Natural Gas which could potentially revolutionise the energy system in the west of Northern Ireland. Granville Eco Park have received notable plaudits for its operations since formation – in 2018 it secured a Sustainable Ireland Award for Circular Economy Leadership, and by 2020 it also received the prestigious ‘Best Small to Medium Biogas Plant’ by the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association. Last year, the company was awarded a special recognition for climate action in the Belfast Telegraph Business Awards. The facility produces biomethane, a 100% renewable product which has the potential to be integrated into the SGN Natural Gas infrastructure. They are the first plant in Northern Ireland to utilise the gas as a vehicle fuel, with five biomethane fuelled vehicles in their fleet.

How does it all work? Through an enhanced Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process, the company creates a rich organic fertiliser called ‘Digestate’ and captures a ‘Biogas’ to generate renewable electricity for the grid, which is then used in homes and businesses. AD is a natural process that biologically breaks down food waste. The technology used at Granville removes packaging while pasteurising the organic material, ensuring compliance at the highest level. Gradually the process produces Digestate and creates Biogas which is used to fuel generators (or CHP units) to produce renewable electricity. As of 2021, the company had successfully diverted over 450,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill, which amounts to a saving of over 275,000 Tonnes of Co2e.

The Smart Loop The company is passionate about the effective delivery of a ‘Smart Loop’ system. This circular economy approach is one designed to eliminate waste in businesses and society as a whole, and pioneering ideas such as this will play a key role in realising the ambitions of the Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland. The innovative ‘Smart Loop’ services are designed to remove waste and pollution, keeping resources in use continuously and fundamentally providing this service to the customer, enabling them to hit their own sustainability targets. Consumers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, therefore adopting sustainable practices is more important than ever. Granville Eco Park Chief Executive, Ian Harvey, is a powerhouse in the energy, environment, and waste industries across the island of Ireland. The County Antrim native has managed to raise over £150 million for

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wind, biomass, landfill gas and AD projects in recent years. Ian Harvey said: “At Granville Eco Park we are proud to make our vision a reality for our customers. We have worked closely with businesses across the country, helping them achieve their very own sustainable ‘Smart Loop’. We are proud to be championing and enabling this model in Northern Ireland and beyond.”

Company aspirations Through innovation and state of art technology, Granville Eco Park strives to benefit local businesses and agriculture alike, whilst protecting the environment and creating a more sustainable future for all. Harvey concluded: “In SGN Natural Gas, we see a company which shares our core values in decarbonising Northern Ireland and fostering an independent fuel system. We are delighted to potentially be involved in a collaborative project of this scale and look forward to the next steps of the process. It is imperative Government works at pace to facilitate this type of innovation so that as a region, we are not left behind.”

SGN Natural Gas SGN Natural Gas, an IGEM award winning company has built 287km of mains since 2015 in the west of Northern Ireland across Counties Derry/Londonderry, Fermanagh, and Tyrone, delivering one of the most significant energy infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland. The company is focused on offering an alternative, more efficient energy choice to consumers. SGN Natural Gas has witnessed steady and sustained growth, achieving a penetration rate in the domestic market of 17.9% within their first year. The company successfully converted four of the largest commercial users in the network, including the largest commercial user in Northern Ireland, within four weeks of infrastructure becoming live. The SGN Natural Gas network is poised to be the first in Northern Ireland to integrate biomethane. This is a huge milestone in the efforts to reach net zero and will ensure the company leads the way in demonstrating a best practice approach. This will not only help decarbonise heat, but also transport and significantly agriculture, which is all the more important given this area has a concentrated agricultural carbon output.

Infrastructure benefits The rest of the United Kingdom is investing billions in upgrading their natural gas infrastructure to polyethylene pipework, putting Northern Ireland a step ahead in a welcome pivot from the status quo. Polyethylene pipework also importantly requires very little maintenance and has a long product lifetime. This is, therefore, a low cost and low regret option for Northern Ireland’s energy system. It also offers minimal disruption when compared to other potential solutions in terms of the conversion process with the majority of conversions completed within one day.

Renewable energy

Natural gas infrastructure has the capacity to endure what is known in the energy industry as a ’one in 20 winter’, which is when extreme temperatures last for a prolonged period, thereby creating a perfect storm of low supply and high demand for the existing network for Northern Ireland.

Is the Northern Ireland network ready now? SGN Natural Gas has focused heavily on leveraging the existing natural gas infrastructure in Northern Ireland to develop a clear pathway towards a decarbonised, biomethane and hydrogen-ready future for the province. The network has the capability of transporting 100% biomethane without the need for any further upgrades to the infrastructure. This is a critical point if a ‘just transition for all’ is to be prioritised for consumers in Northern Ireland. Whilst there will be no single solution for the Northern Ireland energy system, it is imperative to fully mature the on-grid solutions available to consumers to help protect them from large upfront costs associated to retrofitting alternative systems. Importantly, two thirds of Northern Ireland still utilise oil as their primary fuel. The priority must be to transition homes and businesses to more environmentally friendly heating sources and away from the unregulated energy market, which will help protect consumers in the longterm.

Biomethane advancements in the UK Biomethane is already in the SGN network in Scotland and the South of England, and there is currently enough in the system to fuel 258,000 homes. When converted to a Northern Ireland context, this is over 85% of the existing natural gas-connected customers. In Great Britain, a hugely ambitious Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) has been launched to provide tariff support for biomethane produced. GGSS will help decarbonise gas supplies by increasing the proportion of ‘green’ gas in the grid. During peak years of production, biomethane plants incentivised by the GGSS are expected to contribute 3.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent of carbon savings.

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network in the next year, which is a significant milestone for the energy sector in Northern Ireland.

Taking the opportunity David Butler, Director of SGN Natural Gas, has urged Northern Ireland to take the opportunity being presented to them. He said: “I believe Northern Ireland has the potential to become a global leader in highlighting the opportunities that our infrastructure presents in terms of decarbonising a region. It is important to understand that without the natural gas infrastructure transporting biomethane and hydrogen, Northern Ireland will simply not meet its targets for net zero by 2050. “A co-ordinated approach amongst governments, industry experts and, most importantly, consumers is needed to ensure a fair and just transition which has inclusiveness at the core of strategy development. Butler concluded: “We will continue to work closely with all of our partners who are involved with innovative pilot projects which pioneer the use of greener gases as a means of heating businesses and homes.”

Supporting business to decarbonise A Green Gas Support Scheme for Northern Ireland does not yet exist but will be imperative to ensuring Northern Ireland realises its full potential in maximising existing infrastructure at the disposal of the region. A tariff will need to be developed to compensate plants for the building of new infrastructure to produce biomethane and the associated ongoing operational costs. It is imperative that businesses are supported and encouraged to adopt an ambitious approach to playing a key role in decarbonising Northern Ireland. The GGSS is already operational in England, Scotland and Wales. If Northern Ireland do not accelerate the pace to catch up with their counterparts it could be determinantal to the region’s ambitions to decarbonise. For more information on the efforts to decarbonise Northern Ireland, visit sgnnaturalgas.co.uk

Looking ahead SGN, the parent company of SGN Natural Gas, was recently given the go-ahead by Ofgem to utilise green hydrogen as a sustainable heating source in the UK. Work began last year on delivering a 100% green hydrogen demonstration network in Levenmouth, Fife, that will bring carbon-free heating and cooking to around 300 homes in 2023. The success of the Fife pilot project will help inform the pathway to utilising the Northern Ireland pipeline in the west, one of the world’s newest natural gas networks. Locally, in collaboration with Granville Eco Park, biomethane will be integrated into the SGN Natural Gas

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70 by 30: Renewable electricity project pipeline Northern Ireland has the potential to almost double its renewable electricity generation in the coming years based on projects already in the development pipeline but the majority of generation capacity is still awaiting construction. The speed at which renewable electricity generation projects in Northern Ireland pass through the pipeline is significant when considering the Department for the Economy’s ambitious target of 70 per cent electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Northern Ireland has a potential renewable electricity pipeline capacity of over 1,208MW, including battery storage, according to the UK’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) database but only 165MW of that capacity had commenced construction by June 2020. By comparison, 509MW of generation was awaiting the construction phase, where a site has already had planning permission accepted. To offer a context to what the scale of future permitted generation might look like, the 165MW of generation under construction is made up of five sites, ranging in technologies from onshore wind, energy from waste and battery storage.

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According to SONI, Northern Ireland has a maximum export capacity of 3,031MW, around 40% of which is installed across renewable electricity sites. Northern Ireland’s two large scale renewable sites are connected to the transmission system, with remaining renewable sites connected to the distribution network. NIE Networks puts connected generation of renewable technologies at 1,684MW, the majority of which (76 per cent) comes from onshore wind, with solar PV (268MW) a distant second. An insight into the length of time it can take a project to progress through the pipeline from seeking planning approval to eventual generation can be seen by looking at the year 2017, recorded as the largest increase in additional capacity in any given year. Sites commissioned in 2017 generally started construction at least two years prior to generation and some sites’ planning approval dated back to 2007. This means that even the 165MW of generation sites under construction will likely not feed into Northern Ireland’s renewable generation for a number of years. Additionally, the Department for the Economy has flagged that of the potential 509MW generation on consented sites which have not begun construction, delay of a further two years would see 212MW of capacity lost due to planning permission timeframes, 17.5 per cent of potential capacity in Northern Ireland’s renewable electricity pipeline.

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In terms of location, the majority of Northern Ireland’s current operational capacity is located in the North West, with County Tyrone contributing the largest installed renewable capacity at around 553MW. The majority of this capacity comes from onshore wind and that technology is set to continue to dominate future renewable generation. However, analysis of those sites in the construction phases shows the emergence of greater levels of alternative technologies. A combined 102MW of solar PV generation at three sites is awaiting construction, while planning permission has been granted for Northern Ireland’s largest (39.5MW) solar PV site in County Antrim. Additionally, four storage facilities, with around 184MW of storage potential, exist in the renewable electricity project pipeline. Pipeline capacity includes one marine energy technology. Fair Head tidal site is currently in the planning system for a 100MW development. Looking to the pipeline, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has the largest value of capacity with consented planning permission (141MW), followed closely by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (129MW). Mid Ulster District Council has significant potential, as it represents 42 per cent of total planning applications currently in the system.

Potential pipeline capacity (MW)

17.5% 212MW of a 1,208MW total pipeline will potentially be lost if construction is stalled for another two years due to planning permission timeframes

Total pipeline

1208

Application submitted

533

Awaiting construction

509

Under construction

165 BEIS Renewable Energy Planning Database

*Information taken from the Department for the Economy’s Renewable Electricity Pipeline for Northern Ireland report. Information was correct at September 2020, however the status of some projects may have changed.

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Renewable energy research institutions The following is an A-Z list of institutions involved in renewable energy research.

Centre for Sustainable Technologies Ulster University The Centre for Sustainable Technologies, part of the School of the Built Environment, is a multidisciplinary research centre focused on designing, creating, developing, and evaluating existing and alternative renewable energy technologies. It incorporates aspects of the Northern Ireland Centre for Energy Research and Technology, the River Hydraulics and Hydropower group, the Highway Engineering Research Group, and the Construction research group. The centre consists of over 30 academics and researchers. The centre contains facilities for energy research, highway engineering research, architecture, river hydraulics and hydropower research and has a solar simulator. Research interests: • energy storage; • heat; • biomass and bioenergy system development; and • solar thermal and PV system development, demonstration and deployment. Contact details: Belfast School of Architecture and the Built Environment Ulster University, Shore Road Newtownabbey Co Antrim, BT37 0QB Tel: 028 9036 8566 Web: www.cst.ulster.ac.uk Email: nj.hewitt@ulster.ac.uk Contact: Professor Neil Hewitt

COFORD

Dublin Energy Lab

COFORD is part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s research division. Established in 1993, it is responsible for the development of national forest research and development policy and priorities.

TU Dublin The Dublin Energy Lab (DEL) is a leader in science and engineering energy research in Ireland with an associated staff of 14 academics, four full time researchers, 15 full and part time PhD researchers and three MPhil researchers. DEL conducts research across a range of disciplines.

Research interests: • harvesting and processing forest biomass for energy production in Ireland; and • climate change mitigation and adaptation in Irish forests. Contact details: Forest Sector Development Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford, Y35 PN52 Tel: +353 53 917 0322 Web: www.coford.ie Email: fsd@agriculture.gov.ie

Contact details: Dublin Energy Lab Focas Institute TU Dublin Aungier Street Dublin 2, D02 HW71 Tel: +353 1 220 5000 Email: dublinenergylab@tud.ie

Coillte Established in 1988, Coillte is a private limited company with all shares held by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Finance. Its original remit was to commercially manage the State’s forest assets but the company has diversified and become a European scale forestry and forest products business. Coillte conducts research in a number of areas focused on developing the biomass wood for energy market. Research interests: • bioenergy; • biomass operations and logistics (chipping, drying, haulage etc.); • utilisation of low-value waste wood for energy (brash baling, lop and top); • carbon sequestration; and • sustainability. Contact details: Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN25 Tel: 086 230 1234 Web: www.coillte.ie

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Research interests: • energy policy; • solar energy; • low carbon buildings; and • electrical power.

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Earth Institute University College Dublin UCD’s Earth Institute is a centre for environment and energy resources research and has an all-island PhD programme in the earth and natural sciences. The institute has over 100 principal investigators and focuses on climate adaptation, biodiversity, and energy resource characterisation. It has three main research divisions: earth resources characterisation; climate adaptation, mitigation, and geohazards; smart cities and infrastructure. Research interests: • wind, ocean, and solar energy; • geothermal energy; and • harnessing biomass for bioenergy. Contact details: UCD Science Centre South Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 716 2472 Web: www.ucd.ie/earth Email: earth.institute@ucd.ie Director: Professor Tasman Crowe

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Energy, Environment and Infrastructure

•

Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Research in this area combines expertise in economics, engineering and behavioural psychology to examine policy challenges related to climate change, energy security and sustainable use of environmental resources.

Contact details: Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC) Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Large Park, Hillsborough Co Down BT26 6DR Tel: 028 9268 1540 Web: www.afbini.gov.uk Email: renewable.energy@afbini.gov.uk

Research interests: • climate change; • energy security; • energy efficiency; and • interface with society and the environment. Contact details: Energy Policy Research Centre ESRI, Whitaker Square Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 863 2000 Web: www.esri.ie Email: john.curtis@esri.ie Contact: John Curtis

Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC) Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) AFBI was established in 2006 through an amalgamation of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Science Service and the Agriculture Research Institute of Northern Ireland. The institute provides scientific research and services to government, non-governmental and commercial organisations. Research interests: • evaluation of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow production with bioremediation of dirty water; • storage and utilisation of biomass crops; • combustion and emission characteristics of varying biomass sources; • demonstration of energy saving design and technology; • woody energy crops; • demonstration of other renewable energy technologies; and

anaerobic digestion of animal manure.

Environmental Research Institute University College Cork The Environmental Research Institute was established in 2000 and is aimed at supplying environmental research and education at UCC. The institute brings together expertise in biological, chemical, and environmental sciences as well as environmental engineering, energy, and law. The institute has over 150 researchers and five thematic research areas, one of which is sustainable energy and environmental engineering. Research interests: • wind energy and hydro power; • ocean energy; • solar (photovoltaic) energy; • energy use in buildings; • transport and biofuels; • energy policy; and • greenhouse gas flux. Contact details: Environmental Research Institute (ERI) Lee Road, Cork, T23 XE10 Tel: 021 490 1931 Web: www.erc.ucc.ie Email: eri@ucc.ie Manager: Paul Bolger

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MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine MaREI is the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine research and innovation, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. The Centre comprises over 220 researchers in 13 research institutes around Ireland, who have worked with over 70 industry partners focusing on defined global challenges such as the Energy Transition, Climate Action, and the Blue Economy. MaREI delivers excellent research with societal impact by supporting business, informing policy, and empowering society, resulting in the development of a dynamic research ecosystem that is responsive to the needs of all our stakeholders. Research interests: • offshore renewable energy; • technologies; • bioenergy; • energy policy and modelling; • energy management; • materials and structures; • observation and operations; and • coastal and marine systems. Contact details: Beaufort Building Haulbowline Road Ringaskiddy, Co Cork Tel: 021 486 4300 Web: www.marei.ie Email: dee.oconnor@ucc.ie Centre Director: Brian Ó Gallachóir

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Marine Institute, Galway

Ryan Institute

Established by the 1991 Marine Institute Act, the Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation. The institute operates an ocean energy test site with SEAI. Real-time wave information is available at the Galway Bay test site for all developers of wave energy devices who have a prototype that is built for open water testing in a relatively sheltered location. Development is under way for a full-scale grid connected site off the north-west coast.

National University of Ireland, Galway The Ryan Institute is focused on three main areas of energy research: smart cities and communities; low carbon technologies; and energy efficiency. The smart cities and communication research area conducts research on efficient, user-friendly technologies and services in the areas of energy, transport, and ICT.

Research interests: • WAVETRAIN II; • MARINA Platform: a panEuropean project dedicated to bringing offshore renewable energy applications closer to the market by creating infrastructures for offshore wind and ocean energy converters; • optimisation of mooring systems for wave energy arrays; and • ocean energy device prototype testing at sea, funded through the Parsons Award in ocean energy. Contact details: Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore, Co Galway Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie CEO: Paul Connolly

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Research interests: • photovoltaics; • concentrated solar power; • wind energy; • ocean energy; • hydro power; • geothermal energy; • renewable heating and cooling; • energy storage; • biofuels and alternative fuels; and • carbon capture and storage. Contact details: Ryan Institute NUI Galway, University Road Galway Tel: 091 495 061 Web: www.ryaninstitute.ie Email: energy@nuigalway.ie Director: Charles Spillane

Teagasc Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, provides integrated research and advisory and training services to the agricultural and food sectors as well as rural communities. It is funded by the State, research programmes and other revenue streams. In the area of energy research, Teagasc aims to promote the development and expansion of renewables production from agricultural sources as well as educating the public about the environmental and economic benefits of bio-based industries. It also promotes the development of a comprehensive Irish bioenergy policy.

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Research interests: • energy crop agronomy; • biomass storage; • biomass combustion; and • lifecycle assessment. Contact details: Teagasc Oakpark, Carlow Tel: 059 917 0200 Web: www.teagasc.ie/energy Email: barry.caslin@teagasc.ie Director: Professor Gerry Boyle Contacts: Barry Caslin (bioenergy specialist)

Trinity College Dublin The School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering at Trinity College Dublin has a wide-ranging programme of research focusing on the development of next-generation renewable energy technologies, while also examining topics such as energy recovery and behavioural change to address sustainability. Two prominent initiatives exist under this research theme: Trinity Haus, an innovation centre focusing on energy in buildings and sustainability in the built environment; and the Solar Energy Applications Group (SEAG), a leading research group working in the field of solar energy and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. Research interests: • solar energy; • hydropower; • wind energy; and • wave energy. Contact details: Department of Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering Museum Building Trinity College Dublin 2 Email: civeng@tcd.ie Tel: 01 896 1457

Renewable energy

Renewable and indigenous energy organisations A full listing of renewable energy consultants, developers and equipment suppliers can be found in Chapter 9. What follows below is an A-Z list of renewable energy players including industry associations, indigenous energy companies, wind developers and other organisations. Action Renewables Block C, Unit 1 Boucher Business Studios Glenmachan Place Belfast, BT12 6QH Tel: 028 9072 7760 Web: www.actionrenewables.co.uk Email: info@actionrenewables.co.uk Chief Executive: Terry Waugh Balcas Energy 75 Killadeas Road Enniskillen County Fermanagh BT94 2ES Tel: +44 (0) 28 6641 1001 Web: www.balcasenergy.com Email: energy@balcas.com Business Development Director: Ian McCracken BHSL Hydro Kantoher Business Park Killeedy, Ballagh, County Limerick Tel: 069 85926 Web: www.bhslhydro.com Email: info@ bhslhydro.com Managing Director, Sales and Business Development: Declan O’Connor Bord na Móna Main Street, Newbridge Co Kildare Tel: 045 439 000 Web: www.bordnamona.ie CEO: Tom Donnellan Carnegie Wave Energy 4th Floor, North Block Rockfield Central Dundrum, DN 16 Web: www.carnegiewave.com

Clearpower Knockbrack House Matthew's Lane Donore Road Lagavooren, Drogheda Co Louth, A92 T803 Tel: 01 462 5000 Email: info@clearpower.ie Codling Wind Park Ltd Trintech Building 2nd Floor South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin, D18 H5H9 Tel: +353 87 126 9111 Web: www.codlingwindpark.ie Email: contact@codlingwindpark.ie Contact: Denise Horan COFORD Wood Energy Forest Sector Development/COFORD Council Secretariat Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 607 2487 Web: www.woodenergy.ie Email: info@coford.ie Covanta Dublin Waste to Energy Project Pigeon House Hotel Pigeon House Road Ringsend, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 603 2100 Web: www.dublinwastetoenergy.ie Email: dublininfo@covanta.com Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 D02 X285 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.decc.gov.ie Email: customer.service@decc.gov.ie Minister: Eamon Ryan TD General Secretary: Mark Griffin Assistant Secretary with responsibility for energy: Matt Collins Elgin Energy 4th Floor, Hambleden House 19-26 Pembroke Street Lower Dublin 2 Tel: 01 660 0190 Web: www.elgin-energy.com Email: office@elgin-energy.com Managing Director: Ronan Kilduff

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ESB 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower Dublin 2, D02 KT92 Tel: +353 1 676 5831 Web: www.esb.ie Email: info@esb.ie Chief Executive: Paddy Hayes Gas Networks Ireland Gasworks Road, Cork, T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Web: www.gasnetworks.ie Managing Director: Denis O'Sullivan Geothermal Association of Ireland c/o SLR (Environmental) Consulting Ireland Ltd 7 Dundrum Business Park Windy Arbour, Dublin 14 Web: www.geothermalassociation.ie Email: info@geothermalassociation.ie Chair: Niall McCormack Granville Eco Park 5 Willowbank Industrial Estate Larne, BT40 2SF Web: www.granvilleecopark.com Tel: +44 (0)28 8703 2601 Chief Executive: Ian Harvey Hitachi Energy Ireland Limited Regus Block 1 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin Road Blanchardstown Dublin, D15 AKK1 Tel: +353 1 574 7981 Email: contactus@hitachienergy.com Managing Director: Peter Lantry Indaver Ireland The Highline, 1st Floor Bakers Point Pottery Road Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Tel: 01 1 697 2900 Web: www.indaver.ie Email: info@indaver.ie Cork office South Ring Business Park Kinsale Road, Co Cork Tel: 021 470 4266 Indaver Waste-to-Energy Carranstown, Duleek, Co Meath Dublin Port Hazardous Waste Facility Tolka Quay Road, Dublin Port Managing Director: Seamus Flynn

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Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) DCU Alpha, Old Finglas Road Glasnevin, Dublin 11 D11 KXN4 Tel: 086 125 6709 Web: www.irbea.org Email: contact@irbea.org CEO: Seán Finan Lightsource BP Trinity House Charleston Road Ranelagh, D06 C8X4 Tel: 01 685 6263 Email: ireland@lightsourcebp.com CEO: Nick Boyle

Nordex Energy Ireland Ltd Clonmel House Forster Way Swords, Co Dublin Tel: +353 (0)1 897 0264 Web: www.nordex-online.com Email: salesireland@nordexonline.com Managing Director: Nigel Hayes RenewableNI Arthur House, 41 Arthur Street Belfast, BT1 4GB Tel: 028 9044 6240 Web: www.renewableni.com Email: steven.agnew@renewableni.com Contact: Steven Agnew

Kingspan Group Dublin Road Kingscourt Co Cavan, A82 XY31 Tel: +353 (0) 42 969 8000 Email: admin@kingspan.com Head of Energy Solutions: Barry Sherry

Renewable Gas Forum Finance House, Main Street Charleville, Co Cork, P56 XY00 Tel: 063 219 38 / 087 260 6468 Web: www.renewablegasforum.com Email: info@renewablegasforum.com

Kyte Powertech Dublin Road Cavan, H12 KV20 Tel: +353 49 433 1588 Web: www.kytepowertech.com Commercial Manager: Martin Reilly

RWE Renewables Ireland Limited Unit 5, Desart House Lower New Street Kilkenny, R95 H488 Tel: 056 771 5782 Web: www.rwe.com Email: ireland@rwe.com Managing Director: Cathal Hennessy

Mainstream Renewable Power Ground Floor, Block G Central Park, Carmanhall and Leopardstown Dublin, D18 NH10 Tel: 01 290 2000 Web: www.mainstreamrp.com Email: info@mainstreamrp.com Marine Renewables Industry Association c/o Leixfort Corrig Avenue Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Tel: 086 251 6390 Web: www.mria.ie Email: chairman@mria.ie Chair: Peter Coyle Meitheal na Gaoithe (Irish Wind Farm Association) Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre Burrells Hall, St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny Tel: 056 779 0856 Web: www.mnag.ie Email: info@mnag.ie Director: James Carville

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Siemens Ltd DCU Alpha Innovation Campus Glasnevin Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.com Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy DCU Alpha, Innovation House Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin 11, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemensgamesa.com Email: kevin.moloney@siemensgamesa.com Contact: Kevin Moloney SLR Consulting 7 Dundrum Business Park Windy Arbour, Dublin D14 N2Y7 Tel: +353 (0)1 296 4667 Web: www.slrconsulting.com Contact: Nick O’Neill

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SSE Airtricity Red Oak South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 1850 818 110 17-25 Great Victoria Street Belfast, BT2 7AQ Tel: 0345 850 8940 Web: www.sseairtricity.com Email: info@sseairtricity.com Managing Director: Klair Neenan SSE Renewables Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 655 6400 Web: www.sserenewables.com Managing Director: Stephen Wheeler Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 3 Park Place Hatch Street Upper St Kevin's, Dublin 2 Co Dublin Tel: 01 808 2100 Web: www.seai.ie Email: info@seai.ie Chief Executive: William Walsh TCI Renewables Unit 1C, Kilroot Business Park Carrickfergus, BT38 7PR Tel: 028 9037 1122 Web: www.tcirenewables.com Director, Ireland: Peter Craig Wind Energy Ireland Sycamore House, Millennium Park Oberstown, Naas, Co Kildare W91 D627 Tel: 045 899 341 Web: www.iwea.com Email: office@iwea.com Chief Executive: Noel Cunniffe

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Combined heat and power

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CHP development in Northern Ireland

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CHP developers in Republic of Ireland

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Energy management for large energy users

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Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

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EU renovation wave strategy

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Retrofitting in Ireland

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Energy use in buildings

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Heat pump systems

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Local energy agencies

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Sustainable energy use and demand Sustainable energy use and demand The previous chapter focused on renewable energies and indigenous sources of energy. This section of the yearbook concentrates on the management of energy consumption in terms of energy efficiency and conservation and describes some of the policy drivers and initiatives that are currently in place, north and south, to support energy sustainability. Economic and social development depends heavily on the cost and usage of energy. Much of the economic progress of the western world has been built upon cheap sources of energy and unfettered use of what was generally regarded as a limitless resource. Now that there is awareness both of the depletion of natural energy resources in traditionally energy rich areas and of the damage that global energy consumption is inflicting on the environment, there is a growing consensus that future development must be sustainable. Energy remains a strategic essential for development but its production and consumption also needs to be sustainable. There is no universal definition of sustainability in energy. The 1990 UN Earth Summit concluded that much of the world’s energy production was unsustainable and that the first step was to stop the rapid growth in energy consumption. The summit stated that energy needed to be produced and consumed in a manner that protects the atmosphere, human health and the environment. The governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom are committed to sustainable development, including the energy dimension, and have established significant initiatives aimed at bringing their countries to a point where they consume less energy, produce energy more cleanly and efficiently, and promote the greater use of renewable sources of energy.

Sustainable energy use: Republic of Ireland The Programme for Government 2020 set out its ambition to implement a new National Energy Efficiency Action Plan to reduce energy use, including behavioural and awareness aspects of energy efficiency such as building and data management. Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030 aims to contribute towards the EU wide target of achieving at least 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. It also aims to deliver saving obligations in accordance with Article 7 of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and Article 5 of the EED. Key policies and measures of the plan include: •

all new dwellings will be built to NZEB standard from 1 November 2019;

•

setting stricter requirements for new buildings and substantial refurbishments;

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•

building a supply chain and a model for aggregation where home retrofits are grouped together;

•

500,000 homes retrofitted to a B2 Building Energy Rating or cost optimal equivalent by 2030;

•

public sector buildings to have a B Building Energy Rating (BER) by 2030;

•

one third of commercial (including mixed use) buildings to have a B BER (or carbon equivalent gains) by 2030;

•

600,000 heat pumps installed over the period 20212030;

•

effectively ban the installation of oil boilers from 2022 and the installation of gas boilers from 2025 in all new dwellings through the introduction of new regulatory standards for home heating systems. Progressively phase out oil and gas boilers in existing dwellings through a combination of incentives, information, and regulatory measures;

•

ensure a suitable policy framework is in place to support district heating;

•

a 50% energy efficiency target for the Public Sector by 2030;

•

the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) II Scheme provides grant aid for a number of investments specifically aimed at improving energy efficiency in the farming sector;

•

scale-up and improve the Sustainable Energy Communities and Better Energy Communities (BEC) programme and enlist a wider range of organisations to anchor its collective approach; and

•

develop the necessary supply chain, including working with Regional Skills Fora to train 16 skilled workers.

Climate Action Plan 2021 The Climate Action Plan looks to reduce Ireland’s emissions. It features aims for sustainable energy use in buildings. Government has already committed to retrofit 500,000 homes by 2030 (including increased funding through the National Development Plan particularly for free upgrades for low-income households) and will install 680,000 renewable energy heat sources in both new and existing residential buildings. The Plan recognises that we will need to work out ways to assist broader society with the costs of retrofitting. The new National Retrofit Plan will drive demand, make retrofitting more affordable, and expand the capacity of the industry including training of workers. A further three specialist training centres will be established. Other measures include increased targets for district heating and the public sector and strengthening building standards for all buildings (between 44 and 56% reduction in emissions by 2030).

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Climate Action Plan 2019

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information campaign and more advisory support for consumers to address the barriers to consumer decision-making on energy efficiency, starting in the first half of 2016 with the publication of new, more consumer-friendly Building Energy Rating documentation;

The Climate Action Plan looks to reduce Ireland’s emissions. It features aims for sustainable energy use in buildings. Buildings: •

create an advice centre within the SEAI to support consumer awareness of the growing range of energy-efficient appliances and energy control systems on the market which allow consumers to exercise more control over their energy use;

•

strengthen Part L of the Building Regulations Conservation of Fuel and Energy, which will include energy efficient heating and lighting in the nonresidential sector and to achieve Nearly Zero Energy Buildings by 2020 as mandated by the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The construction supply chain will also be further developed in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of energy efficiency upgrades;

•

provide information to householders to enable them to identify cost saving energy efficiency opportunities, and to avail of grant schemes;

Energy White Paper 2015

•

The Energy White Paper 2015 set out the goal of the transition to a lower carbon future. Improving energy efficiency is a critical element of the transition. Energy efficiency actions detailed in the White Paper were:

increase the scope of SEAI programmes to support community energy efficiency projects; and

•

publish a new Affordable Energy Strategy in early 2016 to help those who are vulnerable to energy poverty to manage and reduce their energy bills and adequately heat and power their homes.

To support energy efficiency in the enterprise sector: ensure that SEAI continues to provide expert advice and technical support to businesses, enabling them to access energy services expertise and commercial funding to achieve large-scale energy efficiency upgrades in buildings, business processes and utility networks;

•

introduce stricter requirements for new buildings and substantial refurbishments;

•

design policy to get circa 500,000 existing homes to upgrade to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) and 400,000 to install heat pumps;

•

build a supply chain and a model for aggregation where home retrofits are grouped together to allow this level of activity to be funded and delivered;

•

deliver two new district heating systems, and implement a roadmap for delivering District Heating potential; and

•

increase attention to Energy and Carbon ratings in all aspects of managing property assets.

For sustainable energy use in transport please see chapter 6: transport and fuels.

Energy Efficiency Actions 1. To support energy efficiency in the domestic sector: • ensure that, by 2030, the Better Energy Programme delivers the number of deeper energy efficiency upgrades required to put the residential sector on a realistic trajectory to a low carbon energy future, maximising the 9,400 GWh of energy saving potential that has been identified post 2020. This will be supported by the additional funding allocated in the Government’s 2016 to 2021 capital investment programme and further resources as they become available. The Better Energy Programme will be redesigned following consultation with consumers and other stakeholders; •

•

support the development of affordable financing options for domestic energy efficiency. SEAI will continue to work with the consumer finance sector to implement affordable financing pilot schemes to complement the current grant-aid offering, with a view to mainstreaming commercial financing for the residential sector in the longer term. DECC will also work to avail of EU funding opportunities for energy efficiency;

•

ensure that SEAI engages with large energy users through its Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) and promotes the ISO 50001 (energy management) and I.S. 399 (energy efficient design management) standards as essential requirements;

•

update the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme, following consultation, to inform decisions on new sectoral targets due to begin in 2017; and

•

designate SEAI as Ireland’s market surveillance authority to ensure that Ireland fulfils EU obligations on energy labelling and eco-design. This function will ensure compliance and best practice by wholesalers and retailers for energy efficient products and appliances on the Irish market, support industry innovation in energy efficient design

introduce a comprehensive and sustained

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of products and applications, and support consumer decision making with respect to these products and appliances. 3. •

To support energy efficiency in the public sector: publish a Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan in early 2016 to provide clear policy direction for public sector action on energy efficiency and sustainable energy management. This will: o

drive the delivery of large-scale energy efficiency projects which will include deep retrofitting of buildings, public lighting and transport (improving efficiency in public fleets);

introduce a requirement for each public sector body and government department to appoint a senior manager as an energy officer with clear reporting obligations and a strong mandate from senior management as part of a comprehensive governance system; and

•

establish multi-disciplinary project development assistance to provide ‘end to end’ support for large scale public sector energy efficiency projects.

ensure that the public sector continues to contribute substantially to Ireland’s energy efficiency effort to 2030 with the establishment of a further target for public sector energy efficiency for the period 2020-2025.

4. To support sustainable energy education, helping children and young people to develop a better understanding of sustainable energy through inquirybased education across a range of subjects. This will be done through the SEAI Schools Programme, in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills. This work will ensure that: •

schools are supported to adopt a whole-of-school approach to energy education;

•

teachers are supported to develop and deliver cross-curriculum energy education;

•

sustainable energy is embedded into the curriculum in an integrated way; and

•

energy education is extended into further, higher, and vocational education.

Energy efficiency and resource efficiency are also a key focus of the Government’s policy statement on growth and employment in the green economy — ‘Delivering our green potential’ — published in November 2012. The document outlined the Government’s ambition for growth and job creation in the various sectors which make up the green economy, as well as the range of actions committed to be delivered in order to deliver on this ambition.

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National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) Improving Ireland's energy efficiency is a fundamental part of Ireland's energy policy. In 2009 Ireland set a national target for 2020 to improve its energy efficiency by 20%, requiring energy savings of 31,925 GWh. The public sector had a more challenging target of improving its own energy efficiency by 33% by 2020. This target was exceeded, with a 34.1% improvement recorded by 2020. Article 24 of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive requires Member States to submit a National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP) every three years. Ireland's 4th NEEAP was produced in early 2017. It provides a comprehensive overview on: •

the progress made towards targets;

•

the measures in place to ensure the targets are met; and

•

the strategies and policies in place across the residential, commercial, transport and public sector.

Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy In 2009, the government set a national target to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020. It set the public sector the more challenging target of improving its own energy efficiency by 33%. Since 2009, the public sector has improved this by 34.1%. To ensure that the public sector fully realises its targets, the government implemented a Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy. The Strategy fulfils the commitments made in Ireland's third National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP 3), the White Paper: Ireland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-30 and the Programme for a partnership Government 2016 to develop and publish a public sector Strategy. The Strategy's objectives are as follows: • the public sector will use its skills and experience to take a national leadership role in the deploying of energy efficient projects and initiatives; •

for the strategy to be delivered by means of a coordinated whole government effort. All State departments and the bodies under their aegis will play their part in embedding efficient energy management at all levels of their business operations;

•

the public sector will employ an action focused and results driven approach to public sector reform and cost-efficient energy management. This will deliver better value for money and better services for citizens;

Sustainable energy use and demand •

the public sector contributes to the development of a more sustainable national energy system and to a reduction in CO2 emissions. This will foster a cleaner and healthier environment now and for future generations.

Ireland’s energy use Total final energy demand fell by 9.6% in 2020 compared to 2019 levels (12,436 ktoe to 11,246 ktoe). After a correction that accounts for the heating of buildings in cold weather, the normalised final energy drop was 9.2%. This reduction was almost exclusively due to reduced consumption of oil, which fell by 17% (from 7022 ktoe to 5,825 ktoe) in 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and related public health measures on the transport sector. Despite the significant reduction in 2020, transport remained the sector with greatest final energy use, accounting for 34% of final energy in 2020. The residential sector was the next largest sector with a share of 28%, followed by industry and services with 19% and 16%, respectively.

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has a high import dependence for oil and gas and is essentially a price-taker on these commodities. The EU has introduced competition into the electricity and gas markets in order to reduce energy costs to final customers. The most significant factor affecting oil prices in Ireland is the instability of global oil prices which continued to fall in 2015 and 2016. This has had a huge impact on Ireland because of our high dependence on imported oil. In addition, there is a knock-on effect on other forms of energy, notably natural gas and consequently electricity price. From a peak of $113/bbl in 2011 Brent crude (the main benchmark for oil) prices fell to below $52.66/bbl in January 2017. Global oil supply surged in 2018. In January 2022, prices were $87/bbl. In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Saudi Arabia oil price war combined to force the price of US oil into negative figures. Indeed, in May 2020 there was a fear that supply would exceed storage capacity. However, after agreeing to cut production in April 2020, decreasing stockpiles have ensured that the price of oil in 2021 recovered to pre-pandemic levels after hitting a record low.

Cost competitiveness

In 2022, oil and gas prices soared due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine created turmoil in energy markets, reaching as high as $139/bbl in February.

Energy use is an important part of economic activity and therefore the price paid for this energy is a determining factor in the competitiveness of the economy. Ireland

The Climate Action Plan, launched in 2019, Ireland is working towards becoming less dependent on fossil fuel

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Delivering Ireland’s energy revolution Global efforts to prevent average temperatures from rising more than 1.5° Celsius, threatening our very existence on this planet, are well underway, if wanting in some areas. In Ireland we have huge momentum – the Climate Action Plan, the Climate Act with binding targets, carbon budgets and sectoral ceilings. The Government is applying more funding and human resources than ever before. The ultimate ambition is net zero emissions by 2050. We need to substitute nearly all our fossil fuel use with renewables and any emissions we do add to the atmosphere is no more than the amount taken away. The public sector will lead with vastly increased financial supports being provided by Government, the strongest targets for public sector emissions reductions and the prohibition of new fossil fuel heating systems in public buildings after 2023. Other sectors will have to follow suit.

So, what will our future look like if we act now? A-rated homes will be the norm. Our homes will be warm and comfortable, no longer heated by fossil fuels. Rural homes currently heated by oil will likely use electric heat pumps. Homes and buildings in urban areas will be connected to district heating networks using heat from renewable geothermal energy or recycled waste heat.

Our towns and cities Our towns and cities will be vibrant energy communities, leading in the generation of renewable energy, and mass adoption of home energy upgrades. All our buildings will be near zero energy buildings. Population density will increase around towns and cities enabling the roll out of district heating systems and the flows of energy, water and waste will operate more efficiently.

How we travel Our country will be served by fossil-fuel-free public transport, active transport networks and new types of mobility service. Most road vehicles will be electric, from a zero-emissions electricity system. People will no longer see the value in owning a vehicle that sits idle 80% of the time. Ownership will be with fleet companies who will provide a single mobility service which is constantly available and tailored. Air travel will be based on low/zero carbon fuels with more efficient electrically powered aircrafts for short hop flights.

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Our electricity system Our electricity will come from a variety of renewable sources like wind, solar, hydropower, bioenergy and ocean energy. Battery energy storage and further interconnection will provide significant support to the system. Clean fuel conventional generation, like hydrogen or biogas, will form the backup for periods of low renewable production. Our energy systems for electric heat and transport will be more closely linked and we will see the emergence of new forms of utility companies with more flexible services. A fully renewable electricity grid will also provide power for industrial processes that currently burn fossil fuels. Hydrogen will be used for high heat energy intensive production like steel.

What now? It is up to each one of us, especially those in positions of influence and power, to ensure that our future and our children’s future, is one that works for everyone. That represents a huge responsibility for Government at all levels, for large industry, for business and for us all as communities and citizens. It won’t always be easy – but will be easier if we take it on together. Ultimately success will be something we can be proud of as Irish citizens. SEAI is at the heart of delivering Ireland’s clean energy revolution, driving the reduction and replacement of fossil fuel usage. We partner with citizens, communities, businesses and Government as trusted collaborators, innovators, funders, and educators.

William Walsh Chief Executive Officer SEAI www.seai.ie

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imports. In relation to the displacement of fossil fuels by renewable energy, it is estimated that in 2018 approximately €623 million in fossil fuel imports were avoided, of which €432 million was avoided by wind generation.

CHP development in Ireland Combined heat and power, or CHP as it is more commonly referred to, is the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heat in a single process. In other words, it utilises the heat produced in electricity generation rather than releasing it wastefully into the atmosphere. CHP is sometimes referred to as cogeneration or cogen. In typical conventional power generation, about 60% of the total energy input is wasted. By recovering the majority of this waste heat, overall energy savings of between 20% and 40% may be achieved. For an energy intensive business this can be a very substantial saving. Applications that are generally suitable for CHP or cogeneration include hotels, hospitals, industrial processes and commercial buildings, where a continuous demand for heat and power exists. The installation of CHP has been widely recognised as a key measure to help reduce harmful emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, while delivering the same amount of useful energy. It is estimated that for every 1MW of CHP installed, CO2 emissions are reduced by at least 1,000 tonnes per annum. On balance, co-generation can result in savings of up to 50% of CO2 emissions compared with conventional sources of heat and power. Reduced emissions of sulphur dioxide and particulates are further benefits. The Programme for Government 2020 committed to support the development of combined heat and power, through a range of incentives, to encourage uptake in the marketplace.

The advantages of CHP CHP provides a potentially cost-effective way of servicing the simultaneous heating and electrical demands of commercial and industrial processes. The main advantages to customers of using CHP are: •

reduced energy costs;

•

enhanced security of energy supply;

•

reduced CO2 emissions; and

•

conservation of valuable fuel resources.

The full advantage of natural gas-fired technology is achieved when the production of power and heat is combined. For this to be technically and economically

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feasible, it generally requires a simultaneous demand for heat and electricity on the premises, for a minimum of 14 hours per day or around 5,000 hours per annum. Typically, up to 85% of the primary energy is used in industrial CHP or co-generation systems: a very high level of efficiency compared to all other forms of conventional generation. The environmental benefits of installing CHP are significant and the emissions savings are shown in Table 5.2. Table 5.2 CHP greenhouse gas impact Greenhouse gas emission

CO2 SO2 NOx CO CH4

Estimated net reduction emissions per kWh of electricity produced by CHP (g/kWh) 1,000 17 4.6 (3) 3.9

Source: SEAI report ‘An Examination of the Future Potential of CHP in Ireland’

How does CHP work? Conventionally, CHP applications have been divided into three broad categories, based on design output: microCHP (less than 100kW), small scale (less than 1MW) and large scale (greater than 1MW). By changing from separate systems producing heat and power for industrial processes to CHP, considerable amounts of energy are saved. Typically, up to 85% of the primary energy is used in industrial CHP, compared to typical overall thermal efficiency of 60% in conventional mains electricity/boiler installations on industrial sites.

Micro-CHP Micro-CHP (mCHP) is a mass-produced small-scale CHP unit that is suitable for domestic and small business applications. mCHP units vary in size up to 100 kWe and use a number of different technologies: internal combustion engines; external combustion engines; micro-turbines; and fuel cells.

Small scale CHP Small scale schemes have tended to have a reciprocating engine as the prime mover whereas the large schemes tend to be turbine-based. Recent developments in turbine technology have led to the introduction of ‘microturbines’ for small scale CHP systems. Small scale CHP is particularly suitable for applications such as hotels, hospitals, and leisure centres, where there is a steady demand for heat and power throughout the year. Large scale CHP systems are suitable for use in larger industrial and commercial processes such as chemical/pharmaceutical plants, breweries, airports, universities, and food processing plants.

Sustainable energy use and demand In small scale schemes, the CHP unit consists of a reciprocating engine or microturbine, which is mounted, in an acoustic enclosure. Heat exchangers recover heat from the engine exhaust gases and cooling system to produce hot water, which can be integrated into the site services. The unit is normally designed to meet the site’s base heat and electrical power requirements. Peak heating demand can be supplied using high efficiency modular gas boilers to provide hot water, with additional electricity being imported from the national grid. A control system will allow the automatic operation of the unit to meet the heat and power demands of the site.

Large scale CHP The prime mover in large scale CHP can be a gas turbine or spark ignition gas engine. This drives a generator, which produces the electricity, and the exhaust gases then pass through a recovery unit which provides the heat in the form required by the site (e.g. steam). Additional steam or hot water can be produced using after-firing. This increases the heat output with the facility to modulate heat production without affecting electricity generation. As with small scale CHP, electricity may be imported from, or exported to, the national grid as site demand varies. The choice of prime mover is based on a number of factors and even with similar energy requirements, no two sites are the same. The critical factor is the heat-to-power ratio of site demand. Where the electrical power requirement is relatively high as a proportion of total energy, this tends to favour engines. Conversely where heat demand is typically more than three- or four-times electrical demand, the turbine begins to have an advantage. Another key factor is the quality of heat required by the customer site. Some industrial processes have little use for low grade heat – the hot water produced in enginebased schemes. Where high temperature steam is the primary heat requirement then the turbine is clearly superior.

District heating in Ireland District heating (DH) is heat distributed from a central boiler or CHP plant. The preferred distribution medium is water and district heating has been around for over a century in the US and Europe. District heating has not had the same penetration in Ireland for a number of reasons. Ireland’s relatively mild climate does not help the economics of installing DH on a large scale. Low-density of housing even in cities makes it impractical to pump warm water over long distances. It also has a poor public perception and is often referred to as “poor man’s heat”. The Climate Action Plan aims to deliver two new district heating systems and implement a roadmap for delivering district heating potential.

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CHP technology A cogeneration plant consists of four basic elements: •

a prime mover (engine);

•

an electricity generator;

•

a heat recovery system; and

•

a control system.

Depending on the site requirements, the prime mover may be a steam turbine, reciprocating engine, or gas turbine. The prime mover drives the electricity generator and waste heat is recovered. The basic elements are all well-established items of equipment, of proven performance and reliability.

Prime movers Cogeneration units are generally classified by the type of prime mover (i.e. drive system), generator and fuel used. The following sections examine the main types.

Steam turbines Steam turbines have been used as prime movers for industrial cogeneration systems for many years. Highpressure steam raised in a conventional boiler is expanded within the turbine to produce mechanical energy, which may then be used to drive an electric generator. This system generates less electrical energy per unit of fuel than a gas turbine or reciprocating enginedriven cogeneration system, although its overall efficiency may be higher, achieving up to 84% (based on fuel gross calorific value). For viable power generation, steam input must be at a high pressure and temperature. The plant is capital intensive because a high-pressure boiler is required to produce the motive steam. At existing sites, where steam systems are supplied by low-pressure boilers, it will be necessary to replace these boilers with high-pressure plant, possibly retaining the original equipment as standby. Steam cycles typically produce a large amount of heat compared with the electrical output, resulting in a highcost installation in terms of kWe.

Gas turbines The gas turbine has become the most widely used prime mover for large-scale cogeneration in recent years, typically generating 1–100 MWe. A gas turbine-based system is much easier to install on an existing site than high-pressure boiler plant and a steam turbine. On many sites plot space is at a premium, a factor weighing heavily in favour of gas turbines. This, together with reduced capital cost and the improved reliability of modern machines, often makes gas turbines the optimum choice. The fuel is burnt in a pressurised combustion chamber using combustion air supplied by a compressor that is integral with the gas turbine. The very hot (900–1,200°C) pressurised gases are used to turn a series of fan blades, and the shaft on which they are mounted, to produce mechanical energy. Residual energy in the form of a high

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Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable finance The EU recognised more than a decade ago that in order to make a real impact on the ever-present issue of climate change, it needed to do what was necessary to channel the vast sums of money invested annually in financial products such as pension funds, equity funds, UCITs, infrastructure development, development finance, bonds and insurance into sustainable development and investment products. Asset and investment managers and financial advisers have grappled with a wave of legislation from the EU dealing with disclosures and credentials in accounts, websites, and information memoranda, compelling them to inform their potential pool of investors of their sustainability credentials and whether the investment being promoted can legitimately be called a sustainable investment. However, the legislative framework which had been enacted lacked the required detail, leaving financial advisers to work out what criteria they should apply in order to determine whether an investment could be labelled as sustainable, without risking an accusation of committing the act of “greenwashing”. In addition, while some countries introduced defined legislative criteria or technical benchmarks to determine whether an investment or product was sustainable, many of these rules were sectoral in nature, and only covered certain specific investments. As a result of this piecemeal approach from domestic legislatures and the private sector, there was a significant degree of inconsistency between EU Member States in terms of sustainability classification, making cross border transactions especially difficult. In December 2016, the EU Commission mandated a HighLevel Expert Group to develop an overarching and comprehensive EU strategy on sustainable finance. The report of the High-Level Expert Group which was published on 31 January 2018 called for the creation of a technically robust classification system at an EU level in order to establish clarity on which activities qualify as ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’. Subsequently, the EU Commission published its action plan on financing sustainable growth, launching an ambitious and comprehensive strategy on sustainable finance. The establishment of a unified classification system for sustainable activities was seen as the most important and urgent action envisaged by the action plan. This unified classification system has now largely been achieved following the publication of Annex I and II of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment (the “Taxonomy Regulation”). The annexes to the Taxonomy Regulation outline the detailed and specific technical criteria to be applied to an investment in order to classify its status and determine whether it can be marketed in the EU as an “environmentally sustainable” investment product. In order to be considered sustainable, the Taxonomy Regulation requires that the investment must substantially contribute to one of six environmental objectives which are outlined below:

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climate change mitigation;

climate change adaptation;

sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources;

transition to a circular economy;

pollution prevention, control and protection; and

restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

As well as substantially contributing to one of these environmental objectives, the investment must also comply with each of the following criteria:

Do No Significant Harm The activity does not significantly harm any of the environmental objectives.

Minimum Social and Governance Safeguards The activity must comply with minimum social and governance safeguards contained in the Taxonomy Regulation. Annex I and II of the Taxonomy Regulation set out the detailed methodology and criteria for determining whether the investment substantially contributes to an environmental objective and does not cause significant harm to any of the environmental objectives. However, it does not yet provide the detailed criteria required to prove compliance with minimum social and governance safeguards but rather, for now, simply refers to various international treaties and agreements. Given the breadth of investment types that this legislation covers, from insurance and mortgages to infrastructure projects, equity funds and bonds, the information provided in Annex I and II is technically complex by necessity and it will take market players some time to master the methodology. To guide our clients in applying this legislation to the myriad of financial products and investments that they advise on and sell, and to assist the developers of assets in presenting their portfolios in a way that is user-friendly to both investors and funders, the Maples Group has produced a detailed guide that incorporates a case study on the Taxonomy Regulation which shows how to apply the detailed technical criteria to a real life development project. The guide itself focuses on the principle of doing no significant harm to any of the environmental objectives. However, the methodology of proving substantial compliance with an environmental objective and proving that you are doing no significant harm to an environmental objective, is the same. The guide is available on our website at maples.com/esg

Mary Dunne, Partner, Maples Group +353 1 619 2021 mary.dunne@maples.com

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flow of hot exhaust gases can be used to meet, wholly or partly, the thermal demand of the site. The available mechanical energy can be applied to produce electricity with a generator (most applications) and to drive pumps, compressors, blowers etc. Waste gases are exhausted from the turbine at 450°C to 550°C, making the gas turbine particularly suitable for high-grade heat supply. The usable heat-to-power ratio ranges from 1.5:1 to 3:1 depending on the characteristics of the particular gas turbine. Supplementary firing may be used to increase exhaust gas temperatures to 1,000°C or more, raising the overall heat to power ratio to as much as 10:1. Supplementary firing is highly efficient as no additional combustion air is required to burn extra fuel. Efficiencies of 95% or more are typical for the fuel burned in supplementary firing systems. Gas turbines are available in a wide power output range from 250 kWe to over 200 MWe, although sets smaller than 1 MWe have so far been generally uneconomic due to their comparatively low electrical efficiency and consequent high cost per kWe output. This is now changing.

Reciprocating engines The reciprocating engines used in cogeneration are internal combustion engines operating on the same familiar principles as their petrol and diesel engine automotive counterparts. Reciprocating engines give a higher electrical efficiency than gas turbines, but it is more difficult to use the thermal energy they produce, since it is generally at lower temperatures and is dispersed between exhaust gases and cooling systems. The usable heat: power ratio range is normally in the range 0.5:1 to 2:1. However, as the exhaust contains large amounts of excess air, supplementary firing is feasible, raising the ratio to a maximum of 5:1. They are suited to smaller, simpler cogeneration installations, often with cooling and exhaust heat recovery cascaded together with a waste heat boiler providing medium or low temperature hot water to site. The following are among the most common applications for the thermal energy produced by reciprocating engines: •

production of up to 15 bar steam utilising the heat of exhaust gases and separate production of hot water at 85–90°C from the cooling system of the engine;

•

production of hot water at 90°C, supplementing the temperature of cooling system water with heat from the gases;

•

exhaust fumes can be used directly in certain processes, such as drying, CO2 production etc.; and

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•

generation of hot air.

All the residual energies from the engine can be used, through the installation of suitable exchange devices, for the generation of hot air. Reciprocating machines by their nature have more moving parts, some of which wear more rapidly than those in purely rotating machines and have running as well as shutdown maintenance requirements. Nevertheless, typical availability is about 90% to 96%.

Combined cycles Some large systems utilise a combination of gas turbine and steam turbine, with the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine being used to produce the steam for the steam turbine. This is called a combined cycle. Gas turbine combined cycle (CCGT) systems have been adopted by public utility companies where supplies of natural gas are plentiful. In cogeneration applications of the CCGT, exhaust or pass-out steam from the steam turbine is used for process or other heating duties. The main advantage of CCGT cogeneration is its greater overall efficiency in the production of electricity.

Waste heat recovery units The heat recovery boiler is an essential component of the cogeneration installation. It recovers the heat from the exhaust gases of gas turbines or reciprocating engines. The simplest one is a heat exchanger through which the exhaust gases pass, and the heat is transferred to the boiler feedwater to raise steam. The exhaust gases discharged contain significant quantities of heat, but not all can be recovered in a boiler. One typical feature of the exhaust heat boiler (or waste heat recovery unit) is that the typical size is bigger than a conventional fuel-burning unit. This is for two main reasons: the lower exhaust gas temperatures require a greater heat transfer area in the boiler; and practical limitations on the flow restriction. Exhaust heat boilers are not, therefore, ‘off-the-shelf’ items: they need to be designed for the particular exhaust conditions of the specified turbine or engine.

Stirling engines The Stirling engine is an external combustion device and therefore differs substantially from conventional combustion plant where the fuel burns inside the machine. Heat is supplied to the Stirling engine by an external source, such as burning gas, and this makes a working fluid (e.g. helium) expand and cause one of the two pistons to move inside a cylinder. The Stirling engine has fewer moving parts than conventional engines and is therefore quieter than normal engines. Stirling engines also require little maintenance and emissions are low. The efficiency of these machines is potentially greater than that of internal combustion or gas turbine devices.

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For micro-cogeneration boilers, there is a need for small engines with a capacity between 0.2 and 4 kWe. Gas turbines and even gas engines are unsuited for this kind of size.

The latest assessment of the CHP market in Ireland was made by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in its ‘Combined Heat and Power in Ireland’ report published in January 2021. The report found:

The advantages of the Stirling engine are less moving parts with low friction, no need for an extra boiler, no internal burner chamber, high theoretical efficiency and it is very well suited for mass production. The external burner allows a very clean exhaust and gives the possibility of controlling the electrical output of the engine by reducing the temperature of the hot side.

•

natural gas fuelled 300 MWe (93.2%) of the operational capacity in 2019. Biogas fuelled 11.9 MWe (3.7%), biomass 6.6 MWe (2.0%), solid fuel 1.6 MWe (0.8%) and oil products were used by the remaining 1.0 MWe (0.3%);

•

biomass and bioenergy CHP, as renewable energy sources are counted towards Ireland’s renewable energy targets. Renewable CHP contributed 0.2% to both RES-E and RES-H in 2019;

•

there are a large number of relatively small units in the services sector. The services sector accounted for 83% of the units and 13% of the operational capacity in 2019;

•

within the services sector, hotels account for the majority (24%) of units while the leisure sub-sector (which includes swimming pools, leisure centres, gyms, etc.) is the second largest at 18% in 2019;

•

the industry sector accounted for 17% of the units and 87% of the operational capacity;

•

the food sub-sector of industry contains the largest number of units with 47% of units and 24% of industrial operational capacity, while nonferrous metals accounts for 2% of units but 57% of industrial operational capacity;

•

in 2019, 6.6% of Ireland’s electricity was from CHP installations, compared with 7.0% in 2018;

•

in 2019, there were 17 units exporting electricity to the grid. These units exported 1,337 GWh of electricity in 2019, a decrease of 4.1% on 2018;

•

in 2019, the useful heat produced from CHP met 5.7% of Ireland’s total thermal energy demand;

•

the useful heat output was estimated at 99% of the total heat generated by CHP plants in 2019;

•

in 2019, electricity output decreased by 3.0%, estimated useful heat output decreased by 3.6% with fuel input decreasing by 4.7%;

•

the overall stock of CHP installations has become more efficient, increasing from 76% in 2001 to an efficiency of 83.5% in 2019;

•

the use of CHP in 2019 avoided 499 kt CO2 emissions when compared with separate electricity and heat production;

•

CHP units that are part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme made up 9% of the units but 80% of operational capacity in 2019;

Microturbines Microturbines are smaller than conventional reciprocating engines, and capital and maintenance costs are lower. There are environmental advantages, including low NOx emissions of 10-25 ppm or lower microturbines can be used as a distributed generation resource for power producers and consumers, including industrial, commercial and, in the future, even residential users of electricity. Significant opportunities exist in five key applications: •

traditional cogeneration;

•

generation using waste and biofuels;

•

backup power;

•

remote power for those with ‘Black Start’ capability;

•

peak shaving; and

•

biomass.

Fuel cells Fuel cells convert the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen directly into electricity without combustion and mechanical work such as in turbines or engines. In fuel cells, the fuel and oxidant (air) are continuously fed to the cell. All fuel cells are based on the oxidation of hydrogen. The hydrogen used as fuel can be derived from a variety of sources, including natural gas, propane, coal, and renewables such as biomass or through electrolysis, wind and solar energy.

CHP applications in Ireland The installed capacity of CHP in Ireland at the end of 2020 was 365 MWe (464 units), up very slightly from 362 MWe (456 units) in 2019 (see table 5.3). Of these 464 units, only 327 were reported as being operational. The operational installed capacity increased by 8.0 MWe to 327 MWe in 2020. Natural gas was the fuel of choice for 332 MWe (410 units) in 2020, with a single gas plant accounting for 160 MWe. Biogas and oil products made up the next most significant shares with 12.3 MWe and 8.9 MWe, respectively (24 units each). The remainder was biomass at 6.7 MWe (4 units) and solid fuels at 5.2 MWe (2 units).

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there was a primary energy saving of 20% or 1,531 GWh from CHP plants in 2019 compared to separate heat and electricity production.

Table 5.3 CHP by fuel (2020)

CHP policy The European Directive on Energy Efficiency (2012/27/EU9) requires member states to further decouple energy use from economic growth and sets out a common framework of measures for the achievement of the EU’s energy efficiency target. It recognises that high efficiency CHP, together with district heating and cooling, has significant potential for achieving primary energy savings. It sets out a number of obligations on member states, including that they establish mechanisms for guaranteeing the origin of electricity from cogeneration and provide priority access or dispatch for electricity generated from high efficiency cogeneration. The Directive also requires that member states: • assess the potential for the application of high efficiency cogeneration and district heating and cooling, implement policies at a local and regional level to encourage the consideration of using efficient heating and cooling systems, and assess the potential for local and regional heat markets; •

•

ensure that a cost-benefit analysis on the use of high efficiency cogeneration is carried out for new and refurbished electricity generating stations, industrial installations that generate waste heat at a useful temperature, and new and refurbished district heating and cooling systems, where the development has a total thermal input greater than 20MW; and

Natural gas Solid fuels Biomass Oil fuels Biogas Total

Operational capacity (MWe)

Number of units (%)

Operational capacity (%)

410 2 4 24 24 464

332 5.2 6.7 8.9 12.3 365

88.4 0.4 0.9 5.2 5.2 100

90.9 1.4 1.8 2.4 3.4 100

Table 5.4 Number of units and operational capacity by services sub-sectors (2019) No. of units

Operational capacity (MWe)

Airport 3 District heating 34 Education 11 Hospital 31 Hotel 64 Leisure 47 Nursing home 14 Office 15 Public sector 19 Retail 9 Other services 17 Total 264

6.7 0.2 3.9 5.0 8.3 3.7 0.3 2.2 7.6 1.2 2.3 41.1

Number Operational of units (%) capacity (%)

1.1 12.9 4.2 11.7 24.2 17.8 5.3 5.7 7.2 3.4 6.4 100

16.1 0.5 9.5 12.0 20.1 8.8 0.6 5.3 18.4 3.0 5.6 100

Table 5.5 Number of units and operational capacity by industry sub-sectors (2019)

ensure that electricity generated from high efficiency cogeneration is guaranteed access to the grid and is provided with priority dispatch.

Transposition of the Directive was completed in 2014. The 2015 Energy White Paper contains an action to develop a policy framework to encourage the development of CHP, taking into account the findings and recommendations of the comprehensive assessment required by European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014.

No. of units

Food Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Non-ferrous Metals Other industry Total

No. of units

Operational capacity (MWe)

Number Total CHP of units (%) operational capacity (%)

26 8 15

77.4 12.2 25.8

47.3 14.5 27.3

24 3.8 8

1 5 55

160.0 5.4 280.9

1.8 9.1 100

49.6 1.7 87.2

Table 5.6 Number of units and installed capacity by size range (2019) No. of units

Operational capacity (MWe)

Micro <50 kWe 97 50 kWe ≤ Small < 1 MWe 166 Large > 1MWe 56 Total 319

30.4

0.7

0.2

52.0 17.6 100

27.4 294.2 319.2

8.6 91.2 100

Source: SEAI

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Support for CHP A new national Support Scheme for Renewable Heat was launched in December 2017. The second phase of the SSRH opened in June 2019. Over its lifetime, the programme is aimed at reducing carbon emissions by 11Mt. The scheme comprises two support mechanisms: •

ongoing operational support for biomass boiler and anaerobic digestion heating systems; and

•

an installation grant for electric heat pumps.

The previous REFIT 3 scheme closed in December 2015. The (SSRH) is designed to financially support the replacement of fossil fuel heating systems with renewable energy for large heat demand non-domestic users. This covers commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic businesses and sectors (in the non-ETS sector).

CHP development in Northern Ireland In 2019, Northern Ireland had 99 CHP schemes with a total installed electrical capacity of 100 MWe and heat capacity of 219 MWth. These generated 431 GWh of electricity and 553 GWh of heat. Statistics for Northern Ireland are compiled by the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change. Major industrial CHP sites in Northern Ireland include Balcas, a wood product supplier in Enniskillen (wood residue-fired plant), and John Thompson & Sons feed suppliers (two gas-fired plants), in north Belfast. The Lisahally Biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant generates 16MW of electricity and 6MW of heat, the equivalent of enough energy to power 30,000 homes and businesses in Derry. The power plant is the first of its kind on the island of Ireland and represents an £83 million investment into Northern Ireland. The Strategic Energy Framework commits the Department for the Economy to seek to maximise CHP deployment. There are a range of support measures to incentivise the growth of CHP in the UK. All fuel inputs to, and electricity outputs from, good quality CHP are exempt from the climate change levy. Good quality CHP plant and machinery is eligible for enhanced capital allowances where the company’s main business is not the generation of electricity. CHP also attracts favourable allocations of carbon allowances under Phase II of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, and preferential treatment under business rates for certain types of plant and machinery. VAT is reduced from 20% to 5% on domestic micro-CHP installations. Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) have been extended to energy from waste plants that utilise CHP, and support under the Renewables Obligation has been increased from 1.5 to 2 ROCs for the electricity output of good quality CHP fuelled by biomass.

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CHP developers in Ireland Atkins Power 150-155 Airside Business Park Swords, Co Dublin Tel: 01 810 8000 Web: www.atkinsglobal.com Email: info.ie@atkinsglobal.com Clarke Energy Ireland Limited Unit 7, Newtown Business Park Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow Tel: 01 281 0010 Web: www.clarke-energy.com/ireland Email: ireland@clarke-energy.com General Manager: John Curley Edina Limited Delaire House, Unit 4 Swords Business Park Swords, Co Dublin K67 HN56 Tel: 01 882 4800 Web: www.edina.eu Email: info@edina.eu Centrica Business Solutions Daniel Adamson Road, Salford Manchester, M50 1DT Tel: 01 531 4542 Web: www.centricabusinesssolutions.ie Email: centricabusinesssolutions.ie@centrica.com ESB Power Generation 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower Dublin 2 D02 KT92 Tel: +353 1 676 5831 Web: www.esb.ie F4energy Ltd Clonmore Crossagalla Industrial Estate Ballysimon Road, Limerick V94 P7K6 Tel: 061 603 939 Web: www.f4energy.ie Email: info@f4energy.com Fingleton White & Co Bridge Street Centre Portlaoise, Co Laois R32 W0CC Tel: 057 866 5400 Web: www.fingleton.ie Email: info@fingleton.ie Gas Networks Ireland Gasworks Road, Cork T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Web: www.gasnetworks.ie Contact: Fran McFadden

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npower Windmill Hill Business Park Whitehill Way, Swindon Willshire, SN5 6PB Tel: 0179 387 7777 Web: www.npower.com

Mott MacDonald South Block, Rockfield Dundrum, Dublin 16 Tel: 01 291 6700 Web: www.mottmac.com Email: dublin@mottmac.com

RUSAL Aughinish Aughinish Island, Askeaton Co Limerick Tel: 061 604 000 Web: www.rusal.com

PM Group Killakee House, Belgard Square Tallaght Dublin 24 Tel: 01 404 0700 Web: www.pmgroup-global.com Email: dublin@pmgroup-global.com

Temp Tech Ireland Unit 9, Childers Road Industrial Estate Childers Road, Limerick Tel: 061 413 299 Web: www.temptech.ie Contact: Declan Ryan Thames Energy 18 Hemmells, Laindon Basildon, Essex, SS15 6ED Tel: 0800 458 7107 Web: www.thamesenergy.co.uk Vital Energi Utilities Ltd Century House, Roman Road Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 2LD Tel: 01254 296 000 Web: www.vitalenergi.co.uk

Consultants servicing the CHP sector Technical consultants Atkins Power 150-155 Airside Business Park Swords, Co Dublin Tel: 01 810 8000 Web: www.atkinsglobal.com Email: info.ie@atkinsgobal.com Clearpower The Green House Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhillis Road Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 5000 Web: www.clearpower.ie Email: info@clearpower.ie Contact: Tom Sheehy ESB International One Dublin Airport Central Dublin Airport Cloghran Co Dublin Tel: 01 703 8000 Web: www.esbi.ie Email: marketing@esbi.ie

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RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland Shanahan Engineering 3rd Floor, Block 1 West Pier Business Campus Old Dunleary Road, Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin Tel: 01 280 9888 Web: www.shanahanengineering.com Email: enquiries@shanahaneng.ie Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 3 Park Place Hatch Street Upper Dublin 2 Tel: 01 801 2100 Web: www.seai.ie Email: info@seai.ie Chief Executive: William Walsh WYG 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.wyg.com Email: belfast@wyg.com

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CHP equipment suppliers Gas turbines Centrax Industries Limited Gas Turbine Division Shaldon Road Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 4SQ Tel: 01626 358 000 Web: www.centraxgt.com Clarke Energy Ireland Limited Unit 7, Newtown Business Park Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow Tel: 01 281 0010 Web: www.clarke-energy.com Email: ireland@clarke-energy.com General Manager: John Curley Siemens Ireland DCU Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.ie

Steam turbines Siemens Ireland DCU Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.ie

Gas reciprocating engines ABB Group Belgard Road, Tallaght Dublin 24, D24 KD78 Tel: 01 405 7300 Web: www.abb.ie Email: amy.duke@ie.abb.com Contact: Amy Duke Deutz UK Unit 3, Willow Park, Burdock Close Cannock, WS11 7FQ Tel: 01543 438 900 Web: www.deutzuk.com Email: admin.uk@deutz.com Edina Ltd Delaire House, Unit 4 Swords Business Park Swords, Co Dublin K67 HN56 Tel: 01 882 4800 Web: www.edina.eu

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Finning Unit A, Aerodrome Business Park Rathcoole, Co Dublin D24 WC04 Tel: 01 257 4000 Web: www.finning.co.uk Temp Tech Ireland Unit 9 Childers Road Industrial Estate Childers Road, Limerick Tel: 061 413 299 Web: www.temptech.ie Email: info@temptech.ie

Microturbines/Micro-CHP technology AC Automation Trooperslane Industrial Estate 5 Sloefield Park Carrickfergus, BT38 8GR Tel: 028 9336 4779 Web: www.acautomation.co.uk Managing Director: Gary Callaghan Bowman Power Ocean Quay, Belvidere Road Southampton, SO14 5QY Tel: 023 8023 6700 Email: reception@bowmanpower.co.uk Centrica Business Solutions Tel: +353 1 531 4542 Email: centricabusinesssolutions.IE@centrica.com F4energy Ltd Clonmore Crossagalla Industrial Estate Ballysimon Road, Limerick Tel: 061 603 939 Web: www.f4energy.ie Email: info@f4energy.com Baxi Potterton Myson (Irl) Ltd Unit F6, Calmount Park Calmount Road Ballymount, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 459 0870 Web: www.potterton-myson.ie Email: paul.clancy@potterton-myson.ie Managing Director: Paul Clancy

Biomass CHP technology Balcas Ltd 75 Killadeas Road Ballinamallard Enniskillen, BT94 2ES Tel: 028 6632 3003 Web: www.balcas.com Email: info@balcas.com Contact: Ian McCracken

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Biomass Engineering Ltd Kilbryan, Boyle, Co Roscommon F52 KR 02 Web: www.biomassengineering.ie Tel: 044 934 7892

Siemens Ireland DCU Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.ie

Clarke Energy Ireland Ltd Unit 7, Newtown Business Park Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow Tel: 01 281 0010 Web: www.clarke-energy.com Email: john.curley@clarke-energy.com General Manager: John Curley

Energy management for large energy users

Clearpower The Green House Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhillis Road Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 5000 Web: www.clearpower.ie Email: info@clearpower.ie Contact: Tom Sheehy

In order to manage energy use effectively, any organisation has to put in place a management infrastructure.

The following section provides guidance and general advice on how energy can be optimally managed on-site. Energy managers will be familiar with much of the advice, but it should prove an interesting read for financial and other non-technical managers.

Managing energy effectively

Strategic building blocks of such a management system include: •

commitment and understanding. As with many management systems commitment from senior management is essential. A convincing case has to be made for resources and for making effective energy management an important objective of the organisation. The basis of any energy management system is an understanding of current consumption;

•

planning and organising. The first step is to produce a formal energy policy. There should then be a plan of action as to how the organisation will operate its energy management system. This may require some change to the organisation;

•

implementing. In order to implement the energy policy, clear responsibilities need to be assigned. A formal energy management and reporting structure needs to be drawn up, with a member of the board to be responsible for energy; and

•

controlling and monitoring. Each energy improvement project should have a project manager, who has clear responsibility for bringing the project to a successful conclusion.

Waste to energy ABB Group Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 405 7300 Web: www.abb.ie Contact: Amy Duke Clarke Energy Ireland Ltd Unit 7, Newtown Business Park Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow Tel: 01 281 0010 Web: www.clarke-energy.com Email: john.curley@clarke-energy.com General Manager: John Curley Indaver The Highline, 1st Floor Bakers Point Pottery Road Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Tel: +353 1 697 2900 Dublin Port Hazardous Waste Facility Tolka Quay Road, Dublin Port Cork Office Unit 11, South Ring Business Park Kinsale Road, Cork Tel: 021 470 4266 Meath Waste-to-Energy Carranstown, Duleek, Co Meath Web: www.indaver.ie Email: info@indaver.ie Contact: Jackie Keaney

Energy surveys and audits Surveys and audits are a useful tool in improving a company’s energy management performance. They are particularly useful in determining the current energy use profiles. Once the current situation has been mapped out, it is then possible to establish targets and priorities. An energy audit is a study to determine the quantity and cost of energy to a given site over a period of time. An energy survey is a technical investigation of the control and flow of energy within the site with the objective of identifying cost-effective energy savings measures.

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Monitoring and targeting An energy survey is only a snapshot in time. It is useful for determining modifications to plant, equipment, and operating procedures. However, it does not address wastage that is random or intermittent in nature. A technique known as ‘monitoring and targeting’ (M&T) is an effective way of addressing these kinds of losses.

Boiler plant Most businesses have a boiler for providing heat. They are usually used to heat premises, but they may also be used for heating water, oil, or steam for use in industrial processes. Major savings can be achieved from reducing the amount of energy lost in four main areas: boiler maintenance; boiler operation; optimum steam generation; and the boiler distribution system.

so that the thermostat or time switch shuts off both the pump and the boiler. If it is a multi-boiler installation, it may be practical to turn off one or more of them during periods of milder weather and still be able to provide a comfortable level of heating. If fewer boilers can be used during the warmer months, the smallest boilers should be used first as larger boilers lose more heat. Also, sequencing controls can ensure that the minimum number of boilers to meet demand are firing and that boilers are fired in the most efficient sequence, i.e. smallest first.

Steam generation

Boiler maintenance

Providing steam (for process and space heating) can be one of the main energy costs in large manufacturing sites. Steam costs are also a major contributor to energy bills in building complexes within other sectors. There are a number of areas where savings can be achieved.

Boiler plant should be checked regularly for signs of inefficiency, such as warning lights, signs of leakage from pipework, valves, flanges, gas smells, damage and burn marks to boilers and flues, and undue noise from pumps and burners.

Where batch processing is used the steam supply should be turned off when not needed. Supplying steam to space heating systems when not required increases energy costs. If required, arrange for isolating valves to be fitted.

Good efficiency depends on good combustion and low chimney losses. Measuring the temperature and oxygen content of the flue gases indicates the quality of combustion and heat losses through the chimney. The boiler is ready for cleaning again when the maximum temperature of the flue gases rises by over 40°C since the last service.

A manager can also investigate using the lowest possible steam pressure. Reducing steam pressure means lowering steam temperatures, thus saving energy costs. The steam temperature required for each individual process (including space heating and domestic hot water) can also be checked. Use the lowest possible temperature of steam at all times.

A build-up of deposits caused by combustion will reduce boiler efficiency. Boilers and burners should be properly cleaned and serviced at least once a year by a qualified contractor. The service should include a combustion efficiency check and adjustments of the burner air/fuel ratio for optimum efficiency in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Worn controls and linkages will also result in poor combustion.

Steam supplied to a process could be controlled manually by opening and closing valves (manual controls). These are ineffective for controlling variable amounts of steam so assess the viability of installing automatic controls.

It is important that a boiler house is adequately ventilated with all louvres and vents open and not obstructed. Restricting the supply of air to a boiler will result in loss of efficiency due to incomplete combustion. Boilers that are not insulated may lose heat into the surrounding area. If they are not insulated, consider fitting a 50mm (minimum) thick mineral fibre mat with foil laminate to the inside of the boiler casing, but make sure that the insulation does not interfere with the burner or air supply to the boiler.

Boiler operation Leaving boilers running when there is little or no demand for heat is an obvious waste of money. Sometimes boilers can continue to fire even when the room thermostat or time switch shuts off the circulation pump. This means that, although the premises are not being heated, the boiler continues to generate heat, all of which is wasted. If this is happening, the wiring may be altered

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Distribution system It is estimated that up to 20% of energy can be lost through poorly designed and maintained heat distribution systems. A further 20% can be wasted at the point of use at sites operating without proper attention to efficient use of energy. The loss of heat through exposed pipework can represent a significant proportion of the energy wasted in a heat distribution system. Heat loss from pipes can be reduced by over 70% through the proper lagging of all pipework.

Motors and drives Motor-driven systems are major energy users. A motor running at a typical commercial or industrial site for 4,000 hours a year has an annual electricity cost of about 10 times its capital cost. Motors consume an estimated twothirds of electrical energy used by industry, so even modest efficiency gains can deliver substantial savings. Energy-saving measures involving motors and drives include:

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•

switch the motor off when not required;

Lighting

•

select the size of motor and driven machinery to match the load requirements;

•

specify high-efficiency motors and driven machinery (pumps, fans etc.);

Although it is taken for granted, electric lighting can account for around 30–40% of a company’s electricity bill. An energy efficient lighting system combines low running and maintenance costs with good effective lighting and can reduce a company’s lighting costs by up to a third.

•

use technologies such as variable speed drives or multiple speed motors to match load requirements; and

There are a number of measures to reduce lighting costs: •

avoid empty areas being lit;

•

excessive light levels for the type of work done;

Compressed air

•

avoid using inappropriate type of lighting; and

Compressed air is an area where significant savings can be often made. One of the most obvious savings to be made is to generate compressed air at the minimum pressure that a production process requires.

•

clean/replace dirty diffusers or shades.

•

reduce the load on the motor by increasing the effectiveness of the complete system.

To achieve the optimum system pressure, there are a number of steps that can be taken: •

determine the minimum pressure for the system (this can be accomplished by asking equipment and tool manufacturers to specify the minimum air pressure needed by their equipment);

•

install a controller that uses either a pressure transmitter or a pressure transducer (these are more accurate than pressure switches and will save energy by controlling the operating pressures of the compressor more closely); and

•

monitor the system to make sure that site pressure is acceptable for all of the production processes.

System leaks are another source of inefficiency. With the system switched on, checks should be made for network leaks. Leaks should be repaired immediately, and a system of regular inspection and repair introduced. Most compressed air systems have an air dryer installed. Poor air drying can be a source of significant energy losses. If the air is wet, condensate drains are left open, and this can lead to over 5% of the total compressed air being wasted.

Refrigeration Refrigeration is a very energy-intensive process. Commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment consumes around a tenth of all electrical energy used. Improved environmental performance and effectiveness can, on average, achieve energy savings of up to 20% using low-cost measures. Good maintenance and correct operation are also important and can have a large impact on the energy consumed. Refrigeration that is operated at an unnecessarily low temperature wastes energy. For every 1°C increase in temperature, there is about a 3% energy saving.

The light loading for any workspace can be measured and if higher (or lower) than expected, a survey of all lighting should be undertaken. Sustainable energy use in buildings and residential Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and some 36% of the European Union’s CO2 emissions. While new buildings generally need less than three to five litres of heating oil per square meter per year, older buildings consume about 25 litres on average. Some buildings even require up to 60 litres. Currently, about 35% of the EU’s buildings are over 50 years old. By improving the energy efficiency of buildings, the EU could reduce total EU energy consumption by 5% to 6% and lower CO2 emissions by about 5%.

2012 Energy Efficiency Directive Under the Energy Efficiency Directive: •

EU countries make energy efficient renovations to at least 3% of buildings owned and occupied by central government;

•

EU governments should only purchase buildings which are highly energy efficient; and

•

EU countries must draw-up long-term national building renovation strategies which can be included in their National Energy Efficiency Action Plans.

On 30 November 2016, the Commission proposed an update to the Energy Efficiency Directive, including a new 30% energy efficiency target for 2030, and measures to update the Directive to make sure the new target is met.

The amending directive (2018/2002) In 2018, as part of the 'Clean energy for all Europeans package’, the new amending Directive on Energy Efficiency (2018/2002) was agreed to update the policy framework to 2030 and beyond. The key element of the amended directive is a headline energy efficiency target for 2030 of at least 32.5%. The

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binding target, to be achieved collectively across the EU, is set relative to the 2007 modelling projections for 2030.

they intend to meet the energy efficiency and other targets for 2030.

In absolute terms, this means that EU energy consumption should be no more than 1,273 Mtoe of primary energy and/or no more than 956 Mtoe of final energy.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2018

The directive allows for a possible upward revision in the target in 2023, in case of substantial cost reductions due to economic or technological developments. It also includes an extension to the energy savings obligation in end use, introduced in the 2012 directive. Under the amending directive, EU countries will have to achieve new energy savings of 0.8% each year of final energy consumption for the 2021–2030 period. Under the Governance Regulation 2018/1999, member states are required to draw up integrated 10-year national energy and climate plans (NECPs) outlining how

On 30 November 2016, as part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, the Commission proposed an update to the 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to help promote the use of smart technology in buildings, to streamline existing rules and accelerate building renovation. The Commission also published a new buildings database – the EU Building Stock Observatory – to track the energy performance of buildings across Europe. In order to direct investment towards the renovation of building stock, the Commission also launched the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings initiative, which has the potential to unlock an additional €10 billion of public and private funds for energy efficiency and renewable uptake in buildings.

Table 5.7 Overview of UK CHP schemes in 2019

No of schemes

Electrical capacity MWe

Heat capacity MWth

Load factor (%)

England

2,109

5,190

16,940

59.2

Scotland

193

577

2,709

57.6

Wales

146

183

822

62.9

100

219

50.9

2,547

6,050

20,690

59.1

Northern Ireland Total UK

Table 5.8 UK CHP electricity and heat generated 2017–2019

Electricity generated (GWh)

Heat generated (GWh)

2017

2018

2019

2017

2018

2019

England

17,996

19,071

19,888

33,745

32,992

33,677

Scotland

2,607

2,583

2,304

6,247

6,152

5,374

Wales

785

864

839

2,004

2,147

2,093

Northern Ireland

383

427

7431

503

545

553

21,771

22,945

23,461

42,500

42,836

41,697

UK total

Source: Combined Heat and Power in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England 2019.

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Sustainable energy use and demand On 19 June 2018 Directive (2018/844/EU) amending the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive was published. The revised provisions entered into force on 9 July 2018. This revision introduces targeted amendments to the current Directive aimed at accelerating the cost-effective renovation of existing buildings, with the vision of a decarbonised building stock by 2050 and the mobilisation of investments. The revision also supports electromobility infrastructure deployment in buildings' car parks and introduces new provisions to enhance smart technologies and technical building systems, including automation. Member states had 20 months to transpose its provisions into national law (namely by 10 March 2020). Under the 2018 Directive: •

EU countries will have to establish stronger longterm renovation strategies, aiming at decarbonising the national building stocks by 2050, and with a solid financial component;

•

a common European scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings, optional for member states, will be introduced;

•

smart technologies will be further promoted, for instance through requirements on the installation of building automation and control systems and on devices that regulate temperature at room level;

•

e-mobility will be supported by introducing minimum requirements for car parks over a certain size and other minimum infrastructure for smaller buildings;

•

EU countries will have to express their national energy performance requirements in ways that allow cross-national comparisons; and

•

health and well-being of building users will be promoted, for instance through an increased consideration of air quality and ventilation.

Targets under the 2010 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive: •

all new buildings must be nearly zero-energy buildings by 31 December 2020 (public buildings by 31 December 2018);

•

energy performance certificates must be issued when a building is sold or rented, and they must also be included in all advertisements for the sale or rental of buildings;

•

EU countries must establish inspection schemes for heating and air conditioning systems or put in place measures with equivalent effect;

•

EU countries must set cost-optimal minimum energy performance requirements for new buildings, for the major renovation of existing

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buildings, and for the replacement or retrofit of building elements (heating and cooling systems, roofs, walls and so on); and •

EU countries must draw up lists of national financial measures to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

Energy efficiency in the European Green Deal 2020 Through the European Green Deal, the EU aims to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Therefore the Commission is preparing to review and revise the Energy Efficiency Directive. As such, on 3 August 2020 the Commission published its evaluation roadmap/inception impact assessment for public feedback. Throughout September to November 2020, a series of stakeholder workshops was held to inform the evaluation of the existing Directive and the planned revision. Subsequently, a public consultation ran from 17 November 2020 until 9 February 2021.

EU Renovation Wave Strategy The Commission’s EU Renovation Wave Strategy aims to at least double renovation rates in the next 10 years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. This will enhance the quality of life for people living in and using the buildings, reduce Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, foster digitalisation, and improve the reuse and recycling of materials. By 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to 160,000 additional green jobs created in the construction sector. The Covid-19 crisis has turned the spotlight on buildings, their importance in our daily lives and their fragilities. Throughout the pandemic, the home was the focal point of daily life for millions of Europeans: an office for those teleworking, a make-shift nursery or classroom for children and pupils, for many a hub for online shopping or entertainment. European policy and funding have already had a positive impact on the energy efficiency of new buildings, which now consume only half the energy of those built over 20 years ago. However, 85% of buildings in the EU were built over 20 years ago, and 85-95% are expected to still be standing in 2050. The Renovation Wave is needed to bring them up to similar standards. Buildings are responsible for about 40% of the EU's energy consumption, and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions from energy. However, only 1% of buildings undergo energy efficient renovation every year, so effective action is crucial to making Europe climateneutral by 2050. With nearly 34 million Europeans unable to afford keeping their homes heated, public policies to promote energy efficient renovation are also a response to energy poverty, supporting the health and wellbeing of people and helping reduce their energy bills.

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The strategy will prioritise action in three areas: •

decarbonisation of heating and cooling;

•

tackling energy poverty and worst-performing buildings; and

•

renovation of public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and administrative buildings.

The strategy will include the following lead actions: •

stronger regulations, standards, and information on the energy performance of buildings to set better incentives for public and private sector renovations, including a phased introduction of mandatory minimum energy performance standards for existing buildings, updated rules for Energy Performance Certificates, and a possible extension of building renovation requirements for the public sector;

•

ensuring accessible and well-targeted funding, including through the ‘Renovate' and ‘Power Up' Flagships in the Recovery and Resilience Facility under NextGenerationEU, simplified rules for combining different funding streams, and multiple incentives for private financing;

•

increasing capacity to prepare and implement renovation projects, from technical assistance to national and local authorities through to training and skills development for workers in new green jobs;

•

expanding the market for sustainable construction products and services, including the integration of new materials and nature-based solutions, and revised legislation on marketing of construction products and material reuse and recovery targets; and

•

creating a New European Bauhaus, an interdisciplinary project co-steered by an advisory board of external experts including scientists, architects, designers, artists, planners, and civil society. From now until summer 2021 the Commission will conduct a broad participatory cocreation process and will then set up a network of five founding Bauhaus in 2022 in different EU countries.

Developing neighbourhood-based approaches for local communities to integrate renewable and digital solutions and create zero-energy districts, where consumers become prosumers selling energy to the grid. The strategy also includes an Affordable Housing Initiative for 100 districts. The review of the Renewable Energy Directive in June 2021 strengthened the renewable heating and cooling target and introduced a minimum renewable energy level in buildings of 49% by 2030. The Commission will also examine how the EU budget resources alongside the EU

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Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) revenues could be used to fund national energy efficiency and savings schemes targeting lower income populations. The Ecodesign Framework will be further developed to provide efficient products for use in buildings and promote their use.

Retrofitting for energy efficient homes and buildings A total of 18,400 home retrofits were completed in 2020. However, just 4,000 were to a B2 standard and 1,600 installed a heat pump. An increase in the depth and volume of retrofits is required as well as the number of heat pumps installed in order to deliver the required emissions reductions. The Programme for Government 2020 committed to deliver a National Aggregated Model of Retrofitting reaching over 500,000 homes by 2030, as part of the EU Renovation Wave. The National Retrofit Plan, which was published as part of Climate Action Plan 2021, sets out how the government will deliver on the retrofit targets. The Plan is designed to address barriers to retrofit across four key pillars: driving demand and activity; financing and funding; supply chain, skills, and standards; and governance. Retrofitting is a process by which a more advanced technology is retrospectively fitted following initial construction. For instance, in a home this might relate to heating systems, insulation or window glazing. The main objectives of retrofitting are often climate orientated, making dwelling more sustainable and efficient by reducing carbon emissions as well as cost. Simultaneously, retrofitting can contribute to health outcomes for occupants, reducing poor ventilation, draughty rooms, and damp. Retrofitting represents the built environment’s contribution to climate action and the National Retrofitting Plan is also a component of the National Economic Plan. Among the stated objectives of the plan, which include warmer buildings, energy efficiency and emissions reduction, retrofitting is intended to act as a “crucial economic stimulus”. The four commitments contained in the National Retrofit Plan are: •

the development of a new area-based and one-stopshop approach to retrofitting to upgrade at least 500,000 homes to a B2 energy rating by 2030;

•

the grouping together of homes to lower cost, starting in the midlands (where fossil fuel dependency is highest);

•

the leveraging of smart finance (including through European Investment Bank); and

•

the development of easy pay back mechanisms (i.e. through utility bills).

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The actions listed to support the delivery of this ambition include:

expanding the size and capacity of the supply chain, as well as making retrofits more affordable.

•

designating a national retrofitting delivery body by the end of 2020, (established in October 2020 as the National Retrofit Office);

The key measures include:

•

utilising resources from the National Recovery Fund to immediately finance local authority retrofit programmes and to offer grants to owners of private properties (initially focused on the midlands);

•

commencing pilot schemes in early 2021;

•

amending the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme to boost the supply of retrofits; and

•

increasing the number of homes and businesses with Building Energy Ratings (BER) and Display Energy Certificates (DEC).

Additional commitments noted in the Programme include examining the development of “green mortgages and financial products” to help facilitate retrofitting, undertaking a programme to install heat pumps “in homes that are already suitable for the technology, as part of our plan to install 600,000 heat pumps by 2030” and work with tenants and landlords to minimise disruption caused by retrofitting. It is intended that the National Retrofitting Plan will stimulate a tenfold increase in the size of the existing retrofit industry, providing opportunities for SMEs, while instilling confidence for the establishment of supply chains, training, and investment. “We will make Ireland a leader in retrofitting by developing innovative ways in which to roll out retrofitting by lowering the cost and improving efficiency and productivity,” the Programme states. The National Retrofit Plan commits to the establishment of a cross-departmental steering group, chaired by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This Group will be established in Q1 2022 and will oversee and monitor progress against national targets and develop new initiatives as required.

National Retrofitting Scheme On 8 February 2022, Government approved a package of supports to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier, and more comfortable homes, with lower energy bills. The measures address barriers to undertaking energy upgrades (retrofits) reported by homeowners and those working in the industry. They also reflect the step-change needed – in pace and scale of delivery – to achieve our target of 500,000 home energy upgrades, to B2 Building Energy Rating (BER) standard, by 2030. The changes represent an important step in delivery of the National Retrofit Plan, which identifies a range of measures aimed at driving demand for retrofit,

•

a new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme providing increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical deep retrofit to a B2 BER standard (up from 30%-35% grants currently);

•

One Stop Shops to offer a hassle-free, start-to-finish project management service, including access to financing, for home energy upgrades;

•

a significant increase in the number of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty (400 per month – up from an average of 177 per month in 2021);

•

a special enhanced grant rate, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation for all households, to urgently reduce energy use as part of the government’s response to current exceptionally high energy prices; and

•

an Exchequer investment of €8 billion to 2030 will enable the supply chain to scale up, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and delivering on this critical national objective.

The Schemes will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The increased grant supports and the significant ramping up of free energy upgrades for those at risk of energy poverty is supported by ring-fenced funds from the carbon tax. New Home Energy Upgrade Scheme — to transform your home The new National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme offers increased grant levels of up to 50% of the cost of a typical B2 home energy upgrade with a heat pump (up from the current level of 30-35%). The scheme introduces a hassle-free way to undertake home energy upgrades with One-Stop-Shops providing an end-to-end service for homeowners. This includes surveying the home; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors to deliver the work; and quality assuring the work. Homes owned by private homeowners, non-corporate landlords and Approved Housing Bodies are eligible for the scheme. This provides an unprecedented opportunity for people all over Ireland to upgrade to a warmer, healthier, and more comfortable home, with lower energy bills. Increased grant rates and supports for step-by-step home upgrades Grant supports (under the Better Energy Homes Scheme) for homeowners that want to take a step-by-step approach to upgrading their homes have also been

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significantly increased. For instance, the grant for heat pumps has increased from €3,500 to €6,500 and the rate for external wall insulation has increased from €6,000 to €8,000 for a detached house. These figures specifically relate to grant amounts for this step-by-step approach. Free home energy upgrade: Protecting people at most risk of energy poverty The Warmer Homes Scheme offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty. Since 2000, over 143,000 free upgrades have been supported by the scheme. A budget allocation of €109 million has been provided for this scheme this year. This will support an increase in the number of free home upgrades, from an average of 177 per month in 2021 to 400 per month this year, helping to reduce waiting times. The scheme will also target the worst performing properties, by prioritising homes that were built and occupied before 1993 and have a pre-works BER of E, F or G. Existing applications will not be affected by this change. For the first time, applications will be accepted from qualifying homeowners who previously received supports under the scheme, but who could still benefit from even deeper measures. The scheme eligibility criteria will also be extended to include those in receipt of the Disability Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years. Grants, equivalent to 80% of the typical cost, for attic and cavity wall insulation Grants for cavity wall and attic insulation will more than triple, as part of the Government’s response to the current exceptionally high energy prices. For instance, in the case of a semi-detached home, the attic insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,300 and the cavity wall insulation grant will increase from €400 to €1,200. These are highly cost-effective upgrade measures that can be deployed rapidly and at scale this year. It is expected that these works will pay back in 1-2 years in most houses. The new grant rates will cover approximately 80% of the typical cost of these measures and will be available to all homeowners. Long-term funding commitment: Providing certainty for the home energy upgrade sector Retrofitting our housing stock is a key element of the Government’s plans for economic growth and development. The unprecedented €8 billion of National Development Plan funding (including €5 billion in carbon tax revenues) available to support residential upgrades (to 2030) will stimulate the creation of high-quality jobs throughout the country. It will also have a significant multiplier effect, supporting the development of associated supply chains. This will help to support a just transition to a carbon neutral society.

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A total of €267 million (of which €202 million is carbon tax receipts) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. This investment will support almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2 (a near doubling of B2 output over 2021) and 4,800 free energy upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty. In addition, €85 million funding has been provided by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for the Local Authority Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme. This investment is targeted to deliver 2,400 B2 (or equivalent cost optimal) upgrades this year. Of the total Government retrofit budget of €352 million, €203 million (58%) will be spent on dedicated energy poverty schemes and local authority retrofits. Community schemes: Improving buildings across the country Under the Community Energy Grant Scheme, grants are available for public, commercial and community buildings. These include buildings within housing associations and local authorities; rental properties; and buildings belonging to public sector organisations. The total budget for this scheme will be €43 million in 2022 (of which approximately €15 million will relate to home retrofits). Grants of up to 80% are available under this scheme – for private, energy-poor homeowners. National climate action goals The suite of home energy upgrade programmes announced in February 2022 will be central to the achievement of Ireland’s broader climate targets. The Climate Action Plan 2021 set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the residential sector – from 7 Mt CO2 eq. in 2018 to between 3.5-4.5 Mt CO2 eq. in 2030. Today’s announcement is a key step on this journey. An evidence-informed approach will continually inform the scheme design over time, ensuring that the best supports are in place to support homes across Ireland to be more energy efficient and, ultimately, to decarbonise.

Energy use in buildings Energy use in buildings varies with type, function, and occupancy. The areas for saving energy include: Building fabric The building fabric plays a major role in regulating the indoor environment. Building fabric improvements include: •

draught stripping windows and doors;

•

installation of cavity wall insulation or, where cavities do not exist, internal or external insulation;

•

upgrading windows and doors; and

•

fitting automatic closers and door curtains.

Sustainable energy use and demand Heating In many buildings energy for space and hot water heating accounts for 65% of the total final energy consumed. Some suggestions to improve efficiency include: •

monitoring and record the performance of the heating system;

•

measuring boiler combustion efficiency;

•

insulating valves, flanges, and pipe work;

•

checking that controls are set operating correctly;

•

installing timers on hot water heaters.

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How heat pump systems work Heat-pumps are electrical devices which convert energy from the air outside of a home into useful heat, in the same way a fridge extracts heat from its inside. In well insulated houses they are very economical to run. They are an extremely efficient alternative to oil, gas, solid fuel, and electric home heating systems. Different types of heat pump systems draw heat from different sources: air, water or the ground. Heat generated is released via radiators, underfloor heating, or warm air. All heat pump systems, excluding those providing warm air to the home, can supply all of the hot water needed for baths, showers and sinks.

Lighting Lighting can account for up to 20% of total energy use in buildings. The benefits of energy effective lighting include reduced running and maintenance costs, enhanced working environment and improved security and safety. Modern energy effective lighting lamps, luminaires and controls can often reduce energy consumption by up to 40% while improving the quality and quantity of light delivered.

Heat pump system types

Ventilation and air conditioning A correctly designed ventilation and air conditioning system is essential for effective building performance. Savings up to 20% can be achieved by low-cost measures including removing barriers to air movement, using fans to redistribute high level heat and educating occupants on how the building is designed to work.

Ground source A ground-source heat pump system uses the earth as a source of renewable heat. Heat is removed from the ground through collector pipework and then transferred to the heat pump. The ground collector can be laid out horizontally at a shallow depth below the surface or else vertically to a greater depth.

Benchmarking To calculate a building’s energy use, divide the amount of energy used annually by the floor area. This gives a performance figure in kilowatt-hours per square metre. It is useful to have separate figures for electricity and thermal energy use. This figure can then be compared to standard benchmark figures.

Water source Water source heat pump systems use open water, such as lakes, rivers or streams, as a heat source. Heat is removed from the water through collector pipework and then transferred to the heat pump.

Heat pump systems Heat pump systems extract naturally occurring, renewable heat and upgrade it to a temperature at which it can be used for heating or cooling loads. Heat pumps use some electricity to operate, usually between 25% and 40% of the heat output, which means that efficiencies of 250% to 400% can be achieved. This equates to four units of heat are delivered for every unit of electricity used. Properly designed and installed heat pumps are cheaper, and have lower emissions, than fossil fuel or electric heating. Compared to other renewable heat solutions such as biomass, they also offer advantages such as significantly lower maintenance requirements and freedom from delivery charges. Correct preparation at the design, installation, and operational stages, helps to ensure that a heat pump system is efficient and reliable, with optimised value for cost, and low emissions. The heat pump, the system to extract the renewable heat produced, and the heat distribution system must be designed and installed correctly.

Air source The most common heat pump systems extract heat from external air, typically using an outside unit. These heat pump systems do not require underground piping to source heat and so can be cheaper and easier to install compared to ground source heat pump systems. The most popular heat pumps are air to water heat pumps.

Heat pump system installers Absolutely Clever Heating Limited 3 Westgate Business Park Dungarvan Co Waterford X35 YN82 Tel: 058 23749 Web: www.ac-heating.ie Email: info@ac-heating.ie Alternative Heating and Cooling Ltd Unit 3, IDA Industrial Estate Baltimore Road, Skibbereen Co Cork Tel: 028 23701 Web: www.ahac.ie Email: info@ahac.ie

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Ashgrove Renewables Coolnahane Kanturk Co Cork Lo Call: 1890 626 626 Web: www.ashgrove.ie Email: info@ashgrove.eu DAIKIN 2004-4 Orchard Avenue Citywest, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 642 3430 Web: www.daikin.ie Email: heating@daikin.ie Firebird Heating Solutions Ltd Údarás Industrial Estate Baile Mhic Íre Co Cork P12 HK51 Tel: 026 45253 Web: www.firebird.ie Email: info@firebird.ie Shean, Forkhill Newry, BT35 9SY Tel: 028 3088 8330 Email: firebirdproducts@hotmail.co.uk Grant Engineering Ireland ULC Crinkle, Birr Co Offaly R42 D788 Tel: 057 912 0089 Web: www.grantengineering.ie Email: info@grantengineering.ie GT Phelan 24-25 Southern Cross Business Park Bray, Co Wicklow A98 H0A9 Tel: 01 286 4377 Web: www.gtphelan.ie Email: info@gtphelan.ie Joule Unit 407 Northwest Business Park Ballycoolin, Dublin 15 D11 HD36 Tel: 01 623 7080 Web: www.joule.ie Email: info@joule.ie Origen Energy Muirfield Drive Naas Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 419 1919 Web: www.origen.ie Email: energy@origen.ie

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Mitsubishi Electric Ireland Westgate Business Park Ballymount, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 419 8800 Web: mitsubishielectric.ie Email: sales.info@meir.mee.com Nilan Floor 1, HQ Tralee Abbey Street Tralee, Co Kerry V92 X6K5 Tel: 066 716 9587 Web: www.nilanireland.ie Email: info@nilan.ie Pipelife Ireland Limited White's Cross Cork, T23 T992 1B Damastown Way Mulhuddart Dublin 15, D15 NN0F Tel: 021 488 4700 Web: www.pipelife.com Email: ireland@pipelife.com Precision Heating Unit 504B Northwest Business Park, Phase 2 Mitchelstown Road, Ballycoolin Dublin 15, D15 W97V Tel: 01 809 1571 Web: www.precisionheating.ie Email: info@precisionheating.ie Waterford Stanley Ltd Unit 401-403 Waterford Industrial Estate Cork Road, Waterford X91 DR76 Tel: 051 302 300 Web: www.waterfordstanley.com Email: sales@waterfordstanley.com Unipipe Ireland 40 Southern Cross Business Park Boghail Road, Bray, Co Wicklow Tel: 01 286 4888 Web: www.unipipe.ie Email: info@unipipe.ie Unitherm Heating Systems Peamount Business Centre Newcastle, Co Dublin Tel: 01 610 9153 Web: www.unithermhs.ie Email: dublin@unithermhs.ie

Sustainable energy use and demand

Northern Ireland: Sustainable energy Responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland, including overall strategic responsibility for energy efficiency, rests with Department for the Economy as does statutory responsibility for energy efficiency in the community and voluntary sector. The Department for Communities is responsible for energy efficiency in the domestic sector, using the Northern Ireland Housing Executive as a delivery partner. In the industrial and commercial sectors, Northern Ireland’s unified economic development agency Invest NI has responsibility for energy. The Northern Ireland Energy Strategy published in 2021 sets out an ambition to deliver energy savings of 25% from buildings and industry by 2030. It also aims to ensure all new buildings are net zero ready by 2026/27. The Strategy aims to launch an area-based energy efficiency pilot scheme in 2022. It will support investment in improved energy efficiency measures in domestic buildings and inform the roll-out of a longer-term programme. It will also include access, where relevant, to low-carbon heating support. The Strategy will also deliver a new energy efficiency support scheme for Northern Ireland businesses.

Invest Northern Ireland Invest NI’s Sustainable Development team has a range of initiatives designed to help business get to grips with the new green economy. The team offer free advice and technical services to industry and commerce aimed at identifying solutions to specific energy related problems and encouraging the implementation of energy efficiency best practice. Invest Northern Ireland Energy and Resource Efficiency 1 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7EH Tel: 028 9069 8868 Email: ere@investni.com The Carbon Trust Unit 3, The Innovation Centre Northern Ireland Science Park Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT Tel: 028 9073 4384 Email: loans@carbontrust.com Energy Saving Trust (Northern Ireland) River House, 48 High Street Belfast, BT1 2BE Tel: 028 9244 9819 Web: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

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NEA Northern Ireland 1 College House Citylink Business Park Albert Street Belfast, BT12 4HQ Tel: 028 9023 9909 Web: www.nea.org.uk Email: northern.ireland@nea.org.uk Director: Patricia Austin

Local energy agencies The Association of Irish Energy Agencies (AIEA) was established in November 1998 to represent the interests of its members in both the north and south of Ireland. The Association presently consists of a network of energy agencies and recently welcomed a number of county councils with no energy agencies as members. The overall aim of the Association is to promote renewable energy and the rational use of energy, to improve the quality of the environment and to contribute to sustainable development. The Association has worked closely with government and relevant local authorities to support the establishment of new agencies. The Association of Irish Energy Agencies (AIEA) c/o Tipperary Energy Agency Erasmus Smith House Church Street, Cahir Co Tipperary Tel: 052 744 3090 Chair: Alex Hamilton Secretariat: Françoise Hickey, Tipperary Energy Agency 3 Counties Energy Agency Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre Burrell’s Hall St Kieran’s College Kilkenny R95 TP64 Tel: +353 (0)56 779 0856 Web: www.3cea.ie Email: admin@3cea.ie Manager: Paddy Phelan Bryson Energy Head Office Unit 2 Rivers Edge 13-15 Ravenhill Road Belfast, BT6 8DN Tel: +44 (0)28 9045 5008 Web: www.brysonenergy.org Contact: Nigel Brady CODEMA The Loft, 2-4 Crown Alley Temple Bar Dublin 2, D02 TK74 Tel: 01 707 9818 Web: www.codema.ie Email: codema@codema.ie Contact: Donna Gartland

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Sustainable energy use and demand

Cork City Energy Agency Room 236 City Hall Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 494 1508 Email: kevin.mcgill@corkcity.ie Contact: Kevin McGill Cork County Energy Agency Cork County Council, Energy Section Mallow Recycling Centre Quartertown Industrial Estate Mallow, Co Cork Tel: 022 43610 Email: jean.sayers@corkcoco.ie Contact: Jean Sayers Galway Energy Agency Limited City Hall, College Road, Galway Galway County Council Energy Programme County Buildings, Prospect Hill Galway Kerry County Council Áras an Chontae, Rathass Road Tralee, Co Kerry Tel: 066 718 3500 Email: Gerry O’Riordan Contact: goriordan@kerrycoco.ie Meath County Council Energy Unit – Transportation Section County Hall Railway Street Navan Co Meath Tel: 046 909 7000 Midlands Energy Agency Laois County Council County Hall JFL Avenue Portlaoise Tel: 057 867 4350 Email: sdempsey@laoiscoco.ie Contact: Suzanne Dempsey Tipperary Energy Agency Limited Erasmus Smith House, Church Street Cahir, E21 HP66, Co Tipperary Web: www.tippenergy.ie Tel: 052 744 3090 Email: info@tippenergy.ie Chief Executive Officer: Lisa Vaughan Waterford Energy Bureau Civic Offices Dungarvan Co Waterford Tel: 0761 102 020 Web: www.waterfordcouncil.ie Email: lfleming@waterfordcouncil.ie Contact: Liam Fleming

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County Council members of the AIEA Kildare County Council Tel: 045 980 200 Louth County Council Tel: 042 933 5457

Chapter 6 Transport and fuels European transport policy Irish energy and transport Private car activity HGV activity Low carbon transport: Reducing emissions Downstream petroleum overview The Irish oil market Petroleum prices Whitegate Refinery Oil security Downstream petroleum: Relevant government departments Petroleum retailing in Ireland Petroleum industry associations Fuel companies and retailers Renewable energy in transport Future fuels: Biofuels Alternative fuels: Hydrogen Electric vehicles Electric vehicles in Ireland EV charging infrastructure Electric vehicles in Northern Ireland Electric vehicles contacts Electric vehicles retailers

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Transport and fuels European transport energy policy

Low-Emission Mobility Strategy 2016

Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. In order to tackle climate change and air quality, and reduce energy use, governments and policy-makers have introduced a series of policies and measures to manage energy more efficiently, move towards less polluting fuels and to help mitigate the human impact on the environment.

The Commission's Low-Emission Mobility Strategy, adopted in July 2016, aims to ensure Europe stays competitive and able to respond to the increasing mobility needs of people and goods. Europe's answer to the emission reduction challenge in the transport sector is an irreversible shift to low-emission mobility. By midcentury, greenhouse gas emissions from transport will need to be at least 60% lower than in 1990 and be firmly on the path towards zero. Emissions of air pollutants from transport that harm our health need to be drastically reduced without delay.

The share of energy from renewable sources used for transport in the EU increased from under 2% in 2005 to almost 9% in 2019. Preliminary European Environment Agency data indicate that in 2020, this increased further to 10.1%. This suggests that collectively the EU countries reached the 10% target for share of energy from renewable sources in all forms of transport. However, EEA preliminary estimates show that this target was actually achieved by less than half of EU Member States.

European Green Deal 2020 The European Green Deal is the European Union’s blueprint to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. In her State of the Union address on 16 September 2020, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, presented the European Commission’s ambitious proposal to increase the 2030 target for emission reduction to at least 55%. Transport currently accounts for one-quarter of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. The European Green Deal seeks a 90% reduction in these emissions by 2050. Moving to more sustainable transport means putting users first and providing them with more affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner alternatives. A key objective is to boost the uptake of clean vehicles and alternative fuels. Achieving the ambitious climate goals also requires a shift to more sustainable transport modes such as rail and inland waterways.

The Strategy integrates a broader set of measures to support Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy and supports jobs, growth, investment and innovation. The Strategy will benefit European citizens and consumers by delivering improvements in air quality, reductions in noise levels, lower congestion levels and improved safety. Consumers will benefit from less-energy consuming cars, from better infrastructure for alternative fuels, better links between modes of transport and better safety and fewer delays thanks to the roll-out of digital technologies. The Strategy identifies three priority areas for action: • increasing the efficiency of the transport system by making the most of digital technologies, smart pricing and further encouraging the shift to lower emission transport modes; •

speeding up the deployment of low-emission alternative energy for transport, such as advanced biofuels, electricity, hydrogen and renewable synthetic fuels and removing obstacles to the electrification of transport; and

•

moving towards zero-emission vehicles. While further improvements to the internal combustion engine will be needed, Europe needs to accelerate the transition towards low and zero-emission vehicles.

Cities and local authorities will play a crucial role in delivering this strategy. They are already implementing incentives for low-emission alternative energies and vehicles, encouraging active travel (cycling and walking), public transport and bicycle- and car-sharing/pooling schemes to reduce congestion and pollution.

Emissions from cars Passenger cars and vans ('light commercial vehicles') are respectively responsible for around 12% and 2.5% of total EU emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main greenhouse gas. On 1 January 2020, Regulation (EU) 2019 entered into force, setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans. It replaced and repealed the former Regulations 2009 (cars) and (EU) 510/2011.

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Transport and fuels The Regulation sets EU fleet-wide CO2 emission targets applying from 2020, 2025 and 2030 and includes a mechanism to incentivise the uptake of zero- and lowemission vehicles. As the new target started applying in 2020, the average CO2 emissions from new passenger cars registered in Europe have decreased by 12% compared to the previous year and the share of electric cars tripled. On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted a series of legislative proposals setting out how it intends to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050 including the intermediate target of an at least 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The package proposes to revise several pieces of EU climate legislation, including the EU ETS, Effort Sharing Regulation, transport and land use legislation, setting out in real terms the ways in which the Commission intends to reach EU climate targets under the European Green Deal.

Clean Vehicles Directive 2019 The revised Clean Vehicles Directive promotes clean mobility solutions in public procurement tenders, providing a solid boost to the demand and further deployment of low and zero-emission vehicles. The new Directive defines clean vehicles and sets national targets for their public procurement. It applies to different means of public procurement, including purchase, lease, rent and relevant services contracts. The Directive applies to cars, vans, trucks and buses (excluding coaches), when they are procured through: • purchase, lease, rent or hire-purchase contracts under obligations by EU public procurement rules (Dir. 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU); •

public service contracts for the provision of passenger road transport services (Reg. 1370/2007); and

•

services contracts for public road transport services, special-purpose road passengertransport services, non-scheduled passenger transport, refuse collection services, mail and parcel transport and delivery. (Annex I of the Directive).

The Directive only applies to contracts whose awarding procedure started after 2 August 2021 (the end date for transposition). The revised Directive defines a clean vehicle as follows: • clean light-duty vehicle: any car or van meeting the following emission thresholds: o

until 31 December 2025: no more than 50g/km CO2 and up to 80% of applicable real driving emission (RDE) limits for NOx and PN;

o •

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from 1 January 2026: only zero-emission vehicles.

clean heavy-duty vehicle: any truck or bus using one of the following alternative fuels: hydrogen, battery electric (including plug-in hybrids), natural gas (both CNG and LNG, including biomethane), liquid biofuels, synthetic and paraffinic fuels, LPG.

European renewable energy and transport In 2009, the Renewable Energy Directive 2009 set the target for each Member State, whereby 10% of all energy used in transport should be from renewable sources by 2020. The RED also introduced sustainability criteria and, since 2011, only biofuels that comply with these criteria count towards the share. In 2019, 8.9% of the total energy used in transport in the EU was from renewable sources, following a steady increase in this share since 2005, when it was just under 2%. Preliminary EEA estimates suggest that this share further increased to 10.1% in 2020. This indicates that the 2020 target of 10% was reached at the EU level, although the uncertainty of preliminary estimates means that final statistics may reveal the target was narrowly missed or achieved by a higher margin. The increase was mainly the result of an expansion in the use of biofuels across Europe: between 2011 and 2019, energy used in transport that came from RED-compliant biofuels doubled. Meanwhile, the electrification of road and rail transport has played a small role in the progress made so far. In 2018, the RED recast strengthened the sustainability criteria for bioenergy and set a new goal for 2030, increasing the target for the share of renewable energy used in transport to 14% by 2030. The extent of progress varies among member states. According to EEA preliminary estimates, only 12 EU countries appear to have achieved the 2020 target of 10% (Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, and Ireland). Another two were very close (Germany and France). The uncertainty of the preliminary estimates means that the final statistics may reveal a different result in some countries. Sweden, which has the highest share of energy from renewable sources in transport, has ambitious targets for the transport sector and uses energy and carbon taxes to achieve these targets: a carbon tax on fuels has been in place since 1991 and exemptions and reductions apply for sustainable biofuels. In Norway, the use of renewable electricity in road transport has increased substantially as a result of policies that encourage electric mobility combined with the country’s essentially renewable electricity supply. However, renewable electricity constituted only around 3% of total energy used in transport in Norway in 2019.

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Fuels for Ireland Fuels for Ireland brings together liquid fuel providers and forecourt operators across Ireland. We represent Applegreen, Circle K, Corrib Oil, Emo, Inver Energy, Irving Oil, LCC, Maxol, Top Oil and Valero. Fuels for Ireland’s vision is to decarbonise our fuels and accelerate Ireland’s energy transition. Last year we launched our ambitious ‘Powering today and tomorrow’ strategy outlining out how our industry will transform the fuels we provide in order to become carbon neutral by 2050. We are immensely proud of the role that our members and their staff have played in fuelling Irish life, and the role they continue to play each and every day in powering Ireland. Our members provide the fuels which fulfil virtually all of Ireland’s transport energy needs, keeping us connected to the ones who matter most and connecting our island with the outside world, even in these challenging times. Almost 700,000 Irish homes are heated by oil-fired systems. For many homeowners, particularly those in rural areas, home heating oil remains the only viable option available to them: one that is both economical and efficient, simple and secure. Fuels for Ireland members are powering Ireland today and preparing the pathway for powering it tomorrow through innovation and determination. We are determined to continue to fuel Irish life to 2050 and far beyond but we know that fossil fuels cannot be the basis of Ireland's long-term energy plans, or the basis of our industry's long-term business strategy. That is why we published our vision for how our industry can become carbon neutral, and it is why our members are taking far-reaching steps to this aspiration a reality. Members of Fuels for Ireland, including family-owned Irish companies that have been in business for up to a century, are making massive investments in initiatives including: ●

the provision of EV charging on forecourts;

●

increasing supply of low carbon liquid fuels;

●

investigating the potential of green hydrogen for fuel-cell electric vehicles; and

●

processing used cooking oil that would otherwise be disposed of to use as fuel.

We are working hard to accelerate the pace of change. Indeed, thanks to Fuels of Ireland’s members, a recent report on service stations across Europe found that Ireland has the highest percentage of service stations with EV charging points on site. Irish forecourts are now four times more likely than their British counterparts to have EV charging facilities in place, meaning drivers of EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) can readily access the power they need. We know we can do far more, just as we know that the Government’s ambitious targets when it comes to EVs cannot be achieved unless the country can develop the world-class charging infrastructure we need to help convince drivers to make the switch. That is why we published our ‘Leading the Charge’ document this year, which sets out the progress which has been made

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by Irish service stations while outlining the steps which can be taken to accelerate the transition to electric options which is taking place. Climate targets are not enough without real action to achieve them, which alludes to this without being too critical. What we need from the Government is a technology neutral, results focused approach which reduces Ireland’s carbon emissions from the transport, home heating, aviation and maritime sectors. Performance must be judged on results not aspirations, and we need to consider all the steps which could be taken to bring this change about. Electricity alone will not meet all Ireland’s transportation needs so our members have been changing the petrol and diesel we sell by adding zero-carbon biofuels that are already preventing 330,000 tonnes of carbon being emitted each year. In the home heating sector, industry personnel are carrying out around 20,000 boiler upgrades each year to boost efficiency and slash emissions, and we firmly believe that the same policy of incorporating biofuels and other low-carbon alternatives could help us to dramatically curb emissions within the sector. Ireland must become carbon neutral and reducing emissions from home heating will need to be a top priority. The State’s retrofitting programme will play a part but given the cost of deep retrofitting and the shortage of construction workers, the option of a heat pump is often out of reach for many. Clearly, additional solutions are needed. With this in mind, we have joined forces with leading operators in the home heating sector to establish the Alliance for Zero Carbon Heating. We are committed to continuing to provide effective home heating options for Irish households, while at the same time dramatically slashing emissions through the introduction of innovative new bioliquid blends and low carbon fuels. As we look to the years ahead, we will continue to ensure our customers and our industry play a leading role in accelerating Ireland’s journey towards carbon neutrality, while ensuring the kids get to school, homes are heated, food makes it to the supermarket shelf and families can go on holidays today. Across all areas, Fuels for Ireland members are innovating. We are embracing technology and we are determined to make our industry and to enable our customers to be carbon neutral. We are changing the way we deliver our products. That change is an important lesson in the evolution of our business. But one thing that will never change is our members’ commitment to fuelling Ireland’s future and meeting our customers’ needs: today, tomorrow and long into the future.

Kevin McPartlan CEO Fuels for Ireland

Chapter 6

Transport and fuels

Irish energy and transport Transport, and in particular car driving, has a number of negative environmental impacts. It is a major contributor to emissions of greenhouse gases, leading to climate change. Transport also consumes vast quantities of energy in the form of petrol or diesel. These fuels are expensive imports, accompanied by their own environmental impacts in extraction, refining and shipping. Current transport patterns have significant negative effects on quality of life in towns and cities, through smoke, noise, stress and many other effects. Transport is often the largest source of final energy demand in Ireland. However, in 2020 it was the second largest — accounting for 34% of final energy demand and reducing by 26%. The transport sector remains Ireland's largest end-user of energy. In 2020 it accounted for 34% (3,875 ktoe) of total final energy consumption. This was down considerably from 42% (5,235 ktoe) in 2019, due to the impact of public health measures that limited national and international travel. The public health measures taken to combat the Covid19 pandemic had far reaching impacts on all aspects of society during 2020, including on our energy use and resulting CO2 emissions. Total energy use and energy related CO2 emissions experienced the largest reduction since 2009, with most of the reduction happening in transport. However early data for 2021 shows that energy use and related CO2 emissions in most transport sectors had already rebounded back to pre-Covid-19 levels by the middle of 2021.

Overall, final energy use in the transport mode dropped by 26% in 2020 (a reduction of 1,360 ktoe from 2019). All surface transport sub-sectors experienced a reduction: HGVs, light goods vehicles (LGVs), private cars, public passenger (buses, taxis, and coaches), rail, and fuel tourism. In 2020, private car energy use remained the transport sub-sector with the greatest energy use (42% of all transport). Energy use in private cars has been relatively constant for the last decade at an average of 2,100 ktoe, but this changed in 2020, when energy use for private cars dropped by 21.4% to 1,634 ktoe. This reduction is mostly due to the impact of public health measures on limiting travel during the pandemic and resulted in the lowest energy use in private cars for almost 20 years (1,642 ktoe in 2001). From 2013 to 2019, the second largest transport sub-sector was aviation, reaching a historic peak (1,116 ktoe) in 2019 just prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Final energy use in the aviation sub-sector fell by 64.1% in 2020 (to 398 ktoe), taking it below the HGV sub-sector demand for the first time since 2012. Fuel tourism (the purchasing of motor fuel in one country with lower costs, for consumption in another region) also reduced substantially in 2020, falling by 67.2% (from 245 ktoe to 80 ktoe). This is again likely due to the impact of public health measures on limiting regional and international travel during the pandemic. Table 6.1 shows the final energy use in the transport mode broken-out by fuel type. In 2020, every single fueltype in the transport mode saw a reduction against its 2019 values, with an overall reduction in final energy use of 26.0% in transport. Diesel remained by the largest fueltype with a share of 70%, followed by petrol (15%) and jet kerosene (10%). Most of the reduction in transport fuel

Table 6.1 Growth rates, quantities and shares of final consumption in transport

2020

2005

2005-2020

Quantity (ktoe)

Share (%)

Quantity (ktoe)

Share (%)

Overall change (%)

Diesel

2,700

70%

2,378

47%

13.50%

Petrol

578

15%

1,822

36%

-68.30%

Jet kerosene

398

10%

857

17%

-53.60%

Fuel oil

-100.00%

LPG

-17.70%

155

14127.00%

615.40%

3,867

100%

5,079

100%

-23.90%

Liquid biofuels Natural gas Total

Source: SEAI 2021

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Transport and fuels use in 2020 was in diesel and jet kerosene, which fell by 13.6% and 64.3% respectively. One significant long-term trend is the year-on-year reduction in petrol use since 2007, which continued into 2020. This has been mostly driven by a sustained switch from petrol to diesel vehicles. Liquid biofuels accounted for 4% of final energy demand in the transport mode in 2020. Although they saw a small drop from 2019 levels (162 ktoe to 155 ktoe), their use in transport has approximately tripled since 2012 (56 ktoe) as a long-term trend.

Transport energy by fuel Transport energy use remains dominated by fossil fuels, which accounted for over 95% of transport energy use in 2020. Fuel consumption in transport is often closely aligned to the mode of transport used: jet kerosene is used for air transport, fuel oil for shipping and petrol and LPG are almost exclusively used for road transport. Diesel consumption is used for road transport, navigation and rail. Table 6.2 shows the trends in transport’s final energy use split by fuel type between 2005 and 2020. The most important point to note is that transport remains almost completely dependent on fossil fuels, particularly oil products. This lack of fuel diversity is unique amongst the energy using sectors. Renewables made up just 4.5% of transport energy use in 2020, up from 3.6% in 2019.

Electricity remains a very small share of transport energy use, just 0.2% in 2020. This is now about evenly split between electric rail (DART and Luas) and electric private cars. This has meant that there has been very little decarbonisation of the transport fuel mix to date, with transport CO2 emissions remaining tightly coupled to energy use. In 2019 transport CO2 emissions were the same as they had been in 2005. There was a clear shift from petrol to diesel over the time period, due to the switch to diesel private cars that was accelerated by the changes to the private car tax system from 2008 onwards.

Private car activity The total number of vehicle-kilometres travelled declined following the economic crash (during 2009 and 2010) but returned to growth soon after, in 2011. Between 2011 and 2015 total vehicle-kilometres increased by 13.6%, or 2.6% per annum. Between 2015 and 2019 this growth levelled off. In 2020, total kilometres travelled by petrol and diesel private cars decreased by 20%. There was a clear shift from petrol to diesel cars in this period. This was already underway prior to the changes in motor taxation in 2008 but accelerated sharply after that. Overall travel by petrol cars reduced by 55% between the peak in 2007 and 2019. Travel by diesel cars increased by 219% over the same period. In 2007, 75% of total private car mileage was fuelled by petrol and 25% by diesel. In 2020, petrol accounted for 28% and diesel for 72%.

Table 6.2 Growth rates, quantities and shares of transport final energy demand by mode

2020

2005

2005-2020

Quantity (ktoe)

Share (%)

Quantity (ktoe)

Share (%)

Overall change (%)

Heavy Goods Vehicles

724

19%

1,112

22%

-34.90%

Light Goods Vehicles

301

1,634

42%

1,891

37%

-13.60%

117

157

-25.40%

Rail

-20.30%

Fuel tourism

387

-79.20%

Navigation

104

109.20%

Aviation

398

10%

859

17%

-53.60%

Pipeline

588.70%

461

12%

581

11%

-20.60%

3,867

100%

5,079

100%

-23.90%

Private car Public passenger

Unspecified Total

Source: SEAI

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Standardised testing procedures are known to underestimate the fuel use and CO2 emissions of cars, compared to typical real world driving conditions. The difference between the test emissions and the emissions produced in real-world driving conditions is referred to as the on-road factor, or the performance gap. A number of reports by the International Council on Clean Transportation highlighted that the performance gap between test results and real-world driving increased dramatically after 2008, and that the real-world fuel consumption and carbon emissions of new vehicles are increasingly higher than the reported values under standardised testing procedures. Since 2008, the combined effect of the EU legislation obligating manufacturers to reduce average fleet emissions and the changes to the Irish taxation system for private cars has been to shift new car purchases from higher to lower CO2 emissions bands, and to reduce the average specific CO2 emissions of new cars. After 2016 this trend reversed and the weighted average specific CO2 emissions increased, due in part to the increasing popularity of larger SUV style cars. In 2020 the specific CO2 emissions decreased by 6% to 111.0 gCO2 /km, due to a higher share of plug-inhybrid and petrol electric vehicles.

Heavy Goods Vehicle activity Although HGV activity was less affected by Covid-19 travel restrictions than private cars or aviation, the amount of tonne km still fell by 8.2% in 2020. This was nearly twice the reduction seen total economic activity, as measured by modified domestic demand. HGVs were

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Figure 6.1 Share of energy related CO2 by mode 2020 (%) Electricity

Transport

Heat

25.3 40.8

33.8

Source: SEAI

Transport and fuels responsible for the largest share of the decrease in transport sector energy demand between 2007 and 2013. This was primarily the result of reduced activity in the sector, which contracted more sharply than economic growth after the economic crisis of 2008. By 2013 HGV activity was down 51% compared to the peak in 2007. It returned to growth from 2014 but by 2019 it remained 34% below the 2007 level and fell to 39% below the 2007 level in 2020.

Programme for Government 2020 The Programme for Government set out these aims in relation to transport: •

accelerating the electrification of the transport system, including electric bikes, electric vehicles, and electric public transport, alongside a ban on new registrations of petrol and diesel cars from 2030;

•

ensuring an unprecedented modal shift in all areas by a reorientation of investment to walking, cycling and public transport.

To achieve reduction targets, the Programme for Government 2020 committed to significantly decarbonise Ireland’s transport fleet, with a particular focus on cars and light goods vehicles. Measures include: • use a range of policy approaches to incentivise use of electric vehicles (EVs) and encourage a shift away from petrol/diesel vehicles;

•

legislate to ban the registration of new fossil-fuelled cars and light vehicles from 2030 onwards and phase out diesel and petrol cars from Irish cities from 2030;

•

review the current motor taxation regime to ensure that it adequately captures the harm caused by NOx (nitrogen oxide) and SOx (sulphur oxide) emissions. This will only apply to newly registered vehicles;

•

publish an EV strategy to ensure that charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand and provide planning guidance to local authorities;

•

publish a public procurement framework for EVs. By at least 2025, public sector bodies will only be allowed to purchase low or no-emissions cars and light goods vehicles;

•

require that all new urban buses be electric hybrid or electric; and

•

legislate for e-scooters and e-bikes.

Climate Action Plan 2019 The Climate Action Plan looks to reduce Ireland’s emissions. It features aim for sustainable energy use in transport:

SERVICES: •

SPECIALIZED PROJECT CARGO

•

POWER GENERATION FREIGHT SOLUTIONS

•

RENEWABLE & WIND ENERGY FREIGHT SOLUTIONS

•

HEAVY LIFT FREIGHT AND OOG TRANSPORT

•

DRY BULK TRANSPORT / SPECIALIST OWNED FLEET

•

PORT OPERATIONS •

STEVEDORES/PORT OPERATORS

•

SHIPS AGENCY AND BOATMEN SERVICES

•

OVERSIZED CARGO & HANDLING SOLUTIONS

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Chapter 6

Transport and fuels

Transport •

accelerate the take up of EV cars and vans so that 100% of all new cars and vans are EVs by 2030. This will enable achieving the target of 950,000 EVs on the road by 2030. This means approximately one third of all vehicles sold during the decade will be Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) or Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV);

•

make growth less transport intensive through better planning, remote and home-working and modal shift to public transport;

•

increase the renewable biofuel content of motor fuels; and

•

set targets for the conversion of public transport fleets to zero carbon alternatives.

To support energy efficient and renewable transport, the 2015 White Paper committed to developing a national framework to support the development of infrastructure for alternative transport fuels. The following actions were set to: • better align land use and transport planning i.e. smarter travel programmes; •

support the adoption of zero and low carbon tail pipe emission vehicles;

•

examine economic potential for biogas development;

•

introduce measures for lower emitting public service passenger cars;

•

establish a new green bus fund;

•

improve rail network efficiency and support further electrification;

•

examine additional transport energy efficiency measures leading to 2030; and

•

support sustainable biofuels through increases to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme.

Low Emissions Vehicles Taskforce In December 2016, DECC and the Department of Transport, with the support of the Department of the Taoiseach, established a Taskforce to consider the range of measures and options available to government for the purpose of accelerating the deployment of low carbon vehicles in the transport sector. The role of the Taskforce was to examine and make recommendations on a range of potential stimuli, such as grants, tax incentives, tolls and parking. Other issues such as infrastructure, legislation and public leadership were also part of the work programme.

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The work programme of the Taskforce was divided into two distinct phases. The first phase focused exclusively on electric vehicles (EVs), specifically battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). A progress report was published in September 2018. The second phase of the Taskforce’s work programme focused on other low emission vehicle types such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied natural gas (LNG), biogas and hydrogen. It also examined planning legislation and building regulations for all low emission vehicles – including the potential for the planning system to put in place requirements for the provision for electric vehicle charging. This phase has completed its work and the progress report was published in November 2019.

Tackling transport emissions crucial for Ireland To tackle climate change, EU countries have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the non-ETS sector in each country. When looking at the non-ETS sector we exclude greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and large companies, as these are counted under the Emissions Trading System. About half of non-ETS emissions are from agriculture and the other half are energy related. Looking at the energy-related Non-ETS CO2 emissions, these are dominated by transport, which was responsible for 51% in 2020, despite the large drop in transport emissions due to Covid-19 restrictions. The next biggest share was residential at 35%. Because most industry is under the ETS, industry made up just 2% of energyrelated non-ETS CO2 emissions. For Ireland to reduce our non-ETS emissions and meet our targets for 2030, we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from transport and homes, as well as agriculture. We can also look at energy-related CO2 emissions split into the three main modes of energy: electricity, heat and transport. In 2020, heat rose to the largest share of energy-related CO2 emissions at 41%. Transport had caused most CO2 emissions every year from 2013 to 2019 but fell by 26% in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this dramatic reduction, it still made up 34% of energy related CO2 emissions. Electricity emissions fell by 6% in 2020, because peatfired generation fell and wind generation rose. Electricity was responsible for 25% of energy-related CO2 emissions.

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Transport and fuels

Downstream petroleum overview Downstream petroleum commonly refers to the refining of crude oil and the selling and distribution of natural gas and crude oil derived products. Oil products, according to the IEA, are any oil-based products that can be obtained by distillation and are normally used outside the refining industry (with the exception of refinery feedstocks). These include aviation gasoline, fuel oil, gas/diesel oil, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), motor gasoline and petroleum coke. Oil is the largest proportion of the world’s fuel supply and remains highly important. The most influential organisation in the petroleum sector is the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which consists of 15 oil producing countries. It aims to coordinate petroleum policies of members, which in turn has a major impact on world oil prices.

During the 2000s oil prices spiked. The price of a barrel of crude oil (inflation-adjusted) went from under $25 a barrel to $147.30 a barrel in 2008. Since the end of 2014/beginning of 2015, oil prices have decreased sharply. In January 2016, the price of crude oil fell to $27.67 per barrel, the lowest price it has been in the past eight years. The price increased to $53.59 in December 2016. In January 2022 the average price per barrel was $87.98, but rose as high as $139 per barrel in March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Irish oil market Ireland has no indigenous oil production but oil remains vital to meeting the country’s energy needs. This dependence on oil is due largely to increased energy use in transport. Oil consumption peaked at 60% in 1999, falling to 47% in 2014, the same level as in 1990. Oil however continues to dominate as a fuel, accounting for 45% of the total energy use in 2020.

Table 6.3 Shares of total world primary energy supply by fuel 2020 Fuel Oil Coal Gas Hydro Nuclear Renewables Total

Exajoules 174.20 151.42 137.62 38.16 23.98 31.71 557.10 Source: BP

Table 6.3 shows how oil is positioned in the total world primary energy supply. Oil is mostly consumed in Asia Pacific and North America. Together, these regions account for 60% of global consumption.

Table 6.4 Shares of EU oil dependency by sector (%) Sector Energy Non-energy use Industry Transport Commercial Fishing Agri/Forestry

1990 44.2 82.2 17.5 97.5 24.6 99.7 59.9

2019 37.0 81.3 9.9 91.5 7.9 90.9 55.3

Source: Eurostat

Table 6.4 shows how the use of EU oil dependency has changed. Transport, residential, fishing, agriculture and services have all decreased their oil dependency. Nonenergy use has increased by 1% and energy use has decreased from 44.2% in 1990 to 37.0% in 2019.

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Table 6.5 Volumes of oil consumption in litres 2021 Gasoline Biofuel in Gasoline Kerosene Gas oil 1000 PPM Gas oil 10 PPM Motor Diesel Biofuel in motor diesel Fuel oil Bio-LPG Other biofuels Total

776,884,022 40,144,577 1,117,628,604 39,722,076 922,271,784 3,126,046,258 193,646,011 25,019,788 4,248,456 9,136,881 6,254,748,457

Source: NORA

Petroleum prices Crude oil is a commodity traded on international markets and from it a whole variety of products are refined including petrol, diesel, heating oil and jet fuel. The producers of crude oil range from national states, most of whom operate within OPEC, to small independent production companies. Crude oil prices are dependent on market forces – principally supply and demand, which can reflect such issues as the producing countries’ income needs, global growth patterns etc. The individual companies in the Irish petroleum industry buy refined products and the cost of supply to Ireland is driven by the cost in dollars per tonne of refined products traded out of Rotterdam. The cost of basic product on the international market constitutes less than half of the price paid ultimately by the customer at the filling station. The difference is predominantly taxation.

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Table 6.6 Tax per litre auto diesel and unleaded petrol January 2022 Total tax content (cent) 84.96 95.58

Diesel Petrol

Tax percentage price (%) 51.15 55.61

Source: AA Ireland

Traditionally diesel in Ireland has been slightly cheaper than petrol in the forecourts because the customs duty rates on diesel were lower than on petrol though international prices for both were within the same range. The oil market is served by a number of major companies, both multi-national and domestic independents. Following the rise in fuel prices caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, temporary cuts to the excise duty on petrol, diesel and marked gas oil were announced in March 2022; these cuts were 20%, 15% and 2% respectively. Scheduled to remain in place until 31 August 2022, they are expected to reduce the 60-litre price of petrol by €12 and diesel by €9.

Carbon tax In 2010 a carbon tax was introduced in Ireland. The carbon tax applies to kerosene, marked gas oil, liquid petroleum gas, fuel oil, natural gas and solid fuels. The rate of carbon tax from 1 May 2013 to 1 May 2014 was based on a charge of €10 per tonne of CO2 emitted by the fuel concerned. The rate increased to €20 per tonne with effect from 1 May 2014. The Finance Act 2020 provided for annual increases in carbon tax of €7.50 per tonne, up to 2030. It was announced in Budget 2021 that the carbon tax on fuel will increase by €7.50 from €26 per tonne of carbon produced to €33.50 per tonne. The increase was applied to auto fuels from 13 October 2020 and solid fuels from May 2021. A further increase of €7.50 was announced in Budget 2022, increasing from €33.50 to €41.00 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted. The increase applies from 13 October 2021 for auto fuels and 1 May 2022 for all other fuels.

Whitegate Refinery Ireland has one refinery located at Whitegate, Co Cork, which was bought in August 2016 by Irving Oil. Whitegate processes light, low-sulphur crude oil, sourced from the North Sea and West Africa. The facility produces transportation and heating fuels such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene that are then distributed across Ireland and Europe. Since it opened in 1959, Ireland’s only crude oil refinery has played a critical role in the country’s energy infrastructure. The Whitegate refinery supplies up to 40% of Ireland’s fuel needs. The remaining requirements are met by importing products from sources abroad, mostly from the UK. Oil products are distributed within Ireland by road from a number of sea-bed terminals located at various ports. Irving Oil said it plans to continue full operation of the refinery.

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The Whitegate refinery was acquired by the Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) on behalf of the Irish Government in 1982 when its shareholders (Esso, Texaco, Shell and BP) decided to permanently cease refining there. The INPC also acquired the Bantry oil terminal in 1986 when the lease was surrendered by its previous owners, Chevron. Government involvement with the INPC in operational aspects of the oil industry ceased with the sale of the Whitegate refinery, the Whiddy island oil terminal and the INPC associated businesses to the Tosco Corporation in July 2001. Following a series of subsequent mergers the facilities were in the ownership of Phillips 66 (formerly ConocoPhillips) until the sale to Irving Oil and continue to operate as an integral part of the Irish oil market.

Table 6.7 Whitegate Refinery: Capacity Crude capacity (barrels per day) Gasoline capacity (barrels per day) Distillate capacity (barrels per day)

75,000 20,000 30,000

Source: Irving Oil

Oil security Stocks owned by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) are stored in oil storage facilities in Ireland and in other EU Member States with whom Ireland has concluded a Bi-lateral Oil Stockholding Agreement. Currently, NORA holds c.73% of its total oil stocks in Ireland, and the balance abroad. NORA currently stores a range of oil products – petrol, diesel, gas oil, kerosene, and jet fuel in oil storage facilities located in key ports in Ireland. Stocks are currently held in oil storage facilities in Dublin, Cork (Whitegate Refinery), Whiddy Island, Foynes, Tarbert, Galway, Derry, and Kilroot. Stocks held abroad are held in key locations in the UK, Denmark, Holland and Spain. In 2020, 45% of Ireland’s final energy demand was met by oil. It is all imported. The Government is obliged to maintain 90 days of reserves of national strategic stocks. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications determines the volumes of oil stocks NORA is to hold on an annual basis. The minimum level of stock to be held by NORA for 2021 was 1,416,340 tonnes of refined product, and 70,000 tonnes of crude oil. NORA also oversees the Biofuel Obligation Scheme which is detailed later in the chapter.

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Downstream petroleum: Relevant government departments Government responsibility in relation to the downstream sector rests with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in Dublin and with the Energy Division of the Department for the Economy in Belfast. Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin, D02 X285 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.gov.ie/decc Email: customer.service@decc.gov.ie Minister: Eamon Ryan TD NORA (National Oil Reserves Agency) Second Floor, Building Number 3 Number One, Ballsbridge 126 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4, D04 EP27 Tel: 01 676 9390 Web: www.nora.ie Email: enquiries@nora.ie Chief Executive: Frank Bergin Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) Netherleigh, Massey Avenue Belfast, BT4 2JP Tel: 028 9052 9900 Web: www.economy-ni.gov.uk Email: energy@economy-ni.gov.uk Minister: Gordon Lyons MLA

Oil refining in Ireland Irving Oil Whitegate Midleton Co Cork Tel: 021 462 2200

Petroleum retailing in Ireland Before 1991 the Irish Government had fixed the price of fuel and retailers enjoyed margins of over 10 pence per litre. In 2001, margins were reduced to less than half this figure with increasingly fierce competition between retailers. Many stations are now selling fuel as a loss leader in order to attract customers onto their forecourt. Indeed, much of the focus of the petroleum retailers is now on grocery, restaurants and other services, rather than gasoline sales.

Gasoline retailing is essentially a local market with prices set in a 10-mile radius. The market for diesel is not as ‘local’ in character, as the large haulage companies have forced a relatively uniform price throughout the country. Filling stations are a mix of company owned stations and those operated under franchise by independent retailers. With Government targets aiming to end the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and ambitious plans within the Climate Action Plan 2019 to have almost one million electric vehicles on the Irish roads by 2030, the traditional model of the filling station looks set to change. Stations have become more consumer focused in recent years and there will likely be a need to further adapt to electric and hydrogen vehicles in future. There has been no date set to end the sale of petrol or diesel, as by 2030 there will likely be many diesel and petrol cars still on the roads. Diesel and gasoline consumption increased by 11% between 2011 and 2018 (petrol decrease by 34% and diesel increased by 42%). Given the dispersed nature of Ireland’s population spending on fuels also varies by region and there is an urban-rural divide. Rural households spend 1.3% of their income on heating oils, 1.8% on petrol and 2.6% on diesel. Urban households spend 0.5% on heating oils, 1.5% on petrol and 1.1% on diesel. The amount of petrol consumed in Ireland reduced by almost 59% between 2007 and 2019 because of the shift to diesel cars. The increase in diesel use for private cars was mostly offset by lower diesel use in freight. Diesel use was 13% higher in 2019 than 2007. During the first year of the pandemic in 2020, both petrol and diesel use fell compared to 2019. Petrol's fall was a dramatic 26%, while diesel's fall was a significant 14%.

North-South trade in fuels This increased competition and tougher environmental regulations has led to many of the smaller petroleum retailers going out of business. In particular, the entry of the large supermarket chains into the southern Irish market has added an increased level of competition. The number of fuel stations in the country halved between 2000 and 2008. There are currently about 1,500 petrol stations in Ireland. Around a third are independentlyowned, with the rest operated by larger companies including CircleK, Applegreen and Maxol.

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After a long period of significant price disparities between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with prices higher in Northern Ireland due to different fiscal regimes and currency, prices in the two jurisdictions have converged significantly. In January 2022 unleaded petrol could be purchased at 175.5 cent per litre in the Republic of Ireland, and 142.7 pence in Northern Ireland. The price of diesel stood at 166.1 cent and 146.3 pence respectively.

Transport and fuels Although there is little incentive for motorists or commercial operators to drive to the other jurisdiction to fill up, there is a very serious problem of illegal demarking and retailing of illicit diesel fuel. It is estimated that this practice is costing the tax authorities many millions of pounds annually.

Castrol (UK and Ireland) Limited Whitchurch, Pangbourne Berkshire, RG8 7GR Tel: 0845 600 8125 Web: www.castrol.com Email: customerservices1@castrol.com

Petroleum industry associations

Circle K Beech Hill, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 202 8888 Web: www.circlek.ie Managing Director: Gordon Lawlor

Fuels for Ireland 13 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin, D02 RX73 Tel: 01 662 9814 Web: www.fuelsforireland.ie Email info@fuelsforireland.ie CEO: Kevin McPartlan Fuels for Ireland members across the island of Ireland work hard every day to power Ireland’s economy and society; to power transport, industry, agriculture, maritime and aviation and to heat Irish homes. Their vision is to achieve carbon neutrality in Ireland by 2050. Northern Ireland Oil Federation 11 Ballyblack Road East Newtownards, BT22 2BD Tel: 028 9186 2916 Mob: 07714 705 120 Web: www.nioil.com Email: david@nioil.com Executive Director: David Blevings Petrol Retailers Association c/o Retail Motor Industry Federation 201 Great Portland Street London, W1W 5AB Tel: 020 7580 9122 Mobile: 07831 373 205 Web: www.rmif.co.uk Email: steve.coombe@rmif.co.uk Membership Manager: Steve Coombe Irish Petrol Retailers Association Ashgrove House 26 Foxrock court Dublin 18, D18 R2K1 Tel: 01 210 3894 Web: www.ipra.ie Email: office@ipra.ie CEO: Michael Griffin

Fuel companies and retailers Applegreen plc 17 Joyce Way Parkwest Business Park Dublin 12, D12 F2V3 Tel: +353 (0)1 512 4800 Email: info@applegreen.ie Head of Energy: Leo Whelan

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Corrib Oil Corrib Oil Building Galway Technology Park Parkmore, Galway Tel: 091 751 311 Web: www.corriboil.com Email: info@corriboil.com DCC plc DCC House, Leopardstown Road Foxrock, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 279 9400 Web: www.dcc.ie Email: energy@dcc.ie Chief Executive: Donal Murphy Emo Oil Limited Clonminam Industrial Estate Portlaoise, Co Laois R32 YY26 Tel: 057 867 4700 Web: www.emo.ie Email: contact@dccoilireland.com 40-48 Airport Road West Belfast BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9045 6789 Web: www.emooil.com Email: contact@emooil.com Inver Energy Limited River House, Blackpool Park Blackpool, Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 439 6950 Email: info@inverenergy.com Managing Director: Chris O'Callaghan Irving Oil Whitegate, Midleton Co Cork, P25 HD93 Tel: +353 21 462 2800 Contact: Mike King Maxol Limited 3 Custom House Plaza IFSC, Dublin 1, D01 VY76 Tel: 01 607 6800 Web: www.maxol.ie Email: customerservice@maxol.ie Chief Executive Officer: Brian Donaldson

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Top Oil Eastpoint Business Park Dublin D03 C825 Tel: 01 819 8000 Web: www.top.ie Email: info@top.ie

progress was mostly down to our poor performance in renewable energy for heating. Despite this, renewable energy still avoided 6.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2020, more than is emitted from all cars on our roads combined. The RED established a mandatory minimum target of 10% for the share of all petrol, diesel, biofuels and electricity consumed in road and rail transport to come from renewable energy by 2020 (RES-T). Ireland exceeded this target, reaching 10.2% RES-T in 2020, up from 8.9% in 2019.

Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited 1st Floor, Block B Liffey Valley Office Campus Quarryvale, Co Dublin Tel: 01 513 4377 Web: www.texoil.valero.com Email: texoil@valero.com

Renewable energy in transport Transport has by far the highest fossil fuel dependency, lowest degree of electrification and lowest share of renewable energy compared with the other major economic sectors (residential, industry, services) or compared with the other modes (heat, electricity). Renewable transport fuels have grown from a low base to 3.6% of transport final energy use in 2019. This is almost all from biofuels blended with petrol and diesel. Electricity remained at just 0.1% of transport final energy demand in 2019. Most of this was from Luas and DART light railways, but electric road vehicles are growing strongly from a low base. Since fossil-fuel energy use fell in 2020, the steady energy use of renewable fuels and electricity increased their shares to 4.5% and 0.2% respectively in the same year.

Renewable transport target 2020 was a big year for Ireland in assessing whether it achieved EU renewable energy targets. There was some success, but ultimately, Ireland failed to meet the overall target. The overall share of renewable energy was 13.5%, well short of the 16% target. The lack of overall

The RED specifies a number of weightings or multipliers that can be applied to certain fuels for the calculation of RES-T. These weightings help to incentivise these fuels, and also make it easier to meet the RES-T target. A weighting factor of two is applied to advanced biofuels and biofuels from waste. A weighting of 2.5 is applied to electricity from renewable energy sources consumed by electric rail transport, and a weighting of five is applied to electricity from renewable sources consumed by electric cars. The share of electricity that comes from renewable sources in a particular year is taken to be the share that was measured two years before the year in question. In 2020, all of the biodiesel and approximately 51% of the bioethanol used for road transport were eligible for double certificates. There are some important differences between how the share of renewable transport energy is calculated for the RES-T target and for the overall RES target. The weightings for advanced biofuels and electricity only apply to the RES-T target, not to the overall RES target. Another difference is that aviation is not included in the denominator for the RES-T target, but it is for the overall RES target. The share of renewable transport from the perspective of the overall RES target was just 4.6% in 2020.

Figure 6.2 Progress towards renewable transport target 2005-2020 12%

Share of RES-T

10%

0% 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

RES-T including weightings

2012

2013

Source: SEAI

236

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Renewable transport in overall RES calculation

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2020

Transport and fuels Most of the difference between the two is due to the double weighting for advanced biofuels. The significant gap between the RES-T share and the share of renewable transport energy from the perspective of the overall RES target has contributed to failure to meet the overall RES target. According to the most recent SEAI figures, 99% of renewable transport energy was from biofuels in 2020, 88% was from biodiesel and 11% was from biogasoline. The remainder was from renewable electricity used in both electric rail and electric cars. There was a noticeable drop in biofuel use in 2020. This was due to the overall reduction in road transport energy use due to Covid-19 restrictions. Biogasoline has also been reducing in since 2016, due to the long-term trend of reducing overall petrol use.

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Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021 The Minister for Transport published the Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 in November 2021. The Policy Statement sets out a roadmap for the supply and use of renewable fuels in transport energy in meeting targets set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021 and European obligations for renewable energy supply and use in transport. Commitments contained in the Policy Statement refer to increases in the supply of biofuels commencing in 2022, while ensuring the maintenance of the highest standards of sustainability of biofuel supply from source, and incentives to develop and supply a wider range of renewable fuels.

Figure 6.2 shows renewable transport energy in absolute energy terms without weightings applied.

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The Policy Statement provides a framework for an ongoing process of consultation and review regarding the longer-term changes proposed. The continued contribution of biofuels towards Ireland’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 2030 will be subject to analysis and review. Actions in the Policy Statement include: 1. increase the level of evaluation, analysis and enforcement of robust sustainability limits to underpin renewable fuels in Ireland; 2. increase in the level of renewables relating to petrol and diesel; 3. examine availability of used cooking oil and certain animal fats with a view to seeking a higher limit for biofuels made from these feedstocks; 4. limits on certain biofuels; 5. amend how the Biofuels Obligation Scheme operates; 6. operation of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme on an energy basis; 7. increase the overall biofuel obligation; 8. incentivise the transition to E10; 9. enforcement of carbon intensity requirements; 10. introduce an advanced biofuel obligation; 11. expand the biofuel obligation to the rail sector; 12. treatment of alternative fuels; 13. inclusion of renewable fuels of non-biological origin; 14. treatment of development renewable fuels; 15. treatment of renewable electricity used in transport; 16. award of double credits based on Annex IX of the recast Renewable Energy Directive; 17. implement a new buy out charge regime; and 18. use of emergency supplies.

Future fuels Biofuels Biofuels are renewable liquid or gaseous fuels used in transport and are created from biomass material. The use of biofuels brings a wide range of environmental benefits including the reduction of carbon monoxide emissions, harmful and other advantages to Ireland. Since 2010, suppliers of oil products such as road transport fuels in Ireland are required to blend biofuels with the fossil fuel they sell. This scheme is known as the Biofuels Obligation Scheme and is administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency. Fuel suppliers are granted certificates for each litre of biofuel blended that meets the minimum sustainability requirements that were laid out in the RED and in the indirect land-use change Directive. The Climate Action Plan commits to a 10% blend penetration rate in petrol and 12% penetration in diesel by 2030 in the volume of biofuels used in the road transport sector.

Biofuels Obligation Scheme The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 and is administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA). It is a certificate-based scheme which sets out an obligation that suppliers of road transport fuels must include a certain percentage of environmentally sustainable biofuels across their general fuel mix. The scheme works by ensuring that each supplier fulfils their requirement by having the necessary number of biofuel certificates required.

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Transport and fuels The obligation was increased to 6% in 2013, to 8% in 2017, to 10% in January 2019, and 11% in January 2020. A consultation was held in December 2017 and January 2018 on the Biofuels Obligation Scheme. The responses informed the publication of a Biofuels Obligation Scheme Policy Statement which was published in April 2018. In order to provide certainty to obligated parties, the Statement set out six key actions that the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment intends to implement to 2030 in the biofuels policy area. DECC held another consultation in 2019 seeking views relating to the future development of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme for the period 2021 to 2030. 42 submissions were received by the closing date of 15 November 2019 and they will inform the development of the Scheme. This is action 77a under the Climate Action Plan. In December 2021 the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications published a consultation on increasing the biofuel obligation rate and the buy-out charge for the 2022 period.

Alternative fuels: Hydrogen Hydrogen is an energy carrier with great potential for clean, efficient power in stationary, portable and transport applications. It is envisaged as a significant element of the future fuel mix for transport, enhancing energy security, reducing oil dependency, greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Hydrogen accounts for less than 2% of Europe’s present energy consumption and is primarily used to produce chemical products, such as plastics and fertilisers. 96% of this hydrogen production is produced through natural gas, emitting significant amounts of CO2 emissions in the process. Hydrogen can however also be produced from renewable energy. This so-called renewable hydrogen (also called green hydrogen) is expected to play a key role in the decarbonisation of sectors where other alternatives might not be feasible or be more expensive. This includes heavy-duty and long-range transport and energy-intensive industrial processes. Hydrogen allows a wide diversification of energy sources. In combination with fuel cells, it can also improve energy efficiency in transport and contribute strongly to mitigating climate change – especially when produced by renewable primary energy sources. Globally, hydrogen technologies maintained strong momentum in 2019 awakening keen interest among policy makers. It was a record year for electrolysis capacity becoming operational and several significant announcements were made for upcoming years. The fuel cell electric vehicle market almost doubled owing to outstanding expansion in China, Japan and Korea. However, low-carbon production capacity remained relatively constant and is still off track with the SDS. More

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efforts are needed to scale up to reduce costs; replace high-carbon with low-carbon hydrogen in current applications; and expand hydrogen use to new applications. Developing low-carbon hydrogen production routes is critical for hydrogen to aid in clean energy transitions. Most hydrogen is currently produced through emissionsintensive natural gas reforming and coal gasification. The two main low-carbon production routes involve: coupling conventional technologies with CCUS; and generating hydrogen through water electrolysis. Coupling conventional technologies with CCUS is still the main route for low-carbon hydrogen production and will likely remain so in the short to medium term because production costs are lower than for other low-carbon technologies such as electrolysis. Interest in projects that combine conventional technologies with CCUS is growing. Six projects, with a total annual production of 350,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen, were in operation at the end of 2019, and more than 20 new projects have been announced for commissioning in the 2020s, mostly in countries surrounding the North Sea. Electrolysers enable the production of clean hydrogen from low-carbon electricity and water. While electrolysers are a well-known and long-used technology in a variety of industrial sectors, the fastest-growing market is for uses that serve energy and climate objectives: vehicle fuelling; hydrogen injection into the gas grid; using hydrogen as a cleaner input for industrial processes; electricity storage; and synthetic fuel manufacturing. In recent years, the number of projects and installed electrolyser capacity have expanded considerably, from less than 1MW in 2010 to more than 25MW in 2019. Furthermore, project size has increased significantly: most projects in the early 2010s were below 0.5MW, while the largest in 2017-19 were 6MW and others fell into the 1MW to 5MW range. In March 2020, a 10MW project started operation in Japan, and a 20MW project in Canada is under construction. As alkaline electrolysers are the most mature electrolysis technology, they dominate the market, especially for large-scale projects (both already operational and announced). However, many new projects are now opting for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) designs. PEM electrolysers are at an earlier stage of development than alkaline electrolysers, but they can operate more flexibly and are therefore more compatible with variable renewable electricity generation. Projects involving high-efficiency solid oxide electrolyser cells (SOECs) are also beginning to be announced, nearly all of them in Europe to produce synthetic hydrocarbons. However, electrolyser users remain divided over whether the operational benefits of PEMs (flexibility) and SOECs (efficiency) are worth the additional costs compared with alkaline electrolysers.

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At the end of 2019, 470 hydrogen refuelling stations were in operation worldwide, an increase of more than 20% from 2018. Japan remains the leader with 113 stations, followed by Germany (81) and the United States (64). The number of stations in operation expanded considerably in Korea (+20), Japan (+13) and Germany (+12) whereas the United States added only one HRS in 2019.

EU Hydrogen Strategy 2020 The Commission adopted on 8 July 2020 a new dedicated strategy on hydrogen in Europe, in parallel with the strategy on energy system integration. It will bring together different strands of action, from research and innovation over production and infrastructure to the international dimension. The new hydrogen strategy will explore the potential of clean hydrogen to help the process of decarbonising the EU economy in a cost-effective way, in line with the 2050 climate-neutrality goal, set out in the European Green Deal. It should also contribute to the recovery from the economic effects of Covid-19. The strategy will explore actions to support the production and use of clean hydrogen, focusing in particular on the mainstreaming of renewable hydrogen. From now to 2024, it will support the installation of at least 6GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers in the EU, and the production of up to one million tonnes of renewable hydrogen. From 2025 to 2030, the Strategy states that hydrogen will become an intrinsic part of the EU’s integrated energy system, with at least 40GW of renewable hydrogen electrolysers and the production of up to 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen in the EU.

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From 2030 onwards, renewable hydrogen will be deployed at a large scale across all hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

Storage potential Certain sectors are likely to remain reliant on combustible fuels for various purposes in future. This means that the EU’s carbon-neutral ambition is unlikely to be achieved alone by the greater use of electrification. One potential solution is to convert renewable energy sources into hydrogen, as the processed hydrogen provides highgrade heat that can be used in transport as fuels, in industries as material and in agriculture for fertilisers. The storage potential of hydrogen is particularly beneficial for power grids, as hydrogen allows for renewable energy sources to be kept, not only in large quantities, but also for long periods. Significantly, this means that hydrogen can help improve the flexibility of energy systems by balancing out supply and demand when there is either too much or not enough power generation. This will also help boost energy efficiency throughout Europe. In 2020 European Commission published a study on the Impact of the use of the biomethane and hydrogen potential on trans-European infrastructure showing that biomethane and hydrogen will play a greater role in the EU energy system, given the continuing decarbonisation. A dedicated regulatory framework, including the TransEuropean Networks for Energy (TEN-E) and the Connection Europe Facility (CEF) will spur their development.

Hydrogen Energy Network The Commission has set up an informal group of experts in 2020, composed of representatives from the ministries in charge of energy policy in EU Member States, called

Transport and fuels the Hydrogen Energy Network (HyENet). This expert group aims to support national authorities in charge of energy policy to develop on the opportunities offered by hydrogen as an energy carrier. HyENet will act as an informal platform of exchange for information, sharing of good practices, experiences and latest developments, as well as joint work on specific issues.

European Clean Hydrogen Alliance The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance was announced as part of the new industrial strategy for Europe in March 2020 and was launched on 8 July 2020, at the same time as the EU hydrogen strategy. The alliance brings together industry, national and local public authorities, civil society and other stakeholders. It aims at an ambitious deployment of hydrogen technologies by 2030, bringing together renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production, demand in industry, mobility and other sectors, and hydrogen transmission and distribution. At the first edition of the European Hydrogen Forum (November 2020) the alliance entered a new crucial phase and agreed to launch six thematic roundtables in key areas of hydrogen production, transportation and use. In November 2021, the European Clean Hydrogen Alliance announced a pipeline of projects that European industry is undertaking to roll out the European hydrogen economy on a large scale. Featuring over 750 projects, the pipeline is testimony to the size and dynamism of the European hydrogen industry. Projects range from clean hydrogen production to its use in industry, mobility, energy and buildings. They are located in all four corners of Europe. The objective of the project pipeline is to provide an overview of hydrogen projects, to promote the emergence of a European hydrogen industry by enabling networking and match-making, to profile projects and giving them visibility including with potential investors.

Hydrogen in Irish transport Ireland may have a unique opportunity in the future considering its large renewable electricity potential, which could be used to generate hydrogen from water in a process known as electrolysis. DECC is working with European and national stakeholders including Gas Networks Ireland (the transmission system operator) to develop a pathway for the use of hydrogen in Ireland. The Programme for Government 2020 and the Climate Action Plan 2019 both commit to investing in research and development in ‘green’ hydrogen (generated using excess renewable energy) as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport. The first hydrogen-powered buses entered service in Belfast at the end of 2020. Translink acquired three buses with hydrogen-fuel cells powered by green hydrogen produced from a local Energia wind farm. Forecasts indicate that future growth in demand for hydrogen-fuelled buses and other hydrogen-fuelled transport will grow rapidly.

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DECC’s Low-Emission Bus Trial has seen the testing of hydrogen buses in transport fleet throughout 2020 and 2021. Electrolysers are central to all green hydrogen projects and a new joint venture between CPH2 and B9 Energy plans to manufacture a patented 'membrane free' version in Northern Ireland for worldwide distribution. Electrolysis utilising the valuable wind resource, especially at times of the day when there is lower electricity demand, produces oxygen which is valuable, for example, for NI Water in its waste water treatment plants, and green hydrogen which can be a valuable zero carbon energy resource for transport now, and eventually for heating. To introduce hydrogen use in transport, the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce established by the Irish Government considered three main areas for support: vehicles, refuelling infrastructure and fuel production, as outlined below.

Vehicle supports The cost differential between hydrogen and conventionally fuelled vehicles is considered a key obstacle to uptake, alongside a limited willingness in the HDV sector to invest in emerging and new technologies. Given hydrogen vehicles provide a zero-emission solution to the transport sector, similar to EVs, the taskforce was informed that it would be appropriate to expand the supports available for battery electric vehicles to hydrogen vehicles such as purchase grants, vehicle registration tax relief, benefit-in-kind tax relief, a low rate motor tax, ACAs and reduced tolls. Additionally, any new vehicle supports put in place for CNG/LNG HDVs should also be extended to include hydrogen vehicles. Recommendations: • the establishment of a vehicle purchase grant for hydrogen fuelled HDVs to support an increased uptake of LEVs. Scheme funding should be capped annually and be made available for a stated time period or number of vehicles; •

consideration of extending the Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) scheme introduced in Finance Act 2018 for CNG/LNG vehicles to also include hydrogen vehicles. Consider extending the duration of the ACA for CNG and LNG beyond 2021 to allow for delays to infrastructure provision and to allow for vehicle purchase decision cycles;

•

introduce a new reduced tolling incentive regime for hydrogen fuelled HDVs. Scheme funding to be capped annually and be made available for a stated time period or number of vehicles;

•

consider extending the current suite of taxation and grant supports available for battery electric vehicles to include all equivalent fuel cell electric vehicles.

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Refuelling Infrastructure Supports

Electric vehicles

The absence of a publicly accessible refueling network in Ireland is a major limiting factor in the transition towards LNG fuelled vehicles. The development of such infrastructure will require significant investment. In the short to medium term such an investment is unlikely to yield a commercial return at prices that road users would be willing to pay; therefore, it is likely that hydrogen refuelling infrastructure will require additional support which could take the form of an on-going subsidy or a capital grant. The Climate Action Fund was suggested as an appropriate source of funding for such supports. Ensuring a low rate of excise duty similar to LNG/CNG was presented as a means of supporting affordable hydrogen fuel.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered in total, or partially, by electric power from batteries charged in the electrical network.

Recommendations: • consider extending the Accelerated Capital Allowances scheme introduced in Finance Act 2018 to also include hydrogen refuelling infrastructure; •

include hydrogen public fuelling stations as a category eligible for support in the next Call for Applications from the Climate Action Fund.

Hydrogen production There is very limited hydrogen production in Ireland at present; its use is primarily in industry and manufacturing, it is not used in the transport or other energy sectors. Worldwide, the dominant method of producing hydrogen is through the ‘reforming’ of petroleum (usually natural gas). Emission savings can be maximised through a combination of reforming and carbon capture and storage (CCS) methods which capture hydrogen before it enters the atmosphere and store it typically in geological formations or disused oil or gas wells. Hydrogen can also be produced by the electrolysis of water whereby an electric current is passed through water producing hydrogen and oxygen gases. Electrolysis is considered a more practical method of hydrogen production at small to medium scale. Hydrogen can be considered renewable if the electricity used to produce it through hydrolysis is itself renewable (e.g. from a wind farm), or if biomethane is reformed to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen production is unlikely to be attractive as a commercial investment at a price that road users would be willing to pay. WG4 heard that there is a need for capital support, potentially via the Climate Action Fund, in order to promote the production of hydrogen for road transport. Recommendation: • prioritise support for renewable hydrogen in the transport sector as a core element of the development of the Biofuels Obligation Scheme for the period 2021-2030.

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What types of EVs are there? Battery EVs (BEVs) are vehicles powered by one or several electric engines, supplied by electrical energy stored in batteries that have been charged in the electrical network. Extended-Range EVs (E-REVs) are vehicles of similar characteristics to BEVs where traction is only electrical. However, they also include an internal combustion engine functioning as a generator to charge batteries, increasing the vehicle’s autonomy. Plug-in Hybrid EVs (PHEVs) are vehicles that combine an internal combustion engine (ICE) with batteries and an electric engine as well. Both engines power the vehicle so it has two external sources of energy: the fuel for the engine and the electrical network for the batteries. Electric vehicles are a key technology to reduce air pollution in densely populated areas and a promising option to contribute to energy diversification and greenhouse gas emissions reduction objectives. Electric vehicle benefits include zero tailpipe emissions, better efficiency than internal combustion engine vehicles and large potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions when coupled with a low-carbon electricity sector. These objectives are major drivers behind countries’ policy support in the development and deployment of electric powertrains for transport. Many countries have announced 100% zero-emission vehicle targets or the phase-out of internal combustion engine vehicles through 2050. France, in December 2019, was the first country to put this intention into law, with a 2040 timeframe. Electric car sales reached a record 3 million in 2020, up 40% from 2019. This strong growth was a stark contrast with general car market sluggishness globally, with overall car sales down 16% due to the Covid-19 crisis. After a decade of rapid growth, there are now over 10 million electric cars on the road, representing ~1% of the global car stock. For 2030, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario projects 300 million electric cars on the road and they account for over 60% of new car sales, compared with only 4.6% in 2020. Early market data for 2021 sales suggests rapid growth in major markets. Overall global electric car stock reached 10 million in 2020, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for two-thirds of the world’s electric car fleet. The largest increase in 2020 occurred in Europe, where registrations more than doubled to 1.4 million (a sales share of 10%), making it the world’s leading electric car market for the first time. China followed with 1.2 million registrations (5.7% sales share), and the United States remained third at 295,000 (2% sales share).

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Table 6.9 Global electric car stock 2020 Region Number of vehicles (millions) China BEV China PHEV Europe BEV Europe PHEV USA BEV USA PHEV Other BEV Other PHEV

3.5 1.0 1.8 1.4 1.1 0.6 0.4 0.3

PHEV = plug-in hybrid electric vehicle; BEV = battery electric vehicle. Source: IEA, Global EV Outlook 2021.

Other modes of road transport are also continuing to be increasingly electrified. Around 25% of all two-wheelers on the world’s roads are electric, but this phenomenon is limited mainly to China (accounting for over 95% of the global electric 2/3-wheeler stock), India and ASEAN countries. Electric micromobility is also becoming popular in many large cities. For instance, private e-bike sales in the United States more than doubled in 2020, outpacing sales of all other bicycles, which were already up a healthy 65%. In 2020, 82,000 new electric buses were registered globally (up 10% from 2019), for a global stock of 600,000. China accounts for 98% of electric bus stock, though electric buses are increasingly being procured in Europe, India and Latin America. Global electric truck registrations reached 7,400 units, up 10% from 2019. Most medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks on the road are in China, though registrations increased in Europe and the United States. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and truck makers continue to expand the diversity of demonstration and commercially available models. In the Net Zero Emissions Scenario, 85% of 2/3wheelers, 55% of buses and 25% of heavy trucks sold globally are electric by 2030. This is considerably higher than the 2020 sales shares of 3% for electric buses and ~0% for heavy trucks. The transport sector is the largest contributor to EU greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, reducing transport emissions is key to meeting the EU’s climate neutrality objectives. The recently proposed legislation (Fit for 55) sets targets to cut CO2 emissions from cars by 55% and vans by 50% by 2030 (EU, 2021). It also proposes to completely cut emissions from cars and vans by 2035. A significant increase in the uptake of electric vehicles will be needed to achieve these goals. Electric cars are gradually penetrating the EU market. There has been a steady increase in the number of new electric car registrations annually, from 700 units in 2010 to about 550,000 units in 2019 (3.5% of new registrations). In 2020, electric car registrations surged, accounting for 11% of newly registered passenger cars.

BEVs accounted for 6% of total new car registrations in 2020, while PHEVs represented 5%.

Electric vehicles in Ireland In 2021 there were over 41,000 electric vehicles on Irish roads. The number of electric vehicles in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years. It is expected that, with the introduction of more models of EVs with longer drive ranges by an increasing number of manufacturers, the current trend will continue. This growth will be supported by government measures and the work of DECC so that Ireland can meet its targets and transition away from the dominance of fossil fuel vehicles in private transport.

Figure 6.3 EV ownership in Ireland by type in 2019 Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

24.7%

57.8%

17.5%

Source: CSO

There are two sources of cars for the Irish market: brand new imports and pre-owned imports. The importance of the pre-owned imports market varies over time, but in the lead up to the UK leaving the EU its share increased and in 2019 and 2020 it accounted for just under half of all cars licenced for the first time. This is important as the profile of pre-owned imports tends to different to that of new car imports. For the first 10 months of 2021 over 8% of all new car imports were electric, but only 0.7% of pre-owned imports were, resulting in 5.3% of all private cars licenced for the first time in Ireland being electric. This is showing strong growth but still from a low base, with only 0.6% of the total vehicle stock electric at the end of 2020. With 95% of all vehicles licenced for the first time in the first ten months of 2021 having an internal combustion engine and given that the typical life-span of a car is around 15 years, it will be well into the next decade before there is a significant phasing out of cars with internal combustion engines.

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Transport and fuels I’m doing even better than that… I reckon I save well over €1,000 a year on fuel costs. The vast majority of my car trips are very short. Most weeks, one overnight charge a week is all the car needs. I’m glad to say goodbye forever to those draughty, oily, forecourts with their fume-smelling pumps and impulse-buy coffees and crisps. The classic concern with eVs is range anxiety and lots of people slag off eVs as being no good for long journeys. At this stage that joke is wearing very thin. My ID.3 has a stated range of just over 400km and most models now have that or higher. It’s true, I can’t be sure of getting from Dublin to West Cork on a single charge but there are fast-chargers available at practically all motorway plazas and a fast-charger will have me back on the road on full range within half an hour. The Mayfield plaza with its bank of ESB ecar super-fast chargers near Monasterevin is a brilliant staging post for any Dublin driver heading south so that you can get to anywhere in Munster with plenty kms to spare.

What driving an EV is really like Last July I traded in my diesel Volvo for an electric Volkswagen. We’ve had our eV just over six months and I’ve driven over 6,000 km and thoroughly enjoyed every km of it. I’d never go back to fossil fuel. The first thing that struck me about our new eV was that the car is quiet, clean and quick. Of course, I knew that when buying it, but you need to live with an eV for a while before you fully appreciate it – just as you need to live with someone to really get to know them, to appreciate their strengths and love them quirks and all. The eV is quiet, clean and quick absolutely every single time you drive it. It’s a much more pleasurable experience than the noisy, polluting, sluggish drive I’d accepted since I began driving eons ago. I now realise my standards were far too low. My eV has become a sanctuary in a world gone mad. It’s calm, conscience-free driving and yet the boy-racer revving alongside me is left for dust when the lights turn green. It does take a little bit of effort to get set up for eV driving. The big step is to arrange your home charging point. It cost me €1,200 although that is offset somewhat by the SEAI €600 government grant. Waiting time for installation was about four weeks so order your home charging point as soon as possible. I ordered mine via a slick process that required me to load up photos of my metering cabinet and the preferred charge-point position and some other details via an on-line app. It meant that the installer could install my home charging unit in one short visit. Once SEAI received photos of the car and of the new charger, the grant money appeared in my account. My home-charger puts on about 50km/hour. There’s a neat app that tells you the car’s current range which is very handy so that when planning a journey you can check remotely that the car has plenty range – you don’t have to look at the dashboard. I am on a day and night electricity tariff and it feels good to charge on the cheap overnight rate. The SEAI website says the fuel cost for the ID.3 is about 25% of those of a diesel golf. In recent months with much bigger price jumps at the pump as against the socket, I’d be pretty sure

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OK, if you drive long-distance for work and every minute counts, I can see how people might worry about the recharging time. However, most of us don’t drive long distances for work, we drive long distances on our holidays and in my eyes driving an eV adds to the holiday experience. Last August my kids and I spent 10 days driving all over the South West and West – from Allihies to Achill – more precisely from Dublin to the tip of the Beara peninsula, round to the tip of the Dingle peninsula to Ballyheigue in North Kerry, on to Achill Island in Mayo and back to Dublin. Not a problem! I have an account with ESB ecars (which has an extensive and growing network of public chargers all over the Island and some in the UK), a swipe card to use at charging stations and another neat app to tell me where all the charge points are and in real-time whether they’re available or not. The ID.3 satnav shows charge-points from all companies. There is an occasional technical problem at a public charger but the integrated telephone help service is 100% reliable and gremlins are being rapidly ironed out. You soon get the hang of planning longer trips and working out the optimal chargepoint for a long journey does wonders for your mental arithmetic! Driving holidays in an eV is to driving a diesel car as taking the train is to travelling by coach. It’s relaxing and it’s elegant and the travel itself makes the holiday. The kids are fascinated by the car and deciding the next stop is a topic that bridges the generational divide. (The car tops up on lovely electrons while you top up on caffeine and the kids top up on ice-cream). What adds wonderfully to the holiday is that our family is now part of a real community – the community of enthusiastic eV owners. It’s a community of gentlefolk pioneers who are doing their best to do the right thing and share a great mutual respect. We meet at charge-points nationwide and quickly fall into chat with each other about the love of the eV way of life, the wonders of technology, where we’ve been and where we’re going. We’re a supportive happy community whose refrain is: “Would you ever go back?”. “Never!”

Déaglan Ó Dónaill Energy Regulation Manager ESB

Transport and fuels In May 2017, the Government approved and published the National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland 2017 to 2030. This policy framework set an ambitious target that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero emissions (or zero emissions capable). The Government initially set a target of 10% of Irish vehicles to be electric by 2020, a total of 230,000 vehicles. However, this target was then reduced to just 20,000. There are over 26,000 electric vehicles and plugin hybrids on Irish roads in January 2021. Electric vehicles made up 3.0% of new private cars in 2019, but just 0.3% of the total stock of private cars. The 2019 Climate Action Plan set out the aim for there to be 936,000 electric vehicles (including battery EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs) added to Irish roads by 2030, a significant scaling up of the National Development Plan’s aim of 500,000 by that time. This is equivalent to onethird of around 2.8 million vehicles that are currently on the road in Ireland. Since April 2011, SEAI has been operating an electric vehicle grant scheme to assist in the purchase of electric vehicles. Those purchasing a fully battery electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will be grant aided by up to €5,000 depending on the price of the vehicle.

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offers grants, nationwide, for the purchase of new and second-hand electric vehicles. A grant of up to €7,000 will be available for battery electric vehicle (BEVs), and up to €3,500 for plug in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs). Fully hybrid vehicles and vehicles older than six years will not qualify for grant support under this scheme. Applications for the grant should be made directly to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The Electric Vehicle Toll Incentive (EVTI) Scheme was also launched in July 2018 following a recommendation of the Taskforce. The Scheme encourages private car commuters who regularly use tolled roads to consider switching to an EV. It is estimated that there are approximately 400,000 heavy toll users in Ireland so reduced tolls act as a meaningful incentive for a large number of vehicle owners. Under the Scheme, BEVs and PHEVs qualify for 50% and 25% toll reductions respectively up to a maximum €500 annual threshold for private vehicles and €1,000 for commercial vehicles. Since its establishment until the end of June 2019, a total of 6,409 EVs have registered for the EV toll incentive. Over 365,000 toll transactions have been discounted under the scheme at a cost of c. €365,000. The incentive will remain in place until 2022 or a threshold of 50,000 registrations has been reached.

There is also relief on Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) of up to €5,000 for new battery electric vehicles and up to €2,500 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (under the Tax Consolidation Act); reduced motor tax for a battery electric vehicle of €120 per annum and typically €170 per annum for a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme for business purchases of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure where costs can be written down in the year of purchase rather than the standard eight-year period (under the Tax Consolidation Act) Benefit-in-Kind rate of 0% which applies to staff provided with electric vehicles by their employers (under the Tax Consolidation Act).

In 2018, a new grant scheme was established by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to support the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland’s small public service vehicles (SPSV) industry (i.e. Taxi/Hackney/Limousine). Available to applicants since the 1 February 2018, the ‘Electric SPSV Grant Scheme’

Iarnród Éireann, supported by the NTA, commenced the tender process to order the largest and greenest fleet in Irish public transport history in May 2019 for up to 600 electric / battery-electric powered vehicles over a 10-

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year timescale. While purely electrically powered trains are expected to make up the overwhelming majority of train orders, the tender process allows for the supply of battery-electric hybrid trains. This is to ensure that, should funding provision or planning processes see the electrification of the first of the lines be completed beyond 2024, that new trains will be available from that date to meet the surging demand from commuters. Ultimately, the overall order will see the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) total rail fleet and up to 80% of all heavy rail journeys in Ireland, set for a potentially emissions-free future. The first commercial electric bus in the Republic entered service in February 2020. The Crowne Plaza Hotel ordered a new single-deck, fully-electric Volvo bus with the electric vehicle (EV) charging solution delivered by ESB. Efficient and environmentally-friendly, the 200kW battery capacity bus now operates between the Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Express Hotels in Northwood Park, Santry, to Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport.

EV charging infrastructure There are a number of ways to charge an electric vehicle (EV), and while the experience can be similar to refuelling a diesel or petrol car, there are fundamental differences as well as much more flexibility and independence for the consumer when it comes to an EV. Having considered international best practice as well as the best options for Irish consumers, the Government has set out a hierarchy for the promotion of different types of for EV charging: • home charging; • on-street charging; • location/destination charging; • fast charging.

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Home charging is considered the primary method of charging for the majority of EVs in Ireland and is considered the least expensive form of charging, especially when utilising a night rate. It accounts for around 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future. Government policy will seek to maintain this high level of home charging. The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant was introduced in early 2018 to help homeowners install an electric vehicle charge point on their property. This scheme provides grants of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of a home charger unit. The scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). On-street charging is considered necessary for owners of electric vehicles who do not have access to a private parking space. The provision of on-street charging also provides the opportunity for people to park and charge their electric vehicle. Since September 2019, the Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place to provide funding to local authorities for the development of onstreet public chargers. The scheme is administered by the SEAI. Location/destination charging includes chargers provided at hotels, shopping centres, visitor attractions, places of employment, private car parks etc. Such chargers are considered a feature that can, and will be, provided as a service for the benefit of the customers and/or employees. These chargers will be of varying power, depending on the location. Fast charging allows the majority of current electric vehicles to charge around 80% in 20 minutes or so. Fast charging tackles the ‘range anxiety’ associated with electric vehicles, particularly for long distance journeys. Fast chargers are mainly located on National Primary Routes and areas of high traffic concentration. As the

Transport and fuels range of EVs increases year-on-year, less and less people will need fast chargers along their routes and will likely utilise home charging and destination charging. A network of over 700 publicly accessible charge points is already available, including roughly 100 fast chargers, which are mainly found on national routes. The majority of these chargers have been rolled out by the ESB through its eCars programme, a map with locations of chargers is available online.

ESB eCars ESB ecars was established in 2010 to roll out the public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) across Ireland and to support the introduction and demand for electric vehicles nationally. ESB operates and maintains over 1,350 public charge points across the island of Ireland. These are available for electric vehicles and are found nationwide in locations such as on-street, shopping centres, vehicle parks etc. There are currently two types of chargers on the ESB public charging network, AC (standard 22kW) and DC (Fast chargers 50kW). The Climate Action Fund has allocated up to €10 million to a project from ESB eCars, which will be co-funded by a further €10 million from ESB, that will further enhance the current network and complete a nationwide EV charging network capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade. This project includes the installation of 140 fast chargers consisting of 90 150kW chargers, each of which will be capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously and upgrading 50 existing standard chargers to 50kW chargers. The project will also involve replacing over 500 existing standard charge points with next generation high reliability models. This project will result in an increase in the number of fast chargers which will be mainly located along the motorway network and is expected to complete in 2022. A full breakdown of the works includes: •

90 additional 150kW chargers, each capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously distributed across at least 50 locations;

•

52 additional 50kW chargers (which may replace existing 22kW chargers);

•

264 replacement 22kW chargers each consisting of two charge points (replacing existing 22kW chargers); and

•

all 150kW and 50kW chargers will include at least CCS and CHAdeMO connection types.

Companies such as Ionity, Tesla and EasyGo also have a number of fast chargers available for public use. It is expected that the market for fast charging will continue to grow with more private companies becoming involved in the expansion of the network.

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Northern Ireland: Electric vehicles There are currently more than 4,000 of electric vehicles on the roads in Northern Ireland. The maximum grant available for cars is £3,500. The amount of grant depends on the category of vehicle had only vehicles that have been approved by the Government are eligible. There are 337 charge points now available in Northern Ireland in January 2022. The charging network includes 17 Rapid (50kW) chargers that can typically charge an electric vehicle up to 80% in 30 minutes. The remaining fast chargers (22kW) are located on street, in supermarkets etc and can recharge an electric vehicle in between one to six hours (depending on the battery size of the electric vehicle). There are reliability issues with parts of the electric vehicle charging network in Northern Ireland, due to older infrastructure. ESB replaced 30 fast/22kW AC chargers in Northern Ireland to date and plans to replace a number of rapid chargers upon delivery of new equipment in the coming months. A much larger replacement programme is required to ensure a reliable and modern network that meets electric vehicle drivers needs for years to come. The first meeting of Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Task-Force took place in December 2021. The aim of the Task-Force is to work with the Department of Infrastructure’s Transport Working Group to develop an EV Infrastructure Action Plan to help deliver a fit for purpose, modern EV charging network, in the context of decarbonising transport systems and prioritising active travel, walking, wheeling and cycling and public transport. The ‘Attitudes to Electric Vehicles in Northern Ireland 2019/20’ showed that 2% of respondents said their next purchase would ‘definitely be an electric vehicle’ while almost a quarter (23%) said they would ‘strongly consider’ an electric vehicle for their next purchase. The main reasons encouraging respondents to buy electric vehicles were ‘Low overall running costs’ (cited by 53% of respondents) followed by ‘up to £3,500 grant towards purchase of an electric vehicle’ (51%).

Electric vehicles contacts ESB ecars ESB Head Office Two Gateway East Wall Road Dublin 3, D03 A995 Tel: +353 (0)1 258 3799 Email: ecars@esb.ie Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 3 Park Place Hatch Street Upper Dublin 2 Co Dublin D02 FX65 Tel: +353 1 808 2100 Web: www.seai.ie CEO: William Walsh

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Electric vehicle retailers in Ireland Audi Ireland Block C Liffey Valley Office Campus Liffey Valley Dublin 22 Tel: 1850 812 760 BMW Swift Square 2 Santry Demesne Dublin 9, D09 R802 Tel: 1890 719 421 Hyundai Hyundai House J.F.K. Drive Naas Road, Dublin 12 Email: info@hyundai.ie Kia Unit A8, Calmount Park Calmount Avenue Ballymount, Dublin, D12 X266 Tel: 01 460 1288 Nissan Ireland Cedar House Joyce Way Park West Business Park Dublin, D12 RW59 Tel: 01 409 1100 Email: sales@nissan.ie

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Peugeot Ireland Gowan House Naas Road Walkinstown Dublin, D12 RCC4 Tel: 01 409 2400 Tesla 92 Bracken Road Sandyford 18 Dublin Tel: 01 513 4727 Toyota Killeen Road Fox-And-Geese Common Dublin Tel: 01 419 0200 Volkswagen Group Block C Liffey Valley Office Campus Liffey Valley Dublin 22, D22 CF60 Tel: 01 898 9700

Chapter 7 Digital energy

Digital trends: Global

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Transport, buildings and industry

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Oil and gas, coal and power

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Electricity systems

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Energy use by ICT

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Digital energy in Europe

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European Technology and Innovation Platforms

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European Energy Research Alliance

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Smart metering

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Digital energy chapter Digital energy: Global Advances in data, analytics and connectivity are enabling a range of new digital applications such as smart appliances, shared mobility, and 3D printing. Digitalised energy systems in the future may be able to identify who needs energy and deliver it at the right time, in the right place and at the lowest cost. Digitalisation is already improving the safety, productivity, accessibility and sustainability of energy systems. However, digitalisation is also raising new security and privacy risks. It is also changing markets, businesses, and employment. New business models are emerging, while some century-old models may be on their way out. Policy makers, business executives and other stakeholders increasingly face new and complex decisions, often with incomplete or imperfect information. Adding to this challenge is the extremely dynamic nature of energy systems, which are often built on large, longlived physical infrastructure and assets. Global internet traffic surged by almost 40% between February and mid-April 2020, driven by growth in video streaming, video conferencing, online gaming, and social networking. This growth comes on top of rising demand for digital services over the past decade: since 2010, the number of internet users worldwide has doubled while global internet traffic has grown 12-fold. However, rapid improvements in energy efficiency have helped to limit energy demand growth from data centres and data transmission networks, which each accounted for around 1% of global electricity use in 2019. Strong government and industry efforts on energy efficiency, renewables procurement, and RD&D are necessary to limit growth in energy demand and emissions over the next decade. According to the most recent International Energy Agency’s 2017 Digitalisation and Energy Report, digital technologies are set to make energy systems around the world more connected, intelligent, efficient, reliable and sustainable over the next few decades. Key findings of the IEA report are outlined as follows.

Global trends in connectivity Data are growing at an exponential rate – internet traffic has tripled in only the past five years and around 90% of the data currently in the world were created over the past two years. This exponential growth has led to the use of increasingly large units of measurement. For example, global annual internet traffic surpassed the exabyte threshold in 2001. Sources estimate annual global IP traffic will reach 4.8 zettabytes by 2022. People and devices are also becoming connected in ever-increasing numbers. More than 3.5 billion people, or nearly half the global population, now use the internet – up from only 500 million in 2001. About 54% of households now have internet access at home. In the last five years, global mobile broadband subscriptions

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increased threefold and surpassed four billion active subscriptions in 2017. Everyday objects such as watches, home appliances and cars are being connected to communications networks – the “Internet of Things” (IoT) – to provide a range of services and applications, such as personal healthcare, smart electricity grids, surveillance, home automation and intelligent transport. The number of connected IoT devices is forecast to grow from 8.4 billion in 2017 to over 20 billion by 2020. The impact of these digital advances and their rapid deployment have huge implications for the energy landscape. Recent IEA analysis is outlined below.

Digitalisation’s impact on energy The energy sector has been an early adopter of digital technologies. In the 1970s, power utilities were digital pioneers, using emerging technologies to facilitate grid management and operation. Oil and gas companies have historically used digital technologies to improve decision making for exploration and production assets, including reservoirs and pipelines. The pace of digitalisation in energy is increasing. Investment in digital technologies by energy companies globally has risen sharply over the last few years. For example, global investment in digital electricity infrastructure and software has grown by over 20% annually since 2014, reaching $47 billion in 2016. This digital investment in 2016 was almost 40% higher than investment in gas-fired power generation worldwide ($34 billion) and almost equal to total investment in India’s electricity sector ($55 billion).

Table 7.1: Investments in digital electricity infrastructure and software 2016 Electricity systems software $2 billion Industrial energy management software $4 billion Building energy controls $11 billion EV charger $6 billion Smart grid infrastructure $11 billion Smart meters $13 billion Source: International Energy Agency

Transport and energy Transport currently accounts for 28% of global final energy demand and 23% of global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion. In the IEA Central Scenario, final energy consumption for transport grows by almost half to 165 exajoules in 2060, with most of the demand coming from road freight vehicles (36%) and passenger light-duty vehicles (28%). Across all transport modes, digital technologies are helping to improve energy efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. In aviation, the latest commercial

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Digital energy aircraft are equipped with thousands of sensors, generating almost a terabyte of data on an average flight. Big data analytics optimise route planning and can help pilots make in-flight decisions and reduce fuel use. Ships are also being equipped with more sensors, helping crew take actions to optimise routes, while advances in satellite communications are enabling greater connectivity. The most revolutionary changes from digitalisation could happen in road transport, where ubiquitous connectivity and automation technologies could fundamentally transform how people and goods are moved. The interactions among potential disruptions in road transport including the uptake of automated, connected, electric and shared (ACES) mobility will play a key role in shaping the future energy and emissions trajectory of the overall transport sector. Automated driving technologies can improve safety and driving convenience through advanced sensing and automated decision-making capabilities that can assist or replace human control. The consequences of ACES mobility for energy and emissions are highly uncertain. They will depend on the combined effect of changes in consumer behaviour, policy intervention, technological progress, and vehicle technology. Recent studies estimate a wide range of possible outcomes. For instance, over the long term, under a best-case scenario of improved efficiency through automation and ride sharing, energy use could halve compared with current levels. Conversely, if efficiency improvements do not materialise and rebound effects from automation result in substantially more travel, energy use could more than double.

Transport, buildings, and industry Digital technologies are already widely used in energy end-use sectors, with the widespread deployment of potentially transformative technologies on the horizon, such as autonomous cars, intelligent home systems and additive manufacturing (3D printing). Digital devices potentially offer large improvements in energy efficiency for the transport, buildings, and industry sectors. The prevalence of more devices—and servers to house the data they produce—could cause large net increases in energy use, if not managed carefully. However, the process of digitalisation is unlikely to stop. The key challenge for policy makers is to steer it in a way that maximises the benefits for the energy system and minimises negative impacts.

In the IEA Central Scenario, electricity use in buildings is set to nearly double from 11 petawatt hours (PWh) in 2014 to around 20 PWh in 2040, requiring large increases in power-generation and network capacity. Digitalisation, including smart thermostats and smart lighting, could: •

•

cut total energy use in residential and commercial buildings between 2017 and 2040 by as much as 10% compared with the Central Scenario, assuming limited rebound effects in consumer energy demand. Cumulative energy savings over the period to 2040 would amount to 65 PWh – equal to the total final energy consumed in non-OECD countries in 2015; help ensure that energy is consumed when and where it is needed, by improving the responsiveness of energy services (e.g. by using lighting sensors) and predictively with respect to user behaviour (e.g. through learning algorithms that auto-programme heating and cooling services); enable demand response to reduce peak loads (e.g. shifting the time of use of a washing machine), to shed loads (e.g. adjusting temperature settings to lower energy demand at a particular time) and to store energy (e.g. in thermal smart grids) in response to real-time energy prices or other conditions specified by the user;

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Buildings Buildings account for nearly one-third of global final energy consumption and 55% of global electricity demand. Electricity demand growth in buildings has increased over the last 25 years, accounting for nearly 60% of total growth in global electricity consumption. In some rapidly emerging economies, including China and India, electricity demand in buildings grew on average by more than 8% per year over the last decade.

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predict, measure, and monitor in real time the energy performance of buildings, allowing consumers, building managers, network operators and other stakeholders to identify where and when maintenance is needed, when investments are not performing as expected or where energy savings can be achieved.

These benefits could all be realised at a limited energy cost, as active controls are projected to consume only 275 TWh in 2040; far less than the 4,650 TWh they could potentially save that same year.

Table 7.2: Cumulative energy savings in buildings from widespread digitalisation Space heating Space cooling Water heating Lighting Appliances Others

27.94 PWh 7.53 PWh 4.44 PWh 7.93 PWh 6.87 PWh 9.55 PWh

Source: International Energy Agency

Industry Industry accounts for around 38% of global final energy consumption and 24% of total CO2 emissions. With the expected continuing expansion of industrial production over the coming decades, particularly in emerging economies, the value of digitalisation in improving the efficiency of energy and material use will only increase. In industry, many companies have a long history of using digital technologies to improve safety and increase production. Further cost-effective energy savings can be achieved through advanced process controls, and by coupling smart sensors and data analytics to predict equipment failure. Digital technologies have also had an impact on the way products are manufactured. Technologies such as industrial robots and 3D printing are becoming standard practice in certain industrial applications. These technologies can help increase accuracy and reduce industrial scrap. Deployment of industrial robots is expected to continue to grow rapidly, with the total stock of robots rising from around 1.6 million units at the end of 2015 to just under 2.6 million at the end of 2019. 3D printing can produce products in layer-by-layer fashion, on demand and directly from digital 3D files. It can yield significant energy and resource savings under the right conditions. One recent study quantified the energy and resource impacts of selected lightweight metallic additive manufacturing components in the US aircraft fleet, under different adoption scenarios to 2050. The assessment found that between 9% and 17% of total typical aircraft

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mass could be replaced by lighter 3D printed components in the near term. If fully adopted, in 2050 this could avoid nearly 20,000 tonnes/year of metal demand and reduce the overall fuel use of the US aircraft fleet alone by up to 6.4%.

Oil and gas, coal, and power Oil and gas The oil and gas sector has a relatively long history using digital technologies, particularly in upstream, and significant potential remains for digitalisation to enhance operations. Further advances are likely to initially focus on expanding and refining the range of existing digital applications already in use. For instance, miniaturised sensors and fibre optic sensors in the production system could be used to boost production or increase the overall recovery of oil and gas from a reservoir. Other examples include the use of automated drilling rigs and robots to inspect and repair subsea infrastructure and to monitor transmission pipelines and tanks. Drones could also be used to inspect pipelines (which are often spread over extended areas) and hard-to-reach equipment such as flare stacks and remote, unmanned offshore facilities. In the longer term, the potential exists to improve the analysis and processing speed of data, such as the large, unstructured datasets generated by seismic studies. The IEA predicts that the oil and gas industry will use more wearables, robotics, and the application of artificial intelligence in their operations. Widespread use of digital technologies could decrease production costs between 10% and 20%, including through advanced processing of seismic data, the use of sensors, and enhanced reservoir modelling. Technically recoverable oil and gas resources could be boosted by around 5% globally, with the greatest gains expected in shale gas.

Coal Digital technologies are being used throughout the coal supply chain to reduce production and maintenance costs and enhance workers’ safety. Examples include semi- or fully-automated systems, robotic mining, remote mining, operation automations, mine modelling and simulations, and the use of GPS and GIS tools. The increased availability of low-cost sensors and computer-aided simulations will bring new opportunities for coal operations. For example, sensors can provide the exact status of various components of the essential equipment in real time and analytics can compare the actual configuration with the “optimal” situation as designed so that the process can be optimised. Digital technologies, data analytics and automation will be increasingly adopted to improve productivity while enhancing safety and environmental performance through multiple applications.

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Digitalisation’s overall impact, however, may be more modest than in other sectors.

Power Digital data and analytics can reduce power system costs in at least four ways: 1. 2. 3. 4.

by reducing operations and maintenance costs; improving power plant and network efficiency; reducing unplanned outages and downtime; and extending the operational lifetime of assets.

The overall savings from these digitally enabled measures could potentially equal $80 billion per year until 2040. Digital data and analytics can reduce O&M costs, enabling predictive maintenance, which can lower costs for the owner of plants and networks and ultimately the price of electricity for end users. Over the period to 2040, a 5% reduction in O&M costs achieved through digitalisation could save companies, and ultimately consumers, an average of close to $20 billion per year.

Table 7.3: Worldwide cost savings from enhanced digitalisation in power plants and electricity networks 2016-2040 5% lower O&M costs Efficiency: 5% increase electricity output per unit of fuel Efficiency: 5% lower total network losses 5-year life extension for power plants 5-year life extension for networks

OPEX: $19.4 billion OPEX: $4.4 billion OPEX: $5.7 billion CAPEX: $33.9 billion CAPEX: $20.3 billion

Source: International Energy Agency

Digital data and analytics can help achieve greater efficiencies through improved planning, improved efficiency of combustion in power plants and lower loss rates in networks, as well as better project design throughout the overall power system. In electricity networks, efficiency gains can be achieved by lowering the rate of losses in the delivery of power to consumers, for example through remote monitoring that allows equipment to be operated more efficiently and closer to its optimal conditions and flows and bottlenecks to be better managed by grid operators. Digital data and analytics can also reduce the frequency of unplanned outages through better monitoring and predictive maintenance, as well as limit the duration of downtime by rapidly identifying the point of failure. This reduces costs and increases the resilience and reliability of supply. Network failures are expensive, both for the utility and for the economy.

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In the long-term, one of the most important potential benefits is likely to be the possibility of extending the operational lifetime of power plants and network components, through improved maintenance and reduced physical stresses on the equipment. On average, investment in power plants would be reduced by $34 billion per year and in networks by $20 billion per year.

Electricity systems The greatest transformational potential for digitalisation is its ability to break down boundaries between energy sectors, increasing flexibility and enabling integration across entire systems. The electricity sector is at the heart of this transformation, where digitalisation is blurring the distinction between generation and consumption and enabling four interrelated opportunities: 1. 2. 3. 4.

smart demand response; the integration of variable renewable energy sources; the implementation of smart charging for EVs; and the emergence of small-scale distributed electricityresources such as household solar PV.

They are interlinked as, for example, demand response will be critical to providing the flexibility needed to integrate more generation from variable renewables. Smart demand response could provide 185GW of system flexibility, roughly equivalent to the currently installed electricity supply capacity of Australia and Italy combined. This could save $270 billion of investment in new electricity infrastructure that would have otherwise been needed. In the residential sector alone, one billion households and 11 billion smart appliances could actively participate in interconnected electricity systems, allowing these households and devices to alter when they draw electricity from the grid. Digitalisation can help integrate variable renewables by enabling grids to better match energy demand to times when the sun is shining, and the wind is blowing. In the European Union alone, increased storage and digitally enabled demand response could reduce curtailment of solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind power from 7% to 1.6% in 2040, avoiding 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2040. Rolling out smart charging technologies for electric vehicles could help shift charging to periods when electricity demand is low, and supply is abundant. This would provide further flexibility to the grid while saving between $100 billion and $280 billion (depending on the number of EVs deployed) in avoided investment in new electricity infrastructure between 2016 and 2040. Digitalisation can facilitate the development of distributed energy resources, such as household solar PV panels and storage, by creating better incentives and making it easier for producers to store and sell surplus electricity to the grid. New tools such as blockchain could help to facilitate

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peer-to-peer electricity trade within local energy communities.

Energy use by ICT As the world becomes increasingly digitalised, information and communications technologies (ICT) are emerging as an important source of energy demand in their own right. As billions of new devices become connected over the coming years, they will draw electricity at the plug while driving growth in demand for – and energy use by – data centres and network services. However, sustained gains in energy efficiency could keep overall energy demand growth largely in check for data centres and networks over the next five years. Data centres worldwide consumed around 198 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2018, or about 1% of total demand. According to the IEA, while data centre traffic is projected to increase by 80% and data centre workloads are expected to increase by 50% from 2018, global data centre energy demand is projected to decrease to 191 TWh in 2021. The strong growth in demand for data centre services is offset by continued improvements in the efficiency of servers, storage devices, network switches and data centre infrastructure, as well as a shift to much greater shares of cloud and hyperscale data centres. Hyperscale data centres are very efficient, large scale public cloud data centres operated by companies such as Alibaba, Amazon, and Google.

Data networks, which form the backbone of the digital world, consumed around 260 TWh globally in 2018, or another 1.1% of total demand, with mobile networks accounting for around two-thirds of the total. Depending on future efficiency trends, by 2021 electricity consumption from data networks could increase by as much as 10% or fall by up to 25%. This large range highlights the potential role for policy to drive further efficiency gains. Billions of new connected devices are expected to be connected over the next few years. The number of smartphones is expected to increase from 3.8 billion in 2016 to almost six billion by 2020, while the number of connected IoT devices is expected to triple from about six billion in 2016 to over 20 billion by 2020. Over the longer term, it is conceivable that most electrical devices – and even some consumer items such as clothing – could become connected IoT devices, using energy to collect, process, store, transmit and receive data. Beyond 2021, providing credible assessments of energy use by digital technologies is extremely difficult. Direct energy use over the long run will continue to be a battle between data demand growth versus the continuation of efficiency improvements.

Cybersecurity While digitalisation can bring many positive benefits, it can also make energy systems more vulnerable to cyberattacks. To date, the disruptions caused to energy systems by reported cyber-attacks have been relatively small. However, cyber-attacks are becoming easier and cheaper to organise, while digitalised equipment and the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) are increasing the potential “cyber-attack surface” in energy systems.

Table 7.4 Energy cyberattacks Shamoon 1 and 2 (Saudi Arabia, 2012 and 2016)

“Shamoon 1” virus carried out cyber-sabotage and destroyed over 30,000 computers at Saudi Aramco.

Western Ukraine power grid (2015)

The first confirmed cyber-attack specifically against an electricity network.

The Mirai Botnet (2016)

“Mirai” malware exploited low security in connected smart devices, such as cameras, to use a botnet to deliver the largest DoS attack to date. This attack did not target or impact energy infrastructure, but illustrates the vulnerability of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Industroyer/Crash Override (Ukraine, December 2016 – reported May 2017)

A second brief but significant attack on the Ukrainian electricity system, thought to have been a test run for malware “Industroyer” (also known as “Crash Override”). This was an example of a cyber intrusion into the control systems of critical infrastructure.

Nuclear plant spear phishing attack (US, 2017)

This incident occurred in the United States. It used targeted email messages containing fake Microsoft Word résumés for engineering jobs, potentially exposing recipients’ credentials for the control engineering network. The hackers also compromised legitimate external websites that they knew their victims frequented (known as a watering hole attack).

WannaCry (2017)

“WannaCry” ransomware hit hundreds of thousands of computers in thousands of organisations in some 150 countries. These attacks did not target energy infrastructure, but several energy companies reported problems. In China, over 20,000 China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) petrol stations went offline. Source: International Energy Agency

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Digital energy Full prevention of cyber-attacks is impossible, but their impact can be limited if countries and companies are wellprepared. Building system-wide resilience depends on all actors and stakeholders first being aware of the risks. Digital resilience also needs to be included in technology research and development efforts as well as built into policy and market frameworks. Digital energy security should be built around three key concepts: •

•

resilience, i.e. the ability of a nation, system or institution to adapt to changing contexts, to withstand shocks, and to quickly recover or adapt to a desired level of stability, while preserving the continuity of critical infrastructure; cyber hygiene, i.e. the basic set of precautions and monitoring that all ICT users should undertake. This includes awareness, secure configuration of equipment and networks, keeping software up to date, avoiding giving staff and users unnecessary system privileges or data access rights, and training; and security by design, i.e. the incorporation of security objectives and standards as a core part of the technology research and design process.

Energy efficiency and digitalisation Digitalisation’s impact on the demand side is complex. On one hand, digital devices potentially offer large improvements in energy efficiency for the transport, buildings, and industry sectors. On the other, the prevalence of more devices—and servers to house the data they produce—could cause large net increases in energy use, if not managed carefully. The connectivity benefits of digitalisation allow digital technologies to both increase end-use efficiency and the efficiency of the entire energy system. The world’s energy systems are undergoing an immense transformation: Centralised and decentralised variable renewables continue to be added to the grid, the electrification of energy consumption is increasing, while ‘prosumers’ (people who both consume and produce energy) are emerging. In this context, demand side flexibility is increasingly important to ensure the energy system runs as efficiently as possible, with energy supplied when it is needed, and consumed when it is available. Digitalisation enables ‘smart’ buildings, vehicles, and industrial facilities to provide new sources of flexible load to the energy system, which can help to reduce renewables curtailment on the supply side and support communities to consume energy produced themselves, “behind the meter”. With more renewables in the system, and more community self-consumption, the end result is a more efficient energy system, thanks to reductions in losses associated with producing and distributing energy. The power of digital technologies to both improve enduse efficiency and system efficiency ultimately benefits

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the overall energy system through avoided investments in energy infrastructure (such as peaking plant), improved integration of renewables, and enhanced energy security, amongst other impacts.

Digital energy in Europe Policy To meet the European Green Deal ambitions, the twin green and digital transition calls for a better-functioning, smart, integrated, and cleaner energy system. This should contribute to the creation of growth and jobs, improve competitiveness of the EU companies by opening up new opportunities for businesses, and drive innovative solutions by encouraging the development of trustworthy technology, while guaranteeing affordable energy and a just transition. At the same time, the digital transformation has to benefit everyone, putting people first and being an enabler for citizens, prosumers, and energy communities to play an active role in the energy markets. The use of ICT in the energy system has emerged as a significant driver of change but the pace and scale of that change is likely to increase dramatically over the decades to come. Digitalisation is changing how we supply, purchase, and interact with energy, as well as the pathways we can take towards decarbonising the system. Digitalisation in the energy system should, therefore, be considered an integral part of the energy transition. At each step of the supply chain, it impacts the management of the energy system and provides new tools for its management or creates opportunities for (new) market participants to offer data driven energy services. At the same time, the transition to a decarbonised and decentralised energy system is taking place, based on variable and more distributed generation and greater electrification. Digital technologies have a lot of potential to contribute to the energy transition. For example, it can provide system optimisation and substantial operational savings and savings in network infrastructure. It can also support energy system integration: it can enable dynamic and interlinked flows of energy carriers, allow for more diverse markets to be connected with another, and provide the necessary data to match supply and demand both at local or at system-wide level and close to real time. In addition, digitalisation can help optimising the use of the existing grid capacity and identifying bottlenecks quicker, which will increase the level of electrification needed to achieve carbon neutrality – particularly important for the roll-out of recharging infrastructure. Digitalisation of the energy sector is addressed in different rules, both sectoral and generic. In particular, data exchange is addressed in the Electricity Directive 2019 and the Regulation on the internal market for electricity 2019, that also address measures for the deployment of smart meters in the electricity sector, while the Energy Efficiency Directive 2018/2002 also includes provisions on smart meters.

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Generic data governance mechanisms are outlined in “A European Strategy for Data” that identified an energy data space as one of the nine data spaces needed to “promote a stronger availability and cross-sector sharing of data, in a customer-centric, secure and trustworthy manner”. Furthermore, the Regulation on the Free Flow of Non personal Data 2018/1807 and the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 have created a transparent and well-functioning data protection framework. The proposal for a Regulation on European Data Governance 2021 sets the principles for data exchange and data spaces and stresses the need to improve the conditions for data sharing in the internal market, while at the same time highlighting that such principles may be complemented by sector-specific actions.

•

Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan 2022 The EU strategy for Energy System Integration adopted in July 2020 set out key actions to drive the energy transition, including a “system-wide Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan that could accelerate the implementation of digital solutions and energy system integration across multiple energy carriers, infrastructures and consumption sectors”. The Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan will need to build on the existing policy framework described above. The Action Plan will set out concrete steps for the development of a common European Energy data space in a way that supports the implementation of the Clean Energy Package 2019 as well as the ‘fit-for-55’ proposals and in line with the Communication on “the European way for the Digital Decade” adopted in March 2021 and the Taxonomy Regulation 2020. Public consultation on the Action Plan closed on 24 January 2022 and the Commission is due to adopt the Plan in Q2 2022. The Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan will outline how different EU policy and funding instruments will work together to exploit the benefits of digital solutions in the energy sector, while minimising their risks and environmental footprint. The Action Plan will identify possible complementary actions to ensure synergies between those, for example in relation to data sharing for smart grids, smart buildings, and smart cities. The Action Plan may focus on five areas: •

developing a European data-sharing infrastructure to create a competitive market for energy services that value demand-side flexibility and support planning and monitoring of energy infrastructure. It may include the creation of a common European energy data space that is compatible with other data spaces, which fosters the development of an interoperability framework, and addresses the governance of the data spaces. Therefore, the Action Plan will be aligned with the planned Implementing Act for data interoperability requirements and procedures stated in article 23 and 24 of the Electricity Directive 2019 — foreseen for

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•

Comitology in 2022 and will assess the need for additional measures to promote data sharing if needed; empowering citizens by providing them with tools for participation in the energy markets, tailored data driven services and implementing reskilling and upskilling pathways. The Action Plan will see how to promote best practices and experience from R&I projects that have developed new services and/or user-friendly tools/apps for people to grant access to their data and smart metering and that should make it easier for citizens to engage in the energy transition as active consumers and/or investors; enhancing the uptake of digital technologies in the energy sector by mobilising research, fostering innovation and making use of complementary instruments to support the scaling up of piloted solutions; enhancing the cybersecurity of the energy sector facing real-time requirements, cascading effects and the mix of legacy technologies with smart/state of the art technology. The Action plan will be aligned with the general framework for cybersecurity, in particular the proposed Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems (NIS-2 Directive) and the planned Network Code on cybersecurity of cross border electricity flows — foreseen to be adopted by the end of 2022 and will assess the need for additional measures for other aspects if needed; supporting the development and uptake of climate neutral solutions for the ICT sector as complementing in the European Digital Strategy focusing on measures that promote cooperation between the energy sector and the digital sector.

Given the importance of digitalisation for a flexible electricity system and the growing electrification needed to reach the 2050 climate and energy objectives, the Action Plan will primarily focus on electricity, while addressing other energy carriers such as hydrogen and natural gas, at least from an energy system integration perspective.

European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) 2007 The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is a key stepping-stone to boost the transition towards a climate neutral energy system through the development of low-carbon technologies in a fast and cost-competitive way. By improving new technologies and bringing down costs through coordinated national research efforts, the SET Plan helps promote cooperation among EU countries, companies and research institutions, and in so doing also deliver on the key objectives of the energy union.

Digital energy The SET Plan consists of the SET Plan Steering Group, the European Technology and Innovation Platforms (ETIPs), the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA), and the SET Plan Information System (SETIS). The integrated SET Plan identifies 10 actions for research and innovation. The actions address the whole innovation chain, from research to market uptake, and tackles both financing and regulatory framework. To ensure an effective interaction with all partners, the plan has an overall governance structure for measuring key performance indicators (KPIs), including level of investment or cost reductions. The 10 actions are: 1. integrating renewable technologies in the energy systems; 2. reducing costs of technologies; 3. new technologies and services for consumers; 4. resilience and security of energy systems; 5. new materials and technologies for buildings; 6. energy efficiency for industry; 7. competitiveness in global battery sector and emobility; 8. renewable fuels and bioenergy; 9. carbon capture and storage; and 10. nuclear safety.

• • • •

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ETIP on Renewable Heating and Cooling; European Biofuels Technology Platform; CCS Platform; Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform.

European Energy Research Alliance The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) aims to accelerate new energy technology development by cooperation on pan-European programmes. It brings together more than 175 research organisations from 27 countries, involved in 17 joint programmes. It plays an important role in promoting coordination among energy researchers along the SET Plan objectives and in the technology transfer to the industry.

SET-Plan Information System The EU's SET-Plan Information System (SETIS) provides information on the state of low-carbon technologies. It also assesses the impact of energy technology policies, reviews the costs and benefits of various technological options, and estimates implementation costs. This information is useful for the European Industrial Initiatives, private companies, trade associations, the European Energy Research Alliance, international organisations, and financial institutions.

SET-Plan Steering Group

Smart grids in Europe

The SET Plan Steering Group consists of high-level representatives from EU countries, as well as Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Smart grids are energy networks that can automatically monitor energy flows and adjust to changes in energy supply and demand accordingly. When coupled with smart metering systems, smart grids reach consumers and suppliers by providing information on real-time consumption.

It ensures better alignment between the different research and innovation programmes at EU and national level, as well as the SET Plan priorities. It also increases cooperation between national programmes to avoid duplication and heightens the impact of public investment.

European Technology and Innovation Platforms The European Technology and Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) were created to support the implementation of the SET Plan by bringing together EU countries, industry, and researchers in key areas. They promote the market uptake of key energy technologies by pooling funding, skills, and research facilities. The platforms are: • • • • •

ETIP Wind; ETIP PV; Ocean Energy Europe; European Geothermal Energy Council; Smart Networks for Energy Transition;

Despite a 7% year-on-year reduction in overall expenditures, grids became further decentralised and digitalised in 2019. Utilities around the world deployed more sophisticated technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital twinning. US regulators appear to be advancing towards performance-based regulation, and the European Commission launched the Clean Energy Package, which includes a number of measures to help grid operators deploy smarter technology. Nevertheless, more efforts are required to implement regulations and policy frameworks that reward the benefits of digitalising electricity networks. The European Union continued to make good progress towards grid decentralisation. The Clean Energy Package envisages creation of a new organisation of European DSOs, mirroring the role ENTSO-E has in transmission grids. It also calls for greater market equality for demandresponse technology and defines new opportunities for energy storage, preventing the double taxation of storage assets for both charged and discharged energy. Projects in Germany and France are actively evaluating the how storage can be an asset for electricity grids.

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Grid expansion plans for 2021-2030 provide the foundation for increased investment, supported by economic recovery schemes. While the European Commission’s 2030 climate ambition plan released in September 2020 foresees annual grid investments of $70 billion during 2021-2030 (more than double 2011-2020 spending), investments are set to be even higher owing to its July 2021 Fit for 55 plan, which aims for emissions in 2030 to be 55% lower than in 1990 (compared with the previous plan’s 40% reduction).

Smart grids development As smart grids show information on supply and demand, they are particularly beneficial for the integration of growing amounts of variable renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power, and of new loads, such as energy storage and charging of electric vehicles, while maintaining stability and efficiency of the system. In addition, smart grids open up the possibility for consumers who produce their own energy to respond to prices and sell excess amounts back to the grid. Smart grids enable new market actors, such as aggregators and energy service companies, to offer new types of services to consumers, allowing them to adjust their consumption and reap the benefits of flexibility provided to the grid. For citizen energy communities, or electricity-intensive industries, their decisions will be influenced by market price changes. These new players will be seeking a wider range of models and solutions than are currently available. This should enhance competition in the retail market, contribute to consumer empowerment and incentivise reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, while providing an opportunity for economic growth and worldwide technological leadership of EU technology. In general, the progressive development of smart grids is shifting the European energy supply industry, from being infrastructure-driven to being more and more servicedriven.

Smart grid projects in Europe Deployment of smart grids is one of the three priority thematic areas under the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) aiming to help integrate renewable energy, complete the European energy market, and allow consumers to better regulate their energy consumption. Smart grid projects that contribute to this and have a significant impact on energy markets and market integration in at least two EU countries, are identified as Projects of Common Interest (PCI) and are considered key for implementing cross-border energy infrastructure in the EU. The smart grid projects that apply for a PCI label are evaluated and proposed for inclusion in the Union list of PCIs by the Smart Grid Regional Group established under the TEN-E Regulation. The PCI list 2021 included five smart grids projects.

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The EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC), in close cooperation with the Directorate-General for Energy, compiles and periodically updates an inventory of smart grid projects in the EU. In cooperation with Eurelectric, the JRC also provides an interactive map of smart grid and meter projects. The Commission also supports the development of smart grids through research and innovation projects, funded by Horizon2020. In particular, the European Commission initiative BRIDGE combines smart grid and energy storage projects to cooperate on themes of common interest to ensure fast development and market uptake of smart grid solutions – as they are crucial for the integration of ever-higher shares of renewable energy sources.

Smart grids task force To advise on policy and regulatory directions for the deployment of smart grids in Europe, the Commission has set up a smart grids task force, which has issued key reports on standards, cybersecurity, and flexibility markets. These are largely agreed by industry, European standards organisations, public authorities and consumer organisations. The task force consists of five expert groups which focus on specific areas.

Smart metering benefits A smart metering system is an electronic system capable of measuring electricity fed into the grid, or electricity consumed from the grid, providing more information than conventional meters. Such a system is capable of transmitting and receiving data for information, monitoring and control purpose, using a form of electronic communication and comes with a range of benefits for the energy system and its users. With smart meters, final customers can get as a minimum accurate and regular measurements of their energy use and get billed on electricity they actually use. This puts an end to incorrect bills, and back billing, which are currently the biggest consumer concern. Beyond that, smart meters can provide close to real time feedback on energy consumption and enable those consumers interested to better manage their use, save energy and lower their bill. For consumers who wish to be more actively involved in the electricity market, on their own, or with the help of a service company, smart meters can offer even more. They allow them to adapt their energy usage to different energy prices throughout the day, enabling them to consume more during lower price periods and save money on their energy bills. Smart meters are also relevant for those who generate electricity, for instance from a solar panel installed on their roof. With a smart meter, they can measure the electricity their household supplies to the grid and communicate this supply to the grid manager. Accordingly, it is via smart metering that network operators get a better insight on what goes on in that part of the network. This way they can better plan their investments and manage their infrastructure to respond

Digital energy to the requirements of their customers, and therefore reduce the costs for the network operation and maintenance which are ultimately borne by consumers through network tariffs. To deliver on all these fronts, smart meters must be equipped with the right functionalities, as given in the Electricity Directive (EU) 2019/944. Moreover, national authorities must closely monitor that they get the most out of this sizeable investment and that the smart metering systems they install serve the system as a whole and deliver benefits and satisfaction to consumers and businesses alike.

Deployment of smart meters Smart meters should allow consumers to reap the benefits of the progressive digitalisation of the energy market via several different functions. Consumers should also be able to timely access their energy consumption data and dynamic electricity price contracts. A study from December 2019 on the deployment of smart meters in the EU found that: •

•

• •

close to 225 million smart meters for electricity and 51 million for gas will be rolled out in the EU by 2024. This represents a potential investment of €47 billion; by 2024, it is expected that almost 77% of European consumers will have a smart meter for electricity. About 44% will have one for gas; the cost of installing a smart meter in the EU is on average between €180 and €200; on average, smart meters provide savings of €230 for gas and €270 for electricity per metering point (distributed amongst consumers, suppliers, distribution system operators, etc.) as well as an average energy saving of at least 2% and as high as 10% based on data coming from pilot projects.

Energy and smart cities Given that roughly 75% of Europe’s population lives in urban areas — according to Eurostat statistics — the EU’s cities are significant contributors to the EU’s Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, which have a huge impact on climate change. At the same time cities are the main drivers of the EU’s economy, opening effective pathways to growth and jobs for Europe.

EU policies and cities Tackling energy challenges also means promoting more attractive and competitive urban areas, healthier and more sustainable places to live in. Several policies, proposals and initiatives are in place to achieve these results at EU level: •

•

• In 2021, smart electricity meters in Europe passed the 50% mark with more than 150 million units installed in consumer households and premises.

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the Energy Union policy sets out the targets and actions to transform the European energy system into the most sustainable in the world; the Urban Agenda for the EU promotes better laws, easier access to funding and more knowledge sharing on issues relevant for cities, bringing together the Commission, national ministries, city governments and other stakeholders; the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) promotes smart technologies in buildings to increase their energy efficiency; the EU Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy brings together thousands of local governments voluntarily committed to implementing EU climate and energy objectives in cities; the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) promotes research and innovation efforts across Europe by supporting the most impactful technologies in the EU's transformation to a lowcarbon energy system; and the Smart Cities Information System (SCIS), which provides a lasting repository of smart city project information and serving as a knowledge platform to exchange data, experience, and know-how.

Smart Cities Marketplace Data protection Consumer personal data is protected by EU rules on processing and free movement on data. Smart grids and meters may have an impact on personal data and privacy, which is why the EU has taken a series of measures to uphold data protection rules. One example is the impact assessment template, updated by the Smart Grids Task Force in September 2018, and which serves as guidance on data protection and privacy for data controllers and investors in smart grids. In addition to data protection and privacy, cybersecurity has increasingly become an issue related to smart grids and meters. The Commission is committed to mitigating any risks and enhancing resilience towards cybersecurity.

The Smart Cities Marketplace, formerly the European Innovation Partnership on Smart Cities and Communities (EIP-SCC), is the umbrella project of the EU smart cities policy. It aims at delivering practical knowledge, capacity-building opportunities, access to finance, finding partners and more, to establish a European smart city market, as well as making European cities the most liveable places in the world, thus directly and very practically supporting the aims of the energy union and the Urban Agenda for the EU.

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Cybersecurity Digitalisation creates new vulnerabilities in the energy sector. Exchanging data can only happen in a secure environment, as the information passed through the internet is both sensitive and essential to cater for our daily needs. As such, in modern times, ensuring the security of supply now also implies improving resilience against any coordinated cyber-attack targeting Europe’s energy infrastructure. The European Commission is working with stakeholders on rules to ensure that the highest standards of cybersecurity are applied to the European electricity grid. Another aspect that should not be overlooked is the impact digitalisation has on climate. The ICT sector, data centres and, not least, the global and constantly growing internet traffic impact heavily on climate. The International Energy Agency (IEA) states in a recent report that data centres account for 1% of the global electricity demand. In 2020, this was equivalent to 200250 terawatt hours. The same report declares that demand for such services will continue growing, due to video streaming and gaming, which are forecast to make up 87% of consumer internet traffic in 2022.

Digital energy in Ireland Energy White Paper 2015 The 2015 Energy White Paper outlines Ireland’s progress in digital energy and ambitions:

Technology choices Decisions about the development and deployment of new technologies will inform the sustainable energy mix and impact on the role of citizens as energy consumers. The transition offers opportunities for the relatively passive energy consumer of today to become a more proactive consumer (sometimes called a ‘prosumer’). Smart metering, the broadening of renewable heat and transport options, local energy storage solutions, smart appliances, and micro-generation all have the potential to transform and enhance the way homes, businesses, communities, and citizens use energy.

Energy network innovation Ireland is acknowledged as a world leader in energy systems integration technology and innovation, which will have a major influence on how energy networks are developed and operated during the transition. In particular, electricity system operators are likely to adopt innovative ways of improving efficiency and adapting to a diversifying electricity generation portfolio.

Microgeneration Scheme Microgeneration is the general term used to refer to generation of electricity from renewable technologies including solar photovoltaic (PV), micro-wind, microhydro and micro combined heat and power (CHP). In 2018, an assessment of microgeneration, across a number of renewable electricity generating technologies, was carried out as part of the economic analysis to underpin the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) (see Chapter 4). The assessment identified technical and financial challenges, which may need to be addressed before a broader support scheme for microgeneration can be introduced. This is in line with international and EU experience, where many member states who have introduced supports for microgeneration have had to reform them or cancel them altogether. Action 30 of the Climate Action Plan 2019, which included the establishment of a working group in Q3 2019, sets out the steps necessary and timelines for the delivery of an enabling framework for microgeneration. The working group is established and is progressing a detailed work programme. The Plan provides that a support payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all micro-generators by 2021 whilst

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Digital energy ensuring principles of equity, self-consumption and energy efficiency first are incorporated. A public consultation/call for evidence closed in February 2021. Analysis of the public consultation submissions has informed the final scheme design, which has been approved by Government and will be published early in 2022.

Smart metering in Ireland The Programme for Government 2020 aims to ensure the energy efficiency potential of smart meters in Ireland starts to be deployed in 2021 and that all mechanical electricity meters are to be replaced by 2024. Mandated by Government, the Irish National Smart Metering Programme was established in 2007 by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). It has five strategic objectives to: • • • • •

encourage energy efficiency; facilitate peak load management; support renewable and micro generation; enhance competition and improve consumer experience; and improve network services.

The National Smart Metering Programme aims to fundamentally transform the range of consumer services, technologies, and options on offer, with: •

•

better information on electricity and gas consumption, delivered in-home and real-time, to help consumers reduce their overall energy use and bills; simplified and user-friendly pay-as-you-go options readily available to help consumers monitor and manage their bills, with no requirement to pay for extra devices; time of use tariffs to help consumers shift energy consumption and reduce costs, for example by running washing machines and dishwashers offpeak; “smart home” devices like smart hot water or heating controllers which will link with digital meter data to automatically choose the lowest-cost schedule; more sophisticated services for consumers who choose dynamic tariffs along with smart home technologies. For example, at times of very high wind generation, domestic hot water or heating systems will be incentivised to switch on and then turn down when wind generation drops; and consumers who invest in micro-generation, solar PV or storage systems are enabled and incentivised to participate actively in the electricity market.

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In 2017, the CRU outlined its delivery plan for smart meters in Ireland. In a digital age smart meters are the next generation of energy meters and are being rolled out across Europe and internationally. In a phased rollout, around 2.3 million electricity smart meters will be installed in homes and businesses nationwide, replacing old mechanical meters. The roll out programme will be delivered in a phased approach, commencing with an initial delivery of 250,000 meters in 2019-2020, and approximately 500,000 meters in each of the four subsequent years. The initial priority is to respond to consumers who request a smart meter and also to replace older meters. A significant meter replacement programme is already necessary — by 2019 almost three-quarters of a million meters were more than 40 years old and in need of replacement. The CRU has also completed a Cost-Benefit Analysis on the plan and is satisfied that the investment involved represents value for money for the Irish consumer. In addition, in the CRU rollout plan Ireland has learned from the lessons and experience of countries that are already some way down the rollout road. Smart meters will assist decarbonisation of society as they facilitate reduced energy consumption and additional energy efficiency. Smart meters will give consumers more information and choice around their energy consumption. In response to national and European targets, EirGrid rolled out new infrastructure, technologies and solutions to deliver a smart grid. Its Grid25 plan, the ‘Delivering a Secure Sustainable Electricity System’ (DS3) work programme and demonstration projects are the central planks. Further information on Grid25 and DS3 can be found in Chapter 2: electricity.

Electricity storage At any moment in time, the consumption of electricity must be perfectly matched with the generation of electricity. This balance is necessary in all electricity grids to maintain a stable and safe electricity supply. Energy storage can help deal with fluctuations in demand and generation by allowing excess electricity to be 'saved' for periods of higher electricity demand. Energy storage can support the EU's plans for the Energy Union by helping to ensure energy security and a wellfunctioning internal market and helping to bring more carbon-cutting renewables online. By using more energy storage, the EU can decrease its energy imports, improve the efficiency of the energy system, and keep prices low by better integrating variable renewable energy sources. Energy storage can contribute to better use of renewable energy in the electricity system since it can store energy produced when the conditions for renewable energy are good, but demand may be low. This more variable power generation pattern has significantly increased the need for flexibility in the electricity grid. Storage could help balance electricity supply and demand over several different time periods, from fast storage in seconds or minutes to longer storage over days.

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Alternatively, renewable electricity can be converted to heat or to hydrogen. Hydrogen can be combined with CO2 to create synthetic methane, or combined with other elements to produce methanol, ammonia, or other chemicals. These can be used to decarbonise other economic sectors, for example in transport as fuel, in industries as material, and in agriculture for fertilisers. A variety of technologies exist to store electricity, including batteries, compressed air, and chemicals, but by far the most common technology to date is pumped hydro storage. The growing need for flexibility in the energy system would benefit from new storage solutions and innovation. Some emerging storage technologies, including batteries and hydrogen, are gradually becoming competitive. The EU is addressing these new challenges in the energy system by promoting innovation in key technologies and developing suitable market rules. Technological innovation in storage falls under the Horizon 2020 programme and the Strategic Energy Technology-Plan. The technologies related to the use of electricity to produce gas, mainly hydrogen, are managed through a specific programme office, the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The energy market has not kept pace with technological progress. Factors slowing the development of energy storage technologies include administrative barriers, limited access to grids, and excessive fees and charges. The Commission is working further to develop a more

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cost-effective energy system that also includes storage solutions, and a proposed definition and principles for energy storage have been drafted to support this work. In February 2017, alongside the Second State of the Energy Union report, the Commission published a Staff Working Document titled ‘Energy storage – the role of electricity’. This document outlines the role of energy storage in relation to electricity, presents the advantages of different technologies and innovative solutions in different contexts, and discusses further possible policy approaches.

Electricity storage: Energy White Paper 2015 Electricity storage is expected to play an important role in facilitating the deployment of intermittent renewable energy technologies like wind, solar PV and ocean energy. The EU’s Energy Roadmap 2050 confirms that storage technologies remain critical, and that future integration of RES-E will depend on increased storage capacity. Electricity storage can be deployed in a number of circumstances in Ireland, including at grid-scale and at consumer level. Previously DCENR and the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment commissioned work to model the impact on the electricity grid of different types of storage. These included very short-term storage in intelligent storage heaters in domestic premises, intermediate-level storage in battery and ice banks, and very large-scale compressed air storage in salt caverns.

Digital energy The work demonstrated that significant levels of storage, in particular multi-megawatt-scale grid-connected storage, would be needed to maximise the utilisation of RES-E. Small-scale storage would facilitate more efficient use of the networks, maintain high standards of security of supply, and keep network operating costs lower than they would be without storage. In 2020, Ireland’s battery storage pipeline increased to almost 2.1GW. The pipeline consists of a range of projects, 500MW of which have planning approval and a grid connection contract.

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Government Departments Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications 29-31 Adelaide Road Dublin D02 X285 Tel: +353 1 678 2000 Web: www.decc.gov.ie Minister: Eamon Ryan TD Secretary General: Mark Griffin Department for the Economy Netherleigh Massey Avenue Belfast BT4 2JP Tel: 028 9052 9900 Web: www.economy-ni.gov.uk Email: energy@economy-ni.gov.uk Minister: Gordon Lyons MLA

Organisations with a role in digital energy Bord Gáis Energy PO Box 10943, Dublin 2 Web: www.bordgaisenergy.ie Email: info@bordgais.ie Managing Director: Dave Kirwan Deloitte Ireland 29 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 AY28 Tel: 01 417 2200 Web: www.deloitte.com/ie Email: info@deloitte.ie Contact: Michael Flynn EirGrid Plc The Oval 160 Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 D04 FW28 Tel: +353 (0)1 677 1700 Web: www.eirgridgroup.com Group Chief Executive: Mark Foley Electric Ireland PO Box 841 South City Delivery Office Cork, T12 C825 Web: www.electricireland.ie

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Ervia Colvill House 24-26 Talbot St Dublin 1 Tel: 01 823 0300 Web: www.ervia.ie Group Chief Executive: Cathal Marley ESB Smart Energy Services Two Gateway East Wall Road Dublin 3 D03 A995 Web: www.esb.ie ESET Ireland Weston, Westgate Wexford Y35 TH7W Tel: +353 (0)53 914 6600 Web: www.eset.com Email: hello@eset.ie Contact: Richard Foley EY EY Building 2 Harcourt Centre Harcourt Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 475 0555 Contact: Sean Casey Gemserv Fitzwilliam Hall Business Centre Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 669 4630 Email: info@gemserv.com Contact: Sarah Fuller IBM IBM House Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Web: www.ibm.com Siemens Ireland Innovation House DCU Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Botanic Dublin 11 Tel: +353 (0)21 62 241 SSE plc Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin 18, D18 W688

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Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 3 Park Place Hatch Street Upper St Kevin’s Dublin 2 Tel: +353 1 808 2100 Web: www.seai.ie Chief Executive Officer: William Walsh

Chapter 8 Who’s who in Irish energy Sponsored by

An A-Z guide to the leading players in the Irish energy sector, north and south.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy Steven Agnew Steven Agnew is the Head of RenewableNI, the voice of the renewable electricity industry in Northern Ireland. He is a former leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland and served as MLA for North Down from 2011 until 2019. During his time as MLA he sat for five years on the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee which scrutinised energy policy.

Pat Austin Pat Austin is Director of National Energy Action (NEA) in Northern Ireland. She is responsible for the strategic direction of NEA in Northern Ireland. The work of the NEA encompasses all aspects of fuel poverty, but in particular emphasises the importance of greater investment in domestic energy efficiency. Pat is also Chair of the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Coalition.

Roy Baker Roy Baker is Director of Business Change at SSE Airtricity. Having joined the company in 2003, Roy has a held a number of senior positions helping to shape and grow the business and its operations over the last 18 years. In his current position, Roy’s focus is on utilising and developing digital and data insight, to drive profitability, sustainability and continuous improvements between short term gains and long-term strategy and vision. Roy is a Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma and from 2014 until 2020 he successfully led SSE’s retail restructuring and efficiency programme, delivering £287 million in incremental reductions and operating costs. Away from SSE, Roy is the current President of Kickboxing Ireland and the sport’s world governing body, WAKO.

Bob Barbour Bob Barbour is Secretariat and CEO of Smart Grid Ireland, an independent, industry-led, membership energy cluster including the utility networks with the aim of achieving digitalized, decentralized and decarbonised energy networks on the island of Ireland. With a background in mechanical engineering working in Europe, Middle East and Australia commissioning and managing electricity power stations, Bob provides thought leadership in technology and grid solutions as well as influencing government and regulation in energy related consultations in both jurisdictions.

John Barry John Barry is a Professor of Green Political Economy and Director of the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queen’s University Belfast. His areas of research include post-growth and heterodox political economy; the politics, policy and political economy of climate breakdown and climate resilience; and sociotechnical analyses of low carbon energy transitions. His latest book is The Politics of Actually Existing Unsustainability: Human Flourishing in a Climate-Changed, Carbon-Constrained World (Oxford University Press). He is co-chair of the Belfast Climate Commission and was a Green Party councillor from 2011 until 2018 on Ards and North Down council.

Colin Bebbington Colin Bebbington is Director of Energy, Marketing and Data at Bord Gáis Energy where he leads the company’s consumer and business energy performance, sales and marketing strategies and ensures excellence in the company’s data management practices. Upon joining Bord Gáis Energy in 2012, Colin held the role of Residential Category Controller and subsequently Retail Director where he led the company’s retail and marketing strategies for over six years. Colin has a wealth of experience in the telecommunications and energy sectors, including senior roles at Vodafone and Meteor. Colin holds a master’s in strategic management from University College Dublin and is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin.

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Colin Broomfield Colin Broomfield is Director of Wholesale Markets at the Utility Regulator. His responsibilities include regulating the Single Electricity Market (SEM) in conjunction with colleagues from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in Ireland. Colin joined the Utility Regulator in 2007 and before taking up his current position in 2019, he worked across a range of roles in the electricity sector. Prior to joining the Utility Regulator, he worked in both the engineering and financial sectors. Colin is a Chartered Engineer and a Mechanical Engineering graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast.

Frank Burke Frank Burke is the Service Manager for Hitachi Energy in Ireland responsible for the management and operational activity of the dedicated Hitachi Energy Ireland team of service engineers and project managers. Frank joined Hitachi Energy Ireland in the Service Managers role in 2020 but has been with Hitachi Energy and previously ABB for 19 years with various roles in sales, equipment specification and most recently as a global operations specialist responsible for production, quality and manufacturing process for Power Transformers across the Hitachi Energy/ABB global transformer business. Prior to joining ABB in 2003, Frank worked as an applications engineer in the area of pneumatics and robotics having completed education as an electronic engineer.

Emma Burrows Emma Burrows is Director of Legal, Regulation, Compliance and Corporate Affairs at Bord Gáis Energy. Emma joined Bord Gáis Energy in 2012 and went on to lead the legal team in providing advice and support on a wide range of complex legal matters. She joined the Executive Management team in 2021. Prior to joining Bord Gáis Energy, Emma worked in private practice, specialising in mergers and acquisitions and commercial law. She is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, a member of the Law Society of Ireland and holds a Diploma in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors.

Ger Butler Ger Butler is a Financial Advisory Director in Deloitte where he advises clients on a range of Irish and international energy and infrastructure transactions. Ger is a Chartered Accountant and in addition to his financial advisory experience, he previously held roles in industry with ESB International and KBC Bank on the development, structuring and financing of energy sector projects. He also completed a secondment as Financial Advisor at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

David Butler David Butler is Director at SGN Natural Gas. David oversaw the construction of the entire natural gas network in the west including 44 complex river crossings and over 200 smaller watercourse crossings in what is widely considered one of the largest energy infrastructure projects to ever take place in Northern Ireland. A former Chairman of the Irish Section of IGEM in 2018/19, David is now directing his company to play a key role in delivering on the Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Ciaran Byrne Ciaran Byrne is Director of National Retrofit and a member of the Executive Leadership Team in SEAI. Prior to the role he was CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland, and also held a number of other senior roles in the Central Fisheries Board and Inland Fisheries Service. Ciaran is a qualified management accountant, is a Chartered Director, and was admitted into the Institute of Directors in 2017, and he has just completed a master’s degree in business studies. Ciaran has degree and Ph.D. in science from Trinity College and has authored several peer reviewed scientific publications.

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Viv Byrne Viv Byrne is Technical Director at SLR Consulting Ireland with over 50 years’ experience in the international minerals industry and in sustainable energy projects with Irish and European research agencies. Actively seeking international partnerships to develop sustainable global energy solutions by utilising Irelands extensive engineering, geoscience and environmental research data gathered under the PIP Programme.

Niall Cafferty Niall Cafferty is Head of Governance and Procurement, and a member of the senior management team at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, with responsibility for leading governance within SEAI and overseeing grants compliance, procurement, internal audit and inspections. Niall joined SEAI in 2013 and previously held senior roles in the private sector. Niall qualified as a Chartered Accountant with EY, holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Galway, and has a Master of Accounting from University College Dublin.

Jon Carlton Jon Carlton became a board member of the Utility Regulator in November 2015. Jon is a chartered engineer who has worked in the electricity and gas industry for 35 years. He now has a number of non-executive and advisory roles, which include chairing the Board of National Grid Electricity Group Trustee Limited (one of National Grid’s pension schemes) and a non-executive directorship of ENTRUST, the Regulator of the Landfill Communities Fund. Jon is Vice-Chair of Governors at North Oxfordshire Academy. He is also a founder member of Driving Ambition, a project run by Fellows of the RSA aimed at building links between businesses and schools and colleges in North Oxfordshire. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Institute of Asset Management, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA).

Con Casey Con Casey is the lead partner in Smith & Williamson’s successful energy, renewables, and natural resources practice. He has been providing strategic advice and insight to these sectors for over 25 years, working alongside household names including semi state entities, private companies, publicly listed companies and international investors. Con has served on the boards of a number of publicly listed companies in the sector. He heads up the specialist Energy and Natural Resources team providing advisory and corporate finance services including, independent business reviews, financial analysis and projections and, working with other professionals, regulatory and licensing support. Smith & Williamson’s renewables and natural resources team also provides expert tax, accounting, turnkey outsource and compliance services. (Smith & Williamson is set to rebrand as Evelyn Partners).

Sean Casey Sean Casey is Head of Energy and Assets at EY Ireland’s Consulting practice. He brings more than 25 years’ of experience in utilities, energy, and sector executive management to the role. Since joining EY, Sean has led a number of key engagements across the energy sector in both Ireland and the UK helping energy and utility companies address complex industry challenges. Before joining EY, Sean served as Group COO and interim Group CEO of Ervia and was previously Managing Director of Gas Networks Ireland. In his role with Ervia, Sean was responsible for the operational performance and alignment of the group’s five business divisions and for company-wide transformational change programmes.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Noyona Chundur Noyona Chundur is Chief Executive of The Consumer Council, Northern Ireland’s statutory body responsible for championing consumer interests and safeguarding consumer protections. Statutory functions cover energy, post, transport, water and sewerage, food affordability and accessibility and financial services. Supporting this, under its non-statutory responsibilities, are targeted initiatives to educate and empower consumers against unfair or discriminatory practices in any market. The Consumer Council is also a designated super-complaints body working across Northern Ireland and UK regulators. Noyona has over 20 years’ experience of operating at regional, national, and international levels, most recently in consumer protection and economic development.

Barclay Clibborn Barclay Clibborn is Head of Strategy & Corporate Development at Bord Gáis Energy. Barclay is responsible for corporate strategy and the development of selected commercial opportunities in Bord Gáis Energy. Barclay joined Bord Gáis Energy in 2015, having previously acted as a financial advisor to the management team during the sale to Centrica plc in 2014. Prior to this, Barclay worked as a corporate finance advisor with NCB (now Investec) advising on a range of M&A and private fundraising transactions. Barclay holds a BSc in computer science (UCC), a diploma in arbitration (University College Dublin) and an MBA (Trinity College Dublin).

Matt Collins Matt Collins is the Assistant Secretary leading the Energy Division in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. With the aim of ensuring a secure, competitive and sustainable energy system, he is responsible for policy across energy regulation, renewable energy, energy decarbonisation, energy efficiency, and energy security. Matt joined the Department in 2016 as Assistant Secretary with responsibility for the natural resources and waste policy functions. Previously, Matt has worked in the Departments of Health, Environment and Local Government, Foreign Affairs, Finance, as well as in the Communications Division of the Department.

Tony Collins Tony Collins is the Principal Officer leading the Heat and Business Efficiency Energy Division in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. He is responsible for renewable heat, energy efficiency policies in the commercial and public sectors and the renewable energy elements of the Renewable Energy Directives. Tony joined the Department in 2021 from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and he holds a master’s degree in Economic Policy Analysis from TCD.

Danielle Conaghan Danielle Conaghan is a Partner and Head of the Environment and Planning Group in Arthur Cox. Danielle has deep specialism in helping clients deliver energy and renewable projects. She works with clients throughout the entire life-cycle of their projects; getting planning and regulatory consents, protecting them from legal challenge, securing project-financing and enabling compliance during construction and ongoing compliance in operations. Danielle has advised on the largest WtE project; the largest CHP project; the largest battery storage project; and three out of four of the largest onshore wind farms, in Ireland and over 100 other wind farms. She has taken precedent-setting cases in the solar sector. She has advised the State on consenting for offshore renewables and oil and gas. Danielle is a Council member of Wind Energy Ireland and the Marine Renewables Industry Association.

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Stuart Conaty

Stuart Conaty is a senior associate in Beauchamps LLP award winning Energy & Natural Resources team. His specialities include planning and environmental law, energy law, construction law and contract negotiations. He represents renewable energy developers involved in wind farm projects (both onshore and offshore), solar PV, energy storage, anaerobic digestion and CHP. Stuart joined Beauchamps in September 2020 from Bord na Móna plc where he spent the previous five years providing legal support across the company’s diverse business operations including, thermal generation, wind farm development and solar PV. He is an active member of Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) and the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) and advised Wind Energy Ireland on its submissions on the draft MAP Bill during its passage through the Oireachtas.

Peter Condon Peter Condon is the Transformer Market Manager for Hitachi Energy in Ireland. Peter has 25 years’ experience with Hitachi Energy, including 12 years manufacturing transformers, and is the European lead for transformer solutions for the data centre industry. Peter is a graduate of Marketing Institute of Ireland.

Jacinta Conway Jacinta Conway is an extremely experienced Senior Associate at Arthur Cox who has been practising exclusively in the area of environment and planning for the last seven years. She is qualified to practice in both Ireland and Northern Ireland and has extensive experience across the full spectrum of planning, environmental and health & safety law. She has played a key role in advising on some of the most complex and significant transactions and litigation in the Country over the last seven years. Jacinta has a special focus on the renewables energy sector, waste and natural resources sectors, and specialises in de-risking projects at the outset of their life cycle. She has also extensive litigation experience in relation to planning and environmental judicial review challenges, planning injunction proceedings and criminal enforcement prosecutions. Jacinta is a Council Member of the Marine Renewable Industry Ireland and member of the Environmental Policy Committee of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation. She is also a committee member of Wind Energy Ireland and a member of the Irish Environmental Law Association.

Paul Cooley Paul Cooley is Director of Offshore Wind Energy at SSE Renewables, a leading developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy across the UK and Ireland that is part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc. Paul has end-to-end accountability for project development, construction, engineering, and asset operations and management globally for SSE Renewables’ Offshore Wind portfolio, including its 487MW operational fleet and 7GW-plus pipeline of offshore wind energy projects in the UK and Ireland. Paul is leading the construction of more offshore wind energy than any other company in the world including the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the North Sea, a joint venture with Equinor and Eni. Paul was formerly General Manager for Ireland of SSE Renewables. Paul joined SSE and the energy industry from the chemicals and manufacturing sector where he held various senior management positions including operational, regulatory, and engineering management roles at DuPont and the Quinn Group. He has an honours degree in electrical engineering from Queen’s University Belfast.

Tomás Corr Tomás Corr is the Irish Sales Manager for renewable and industrial transformers for Kyte Powertech across Ireland and Northern Ireland. He joined Kyte Powertech in 2021, before this he had five years’ experience in the power generator sector and over 10 years’ experience in the electrician trade. Tomás is responsible for transformer sales and service with a focus on product development. His years of experience as a foreman over both domestic and industrial projects have given him a strategic understanding of his sector.

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Sponsored by

Eric Cosgrove Eric Cosgrove is Director of Engineering and Sustainability at firmus energy. He has over 20 years’ experience working in the natural gas industry. Eric joined firmus energy as a Town Engineer in 2005, quickly promoted to Operations and Maintenance Manager, before being appointed Director of Engineering in 2013 where he is responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the company’s gas network. In 2020 his role was broadened to Director of Engineering and Sustainability to deliver on the company’s sustainability ambitions with a particular focus on introducing hydrogen and bio-methane, along with other emerging technologies, into the company’s natural gas network so it can continue to play a pivotal role in helping Northern Ireland transition towards Net Zero Carbon. Eric is also accountable for health and safety, maintenance and emergency response activities as well as management of third-party contractors. A Queen’s University graduate he holds a BEng (Hons) Degree in Civil Engineering achieving Chartered Engineer status in 2007. He is a member of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM).

Ben Costelloe Ben Costelloe is the membership officer for Ireland of the Energy Institute and is a former senior lecturer and Head of Department at Bolton Street DIT (now TUD). He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering (UCD) and a master’s degree (Brunel) and is active in low energy/low carbon heating/cooling/ventilation systems design and research and has published many repeatedly cited papers on evaporative cooling. He regularly peer reviews research papers for Elsevier energy journals.

Marie Cowan Dr Marie Cowan MRIA MIoD PGeo is the Director of the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and a senior management board member at the British Geological Survey. Marie is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and holds an IoD diploma in Company Direction. Marie is also a Professional Geologist with the Institute of Geologists of Ireland. Marie is an elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy and leads the Governance working group of EuroGeoSurveys which represents 38 countries. Marie is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly All-Party Group for Science and Technology and the NI Learned Societies and Professional Bodies Forum.

Paul Cuffe Paul Cuffe is currently an Assistant Professor within the UCD School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, from which he received B.E. and Ph.D. degrees in 2009 and 2013, respectively. His core research interests are in the optimization and analysis of electrical energy systems, with an emerging interest in the potential for blockchain smart contract instruments to disrupt energy marketplaces. He is a member of the UCD Energy Institute.

Noel Cunniffe Noel Cunniffe became CEO of Wind Energy Ireland in May 2021, prior to that, he held roles as the Deputy CEO and Head of Policy. Since March 2019, Noel led Wind Energy Ireland’s Policy Department in driving policy development across all aspects of the onshore and offshore renewable industry in Ireland. Previously, Noel was the Renewable Integration Lead in the Operations, Planning and Innovation department at EirGrid, the Transmission System Operator, where he was responsible for leading aspects of EirGrid’s Delivering a Secure Sustainable Power System (DS3) Programme and the Horizon 2020 funded EU-SysFlex project. He is a Chartered Engineer with Engineer’s Ireland.

Denise Curran Denise Curran is Finance Director of firmus energy. Denise started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, before moving to Viridian where she worked at a group level and subsequently within unregulated energy businesses as the company’s Group Financial Controller. She then worked at Belfast International Airport for 10 years. A Queen’s University graduate earning a BSc (Hons) degree in economics and holding an MSc in finance, Denise is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Sponsored by

John Dallas John Dallas is a Partner in A&L Goodbody's Energy, Infrastructure and Natural Resources and Projects Groups. He has extensive experience advising sponsors, lenders and developers on the financing and construction of large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly in the energy sector. John also advises on the acquisition and sale of large-scale infrastructure projects and on joint ventures within the infrastructure sector. In addition, he advises on regulatory matters in the energy sector.

John Dalton John Dalton is Chief Financial Officer at Bord Gáis Energy. He is responsible for the financial leadership of the business which includes reporting, control, and planning, ensuring financial statements integrity and guiding the business to define and deliver the strategic agenda. John has been with Bord Gáis Energy since 2015 and joined the management team in May 2017. Prior to working with Bord Gáis Energy, John worked in Centrica within the energy markets, and trading function. John is a Chartered Accountant (ACA), has a master’s in financial services (MBS) and is a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (AMCT).

Alan Daly Alan Daly has been Group Head of Legal at ESB since 2011. He has overall responsibility for ESB’s in-house legal team, which provides legal advice and transactional support to all core areas of ESB’s businesses in Ireland and abroad, including ESB International, ESB’s international engineering consulting business. Consisting of 29 solicitors and 19 legal executives and legal secretaries, ESB’s in-house legal team supports its workforce of almost 8,000 employees and is the first point of call for all legal issues arising in ESB’s domestic and international operations in generation, supply and transmission of electricity and in its energy consulting business.

Philip Daly Philip Daly is the lead Partner in the successful Energy and Natural Resources Team within LK Shields Solicitors. He is a Commercial Lawyer with significant experience and focus on the energy market. Philip advises a number of household names in the energy sector on all their legal and regulatory needs ranging from wind farm and solar farm promoters, combined heat and power plant operators, energy trading companies, venture capitalists and a number of other significant entities within the oil, minerals, and renewable energy sectors.

David de Casseres David de Casseres joined the Utility Regulator board in May 2019. David is a chartered engineer with further qualifications in law, finance and business administration and he has spent over 40 years working in various parts of the electricity industry within the UK and Ireland. As Chief Executive of the Huntstown Power Company in Dublin, David led the development, financing, construction, and operation of the first fully independent major power station in the Republic. In the years leading up to his retirement in 2017, David undertook senior leadership roles in NIE, SONI and EirGrid with responsibility for major grid transmission projects and cross border developments such as the proposed 400kV North-South Interconnector.

James Delahunt James Delahunt is a Director in KPMG Ireland’s Corporate Finance practice and is leads the Renewable Energy M&A and Financing service line of KPMG Sustainable Futures, Ireland’s largest dedicated renewables, sustainability and climate change advisory division. James has extensive experience in Renewables M&A, having advised on over 20 transactions in the last three years across a wide variety of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage. KPMG Sustainable Futures are also assisting corporate and public sector clients navigate the wider climate change and sustainability agenda as Ireland transitions to a net zero economy, including corporate PPAs, decarbonisation pathways and sustainability strategies.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Jim Dollard Jim Dollard was appointed ESB’s Executive Director, Generation and Trading in 2018. Prior to that he was Executive Director Business Service Centre and Electric Ireland. Jim is an accountant and began his career at ESB in 1992 and has held a number of senior management positions throughout the company. Jim holds Bachelor of Commerce and master’s in business studies degrees from University College Dublin.

Marie Donnelly Marie Donnelly is Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council having been appointed in February 2021 by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. Previously her roles included Director for Renewables, Energy Efficiency and Innovation, at DG Energy, in the European Commission, Brussels and non-executive director of Tipperary Energy Agency – social enterprise for energy efficiency; and E3G, a climate change think tank operating to accelerate the global transition to a low carbon economy. Marie was also Chairperson of Renewable Energy Ireland – an open partnership of sustainable energy associations working collectively to support the energy transition in Ireland.

Matt Dunn Matt Dunn is a Partner in the Finance Department at Arthur Cox. He specialises in project and infrastructure finance, working closely with the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources Group. Matt has worked for borrowers and lenders on multiple financing transactions involving wind and solar power, battery energy storage systems and conventional power generation, both in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe. Matt was previously a partner at Clifford Chance where he advised borrowers and lenders on acquisition financings, infrastructure and project financings and restructuring work, as well as advising the Loan Market Association on its suite of leveraged finance documentation.

Mary Dunne Mary Dunne is Head of the Projects & Construction team at Maples and Calder (Ireland) LLP, the Maples Group's law firm in Dublin. Mary's areas of expertise include infrastructure projects and project finance in the energy, road, rail, education, water, waste health, nursing home and housing sectors, with particular expertise in PPPs and sustainable finance.

Geraint Ellis Geraint Ellis is Professor of Environmental Planning in the School of Natural and Built Environment at Queen’s University, Belfast, Co-Editor of the Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning and a founding member of the editorial board of the Cities & Health Journal. He has been appointed by the Taoiseach as an independent member of the National Economic and Social Council and is also a member of the Assessment Panel for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning of the UK’s Research Excellence Framework 2021. Geraint also acts as the Irish national expert on the International Energy Agency’s working group on social acceptance of wind energy. He has published widely on the way planning relates to energy, health, and marine issues, including recently co-authoring reports on transformation of the Irish energy system for the Environmental Protection Agency and the European Commission. He is currently leading the MISTRAL project, an EU-funded Innovative Training Network of 15-linked early careers researchers based in seven European Universities examining aspects of the social acceptance of renewable energy.

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Bill Emery

Bill Emery has been Chairman of the Utility Regulator since July 2012. He was appointed as a member of the SEM Committee in March 2013. He is also non-executive Chair of the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), a Brussels based think tank that aims to help improve regulation across Europe. He is a civil engineer with a PhD in public health engineering who worked on major capital works and corporate planning before becoming a regulator in 1990. He was formerly Chief Executive of the Office of Rail Regulation, the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain’s railways. Prior to this, he worked in the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) for 15 years where he was Chief Engineer, overseeing the performance of regulated companies, delivery of investment programmes and the comparative competition regime.

Mark Ennis Mark Ennis is Non-Executive Chairman of SSE Ireland, the second largest energy utility on the island and part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc. Mark has around 20 years’ experience in the energy sector. He serves as a Non-Executive Director on a number of Boards, including W&G Baird and Wilson Biochemical Ltd., and in 2019 was named Non-Executive Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors. Mark has most recently been Chairman of Invest NI where he held the position from 2010 until 2019. Mark is an economic honours graduate of Queen's University Belfast, with an Open University MBA. In 2016, Mark was made a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the economy and community in Northern Ireland.

Garret Farrelly Garret Farrelly is a Partner and Head of the Energy and Infrastructure Group and Head of the Projects Group in Matheson. He advises on all aspects of projects and project financing, from PPPs to privately financed electricity, oil, and gas field developments and privatisations as well as utility network infrastructure. Garret’s experience includes electricity and gas market regulation and trading, M&A and financing in the infrastructure and the conventional and renewable electricity sectors and the mining and oil and gas sectors. Garret has advised on the financing, sale and purchase of onshore and offshore wind farms in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Kevin Feeney Kevin Feeney is a Partner in A&L Goodbody's Construction and Engineering Group. He has over 20 years’ experience working on a broad and diverse range of projects in the energy, property, and infrastructure sector. Kevin's experience gives him an all-round perspective and appreciation of the issues likely to surface in any deal in the property or infrastructure space. He has a genuine understanding of risk and risk mitigation and has advised on the most complex property and infrastructure projects in Ireland.

Pat Fenlon Pat Fenlon was appointed as Group Finance Director of ESB in July 2016. He previously held a number of senior financial, commercial, and general management positions across ESB including Group Finance and Commercial Manager, Group Treasurer, General Manager of Electric Ireland and Corporate Change Manager. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and worked with Price Waterhouse Coopers before joining ESB in 1993.

Seán Finan Seán Finan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA). He is a Chartered Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons) Degree from National University of Ireland, Galway. Seán is leading IrBEA and its members for a sustainable future in bioenergy and to strategically position the biomass, biogas, biofuels, biochar, wood fuels and energy crop sectors to play a key role in Ireland’s sustainability and renewable energy roadmap.

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John FitzGerald John FitzGerald is one of Ireland’s leading economists and a Research Affiliate with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and an Adjunct Professor in TCD and UCD. He was a member of the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation from 2003 to 2006 and he is currently a member of the Government's Climate Change Advisory Council.

Seamus Flynn Seamus Flynn joined Indaver, a waste management company, as General Manager in 2017 with responsibility for the Irish and UK market. Indaver Ireland is one of the country’s leading waste companies. Today, Seamus is the Managing Director of Indaver’s Ireland and UK activities with responsibility for the ongoing development of waste-toenergy and industrial waste management activities across the region. Prior to joining Indaver, Seamus worked in the oil, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries in Ireland, for over 20 years.

Mark Foley Mark Foley joined EirGrid as Group Chief Executive in June 2018, having held the role of Managing Director of Land Solutions in Coillte since January 2016. Prior to that, Mark was Managing Director of Coillte Enterprise where he led the development of new businesses in renewable energy, telecommunications, land development and land sales. Before that, from November 2000 to August 2008, Mark was Director of Capital Programmes at Dublin Airport Authority. In this role he was responsible for master planning, permitting, planning and delivery of c. €1.5 billion in airport infrastructure at Dublin, Shannon, and Cork airports. Prior to that Mark held a number of senior executive roles with multinationals in the speciality chemicals and electronics sectors.

Aoife Foley Aoife Foley is a Reader in Queen’s University Belfast, an Adjunct Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin, and Editor in Chief of Elsevier’s Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. Dr Foley returned to academia in 2009 after 12 years in industry. Her research focus is wind power integration, demand response and electricity markets.

Roy Foreman Roy Foreman leads Power NI Energy Limited’s Power Procurement Business (PPB). PPB is responsible for managing Power NI Energy’s portfolio of power purchase agreements with the privatised generators. PPB, acting as an Intermediary, trades the generation capacity it secures under the PPAs in the Single Electricity Market. PPB also enters into Risk Management agreements with other market participants.

John French John French became Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator in November 2020. Prior to joining the Utility Regulator, John was Chief Executive of The Consumer Council from July 2015. Before this, John was Director of Regulation and Pricing at firmus energy, Investment Planning and Regulatory Reporting Manager at NIE Networks, Head of Policy at the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Network Director at the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership in Vienna, and a diplomatic policy advisor on climate change and energy issues within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. John is a chartered director, chartered manager, and a fellow of the Institute of Directors. He has a master’s degree in accountancy, and an honours degree in accountancy and business finance, both from the University of Dundee.

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Ronan Galway Ronan Galwey was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Ervia in January 2021 and is the incoming Chief Financial Officer of Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. Since joining Ervia in 2012 he has held a number of senior positions across the organisation. He is a graduate of UCC and a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

Jim Gannon Jim Gannon has been a member of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since October 2019. His lead responsibilities include the Single Electricity Market; the generation portfolio; electricity networks regulation, connections, and interconnection; system services and flexibility; and electricity security of supply. Jim previously served as the CEO of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and before that role worked for 15 years in the private sector within the energy industry. Jim is a graduate of NUI Galway, the University of Wales Aberystwyth, and he holds an MBA from the UCD Smurfit School of Business.

Donna Gartland Donna Gartland is CEO at Codema — Dublin's Energy Agency, a not-for-profit public good company established in 1997. She is responsible for driving Codema's mission to accelerate Dublin’s low-carbon transition through innovative, local-level energy and climate mitigation research, planning, engagement and project delivery, in order to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the lives of the people of Dublin. Donna has been driving the development of District Heating in Ireland for the past eight years and is part of the Tallaght and Dublin Docklands District Heating Schemes project teams. She is a Director at the Irish District Energy Association and at HeatWorks – Ireland's first not-for-profit energy utility. She sits on the board of Renewable Energy Ireland, is appointed to DECC's District Heating Steering Group, and is a member of the Women in Energy Ireland steering group.

Tom Grealis Tom Grealis is Technology Director at Bord Gáis Energy and leads the development and execution of the company’s technology strategy. Prior to joining Bord Gáis Energy in January 2019, Tom had a 16-year career with RTÉ, and led the design and development of its digital services as Director of Production and Operations in RTÉ Digital. He has also acted as a consultant to the GAA. Tom holds a BA in economics and English and a higher diploma in applied communications, both from the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Rebecca Greene Rebecca Greene is a Tax Director at PwC leading the Energy, Renewables and Sustainability/ESG Tax Group. Rebecca has experience in a wide range of transactions in the sector with a specialised focus on renewable energy and sustainability. Rebecca works closely with a number of domestic and international clients including the completion of a secondment in 2020 to an international renewable energy group. She has worked across onshore wind, offshore wind and solar. Rebecca has expertise in a wide range of tax issues from compliance and consulting to due diligence, acquisition structuring and divestments. She is a member of the Marine Renewables Industry Association (MRIA).

Jessica Gregory Jessica Gregory is Founder and CEO of Oak Hall Consulting, an organisation providing energy market expertise to businesses, new energy start-ups, existing supply companies, community energy projects and other public and private sector bodies. Jessica has over 20 years’ experience working within the regulated and de-regulated energy sectors both in Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK, and South Africa. She has held executive roles in energy regulation and energy market design in ESB Networks. She has extensive consultancy and senior project management experience contributing to the delivery of several strategic and technical energy programmes both in Ireland and in other countries.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Mark Griffin Mark Griffin commenced duty as Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in September 2013. Prior to his appointment, Mark was the Assistant Secretary for Water at the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. He also led the Planning Division in the department for much of that time. Prior to that he served in the Department of Foreign Affairs as Environment Counsellor at the Irish Representation to the European Union in Brussels where he led negotiations on key environmental dossiers during the 2004 Irish Presidency. He has also worked in the Department of Finance. Mark is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin.

Tom Halpin Tom Halpin is Head of Communications and a member of the senior management team at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Tom is responsible for strategic communications, corporate positioning, and programme marketing. A graduate of UCD with a degree in Electronic Engineering, and a Diploma in Marketing, Tom has worked in the energy sector since 1995 when he joined the Irish Energy Centre, the predecessor of SEAI.

Bob Hanna Bob Hanna is a chartered energy engineer. He is Chairman of Smart Grid Ireland and a Board Member of Northern Ireland Community Energy. Bob was Chief Technical Advisor (Energy) to the Irish Government, Advisor to Sustainable Energy Ireland, Commercial Manager with Premier Power, and General Manager of Northern Ireland Electricity International. He was also with the National Board for Science and Technology and the ESB, Kennedy & Donkin and the Ministry of Technology (UK), and the Institut fuer Solare Energieversorgungstechnik (Germany). Bob won “Consultant of the Year” Awards in 1993 and 1995.

Tanya Harrington Dr Tanya Harrington is Chairperson of Renewable Energy Ireland (Non-Executive) and also currently serves as An Post’s Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer, leading the development and implementation of the Company’s comprehensive and integrated regulatory strategy and leading An Post’s engagement with government and regulatory authorities and stakeholders at international, European and domestic levels. Before joining An Post, Tanya spent six years in consultancy, advising a range of Ireland’s largest companies on matters of public policy, government affairs and economic regulation across a range of economically regulated sectors, including energy, climate action, transport, communications, broadcasting and postal. Prior to her consulting work, Tanya was Director of the NTR Foundation, the corporate foundation of NTR plc – a leading investor and asset manager of renewable energy projects, with a specific focus on wind energy. These positions built on Tanya’s considerable experience of public policy formation, developed through her work as Ministerial Advisor at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and the Department of Transport. In her early career, Tanya was Head of Energy Policy at business representative group Ibec.

Colm Hatton Colm Hatton is Business Development Manager, Republic of Ireland at Balcas Energy. Colm has more than 30 years’ experience in sales and customer service management roles and is now focused on helping Irish Businesses to decarbonise their heating requirements, reduce their carbon footprint and exposure to carbon tax increases and save money on their energy bills. He holds a Renewable Energy Expert Certificate with Galileo Master Certificates in Biomass, Renewable Energy Solutions and Renewable Energy Management and Finance from the EEC - ECT Online Academy (European Energy Centre – European Centre of Technology).

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Paddy Hayes

Paddy Hayes is Chief Executive of ESB, a leading Irish energy company operating throughout Ireland and the UK. ESB aims to create a brighter, low-carbon, future for the customers and communities it serves, investing in technologies, infrastructure and services to support the clean energy transition. Before his appointment as Chief Executive in 2021, Paddy headed up two of ESB’s main operating divisions as Executive Director of ESB’s Generation and Trading business and then as Managing Director of ESB Networks. He was formerly a board member of the association of European Distribution System Operators (E.DSO) and co-chair of the European Distribution-Transmission Cooperation Platform. Paddy is a Chartered Engineer with degrees in engineering from UCD and an MBA from the University of Warwick. Before moving to the energy sector in 1999, to lead the Synergen joint venture between ESB and Statoil, he worked with British Steel in the UK.

Mike Hayes Mike Hayes is Partner and Global Head of Renewables at KPMG Ireland. He specialises in advising on renewable projects globally (wind, solar, battery and biomass). He is one of the longest serving professionals in the sector and advises many of the key participants in the market including developers, generating companies, utilities and private equity/infrastructure funds operating in this sector. Mike is also leading KPMG’s global decarbonisation work with corporate clients across multiple sectors. Mike is also very focused on climate and sustainable energy innovation and is developing some cutting-edge solutions with organisations such as the World Economic Forum to help accelerate this agenda.

Geraldine Heavey Geraldine Heavey was appointed to the position of Executive Director, Enterprise Services of ESB in June 2018. Prior to this she held a number of senior financial and general management positions across ESB Group including Finance Controller, Business Service Centre (BSC) and Electric Ireland, Manager, ESB Trading and most recently Group Finance and Commercial Manager. She is an accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) from Dublin City University.

Tanya Hedley Tanya Hedley is Director of Networks at the Utility Regulator. Tanya is responsible for the regulation of electricity, water and gas networks in Northern Ireland. She previously held the roles of Director of Water Regulation, Gas Regulation and Director of Electricity Regulation. Prior to joining the Utility Regulator, Tanya worked for NIE for over 18 years in transmission development, asset management and environmental management. She is also a fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, a chartered engineer and an associated member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

Ainsley Heffernan Ainsley Heffernan is a partner and head of the awardwinning Energy & Natural Resources Group at Beauchamps. He has almost 20 years’ experience advising clients in the energy sector. Ainsley and his team have extensive experience representing clients involved in wind farm projects (both onshore and offshore), solar PV, energy storage, anaerobic digestion and CHP. He has spoken at numerous conferences and regularly contributes to a variety of industry publications. Ainsley is on the executive council of the Wind Energy Ireland and is also an active member of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA).

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Phil Hemmingway Phil Hemmingway joined the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in 2020 as the Director of the Energy Safety Division. The CRU’s Energy Safety Division holds a key oversight role in protecting public safety and the prevention of major accidents in Ireland’s energy sector. Phil is responsible for overseeing energy safety regulation in the gas sector (networks, supply, storage, use and liquefied petroleum gas distribution), petroleum sector (upstream onshore and offshore exploration and extraction), and of gas and electrical safety supervisory bodies. Phil previously held roles as Head of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Research and Technology Department; as an Assistant Professor at UCD; as an energy technology and policy consultant at RPS Group and at Science Foundation Ireland. Phil is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and holds bachelor’s (engineering) and doctoral (energy) degrees from UCD.

Martina Hennessy Martina Hennessy is the Principal Officer leading one of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) divisions within the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. This includes responsibilities for establishing new consenting processes as set out under the Maritime Area Planning Act (2021), completion of the second Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan, and development of strategy for a more centralised approach to the sustainable management of our marine resources for ORE.

Cathal Hennessy Cathal Hennessy is Managing Director of RWE Renewables Ireland Ltd, RWE Renewables ranks among the largest global players in renewable power generation with its technology portfolio covering onshore and offshore wind, utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power and energy storage. Active in Ireland since 2016 RWE Ireland is currently developing projects in onshore wind, offshore wind, and battery storage. Cathal is also responsible for RWE’s onshore renewables development in UK and Ireland.

Andrew Hickey Andrew Hickey is Commercial Manager at Hitachi Energy Ireland providing sustainable energy solutions that facilitate reliable and efficient system integration of the future digital electric grid. Andrew has 20 years of industry experience, including five years of delivering electrical systems and grid interconnection across multiple sectors. Currently focused on the energy transition to support the development of innovative grid and power quality solutions to help form the future networks.

Stuart Hobbs Stuart Hobbs is Director of Energy Services at SSE Airtricity. He joined SSE in 2009 with over 20 years’ experience in the energy industry in various senior management roles. Stuart is responsible for managing and developing a portfolio of solutions that provide clients, domestic and commercial, with the tools to improve their energy efficiency. Projects range between home heating upgrades, solar PV and solar thermal, external wall insulation and heat pumps to the design, procurement, contract and project management for large scale commercial upgrades and public sector clients. Stuart and his team also work closely with SEAI to access funding streams for the benefit of clients and a more sustainable energy future.

Denise Horan Denise Horan is Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Codling Wind Park. With 20 years’ experience in communications and stakeholder management roles, Denise joined the Codling Wind Park team as Stakeholder Engagement Manager in November 2020. Prior to joining the project, Denise spent two years as Head of Communications for CRH’s European Materials business, based in Amsterdam. Before this, she worked for nine years with Shell, in a variety of project and corporate communications roles in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands and Kazakhstan. The early part of Denise’s career was spent in local journalism in the west of Ireland, and she was Editor of The Mayo News for three years.

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John Johnson John Johnson is Director of Development for SSE Thermal, responsible for setting the strategic direction of the business with a core focus on developing low-carbon flexible generation and energy storage projects. John was previously Head of Development for SSE in Ireland, with responsibility for both thermal and renewables projects. Prior to joining SSE, he worked internationally with Siemens. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen’s University, Belfast and an MBA from Trinity College, Dublin.

Jackie Keaney Jackie Keaney is President of CEWEP Ireland (the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants) and a Vice President of CEWEP Europe. Working with other European members, Jackie uses experiences in Europe to help support national waste, energy and climate change policy, and the implementation of an environmentally sustainable integrated waste management system on the Island of Ireland. Jackie is also a Commercial Director of Indaver having worked with the company for over 20 years. Indaver operates a waste-toenergy facility in County Meath and has advanced plans to develop further waste-to-energy infrastructure in Cork, Belfast, and other regions in the UK.

Patrick Keatley Patrick Keatley is a Lecturer in Energy Policy and Infrastructure at Ulster University. His work focuses on the governance of integrated, consumer-led energy systems, and the development of new markets for products and services delivered by consumer-owned resources. Before joining UU, Dr Keatley worked in the offshore oil and gas sector for clients including Shell, BP, and Phillips on projects in the UK, Norway, Mexico and the Middle East.

David Kelly David Kelly is the Director of Customer and Business Development at Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. David has over 20 years of executive-level experience having worked extensively in both the private and public sectors throughout his career. Prior to being appointed to his current role, David was the Group Head of Customer Operations and Public Affairs for Ervia.

Paul Kelly Paul Kelly is a Senior Development and Consents Manager in RWE Renewables Ireland – part of the RWE Group, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies with onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic plants, and battery storage facilities. He has extensive experience in the delivery of consents for large scale transmission, thermal and renewable energy generation projects both in Ireland and internationally. Paul’s current area of focus is the development of RWE’s offshore wind portfolio in Ireland. Paul holds an undergraduate degree in science from the National University of Ireland and an MSc from the Institute of Technology, Sligo.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Barry Kilcline Barry Kilcline is Director of Offshore Wind Development for Ireland at SSE Renewables, part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc and the leading developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy across Ireland and the UK. Barry has responsibility for development of SSE Renewables’ 2GWplus pipeline of offshore wind energy projects around the island of Ireland, including the 520MW Phase 2 of Arklow Bank Wind Park in the Irish Sea. Barry has worked on a number of large capital renewable energy projects for SSE Renewables, the most recent of which is Galway Wind Park, Ireland’s largest windfarm. A graduate of electronic engineering from Trinity College with an MSc from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, Barry came to SSE Renewables with significant experience after working with ESB International both in Ireland and internationally.

Sinéad Kilkelly Sinéad Kilkelly was appointed Executive Director, People and Organisational Development of ESB in December 2021. Sinéad joins ESB from Bus Éireann where she has held the position of Chief People Officer since 2018. Prior to this, she held a number of senior leadership roles including Vice President People Services at Etihad Aviation Group in Abu Dhabi, in addition to HR roles in Ulster Bank and Intel Ireland. She has an MBA from Trinity College Dublin and is a Chartered Fellow with CIPD.

Dave Kirwan Dave Kirwan is Managing Director of Bord Gáis Energy. Dave returned to the role of MD in Summer 2020 having completed a successful term in the UK as Managing Director of the UK Customer Operations and latterly MD of the UK Home business. Dave was responsible for leading the Bord Gáis Energy business through the successful sale to Centrica in 2014 and prior to that had worked in Bord Gáis Éireann for 15 years. Dave holds a BE electronics from UCD and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland, he also holds an MBA from UCC and a doctorate in business economics (DBA) from UCC. Dave also serves on the Centrica Group Executive Committee.

Loretta Lambkin Loretta Lambkin joined the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in 2019 as the Director of Operations and Organisational Development with responsibility for strategic planning, human resources, finance and governance, communications and human resources. Prior to joining CRU, Loretta was the Chief Officer of An Bord Pleanála for six years. She has also held the posts of acting Chief Executive and Director of Marketing for the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and Marketing Manager at Diageo plc. Loretta is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (BA geography and sociology) and UCD (MA geography) and holds an MBA from the University of Maryland, USA.

Peter Lantry Peter Lantry is Managing Director for Hitachi Energy in Ireland and global sales lead for data centres. Prior to joining Hitachi Energy in 2021 Peter spent over 17 years at EirGrid where his most recent role was Head of Interconnection. Peter’s early career was spent in consultancy for PWC, IBM and Arup. Peter is a graduate of University College Dublin, holding an Executive MBA, a BSc in business analytics and a BEng in civil engineering.

Peter Lefroy Peter Lefroy is a Director of RWE Renewables Ireland part of the RWE Group, one of the world's leading renewable energy companies with onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic plants and battery storage facilities. Peter is leading the development of the RWE offshore business in Ireland including Dublin Array, a >600MW project on the east coast. He has extensive experience in the energy industry having worked in engineering consultancy, project development and construction. Peter holds a degree in mechanical engineering from University of Limerick and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin. Peter is chair of the Wind Energy Ireland Offshore Wind Committee.

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Stephanie Leonard

Stephanie Leonard is CEO of Kyte Powertech in Cavan, which employs 430+ people. Stephanie joined the plant in 2009 and has worked across the site in both Quality and Operations functions. She took over as Managing Director in 2019 and led the management team to deliver an MBO in 2020 with the backing of MML Capital Ireland. Stephanie has extensive experience in automotive and industrial sectors having worked in project management and delivery for 12 years prior to joining Kyte Powertech. Stephanie holds a B.Sc Hons in Industrial Microbiology and Chemistry from University College Dublin (UCD) and an MSc in Business Management.

Owen Lewis Owen Lewis co-chairs the IIEA Working Group on Climate and Energy. He is also Emeritus Professor of Architectural Science, UCD Dublin, and was Chair of the Energy Institute in Ireland. He is a member of the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland. Owen is President of the Royal Dublin Society. He was previously Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) between 2009 and 2012. Qualified as architect, engineer, and energy technologist, he has practised professionally in Ireland, England, and Zambia. He was part-time Executive Director for Innovation and R&D at Bord na Móna between 2006 and 2008. Owen was Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at UCD Dublin and later Principal of the UCD College of Engineering, Mathematical and Physical Sciences. In 1976 Owen co-founded the Solar Energy Society of Ireland.

Marc Lowry Marc Lowry is the business development lead in Smith & Williamson’s energy, renewables, and natural resources practice bringing the very best commercial, financial and taxation advice to sector clients. Working with energy and natural resources businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve growth and success. Smith & Williamson’s renewables and natural resources team also provides expert accounting, turnkey outsource and compliance services. (Smith & Williamson is set to rebrand as Evelyn Partners).

Ian Luney Ian Luney is Commercial Director for EP UK Investments. Ian has 30 years of commercial, strategic and engineering experience within the energy sector operating at a senior level over the past 20 years. Ian is leading EP UK Investment’s commercial and regulatory activities in ISEM and is responsible for managing strategic relationships. Previously, Ian served as President, AES UK & Ireland leading the Kilroot and Ballylumford businesses and leveraging AES’ global expertise in new energy solutions, such as energy storage, into Northern Ireland. He has also acted as Chief Commercial Officer, AES Europe. Prior to joining AES Ian held numerous commercial and technical management roles within Viridian and Northern Ireland Electricity.

Muireann Lynch Muireann Lynch is a Senior Research Officer in the Economic Analysis division of the Economic and Social Research Institute. She joined the Institute in 2014. Muireann holds a degree in mathematics and economics from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD from the School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering in UCD. She has published numerous research articles in diverse areas of energy economics and has co-authored submissions to various public consultations and government departments and served on policy and Department Steering Committees. Muireann is also a co-PI with the NexSys SFI-funded Partnership Programme and coordinates emerging research focused on the energy systems modelling. Muireann’s research interests include electricity market regulation, power system economics and renewable generation integration and her research methodologies include stochastic mathematical programming, optimisation, and game theory.

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Dara Lynott Dara Lynott is Chief Executive of the Electricity Association of Ireland, the authoritative voice for the electricity sector on the island. Prior to joining the Association he was an Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2004-2017). In this role, he had responsibility for industrial and waste licensing, greenhouse gas inventories, carbon emission trading, the circular economy, and the Office of Environmental Enforcement. Prior to joining the EPA, he worked as an environmental consultant in Boston, USA. He holds a BE from NUI Galway, a MSc from North-Eastern University, Boston and a PGradDip. from UCD Smurfit Business School.

Aoife MacEvilly Aoife MacEvilly has been a member of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since October 2014 and was appointed Chairperson in February 2020. Her lead responsibilities include empowering and protecting customers, supporting active customers and communities and the future role of gas in a secure, decarbonised energy system. Aoife previously worked in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and in the private sector. She holds a BA in European business and German from Ulster University, a professional diploma in regulatory governance from UCD and an MA in leadership from UCD Smurfit.

Rónán MacNioclais Rónán MacNioclais is a Tax Partner at PwC, heading up the Energy, Renewables and Sustainability Tax Group and leading the Financial Services Tax Group of the Irish firm. Rónán has responsibility for a large number of energy and utilities clients and has been heavily involved in a wide range of projects around the globe in the oil and gas, conventional and renewable energy generation, and downstream areas. The projects have included acquisitions, disposals, refinancings and tax structuring projects.

Claire Madden Claire Madden is the Chief Legal Officer of Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. She has extensive experience in energy, infrastructure and renewables. An expert in energy regulation and reform, she has advised utilities, funders and regulators on energy sector transactions. Before joining Gas Networks Ireland, Claire was centrally involved in the liberalisation of the Irish gas and electricity markets, including the establishment of the Single Electricity Market.

Ciaran Maguire Ciaran Maguire is Ireland Operations Manager of SSE Renewables, responsible for leading the team that operate and manage the largest wind turbine fleet on the island of Ireland. This comprises SSE plc’s, JV’s and Third Party’s 34 windfarms in Ireland consisting of 502 WTGs and 1,017MW of operational installed capacity. Ciaran previously held management roles in SSE Service, Maintenance Planning and UK Operations, helping grow the team from to a full Operations, Maintenance and Service Team in the post-warranty period. Ciaran came to SSE from Aer Lingus Maintenance and Engineering, specialising in major aircraft overhaul, spending time in the Far East and Italy developing local aircraft maintenance and overhaul capabilities. He is a mechanical engineer from DIT Bolton Street with an MBA from the Open University.

Cathal Marley Cathal Marley is the Chief Executive Officer of Eriva which comprises Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland. He has over 20 years’ experience in the utilities and infrastructure sector, having previously worked in senior roles across the electricity industry with ESB. Cathal holds an MBA from the Michael Smurfit Business School, UCD, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Board and Council Member of the IMI and is also a member of the DCU Governing Authority and Audit Committee. His early career was spent with EY in Dublin and Eastern Europe.

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William Marshall William Marshall is a Legal Director in DLA Piper’s Irish office and is part of the market leading international DLA Piper energy and natural resources team. William has extensive experience of advising clients in the Irish energy sector including project developers, funders, sellers, and purchasers of energy assets. A core area of his focus is grid, offtake and power trading arrangements including the SEM and both conventional PPAs and corporate PPAs. William has a degree in mechanical engineering and is a member of Engineers Ireland.

Niall Martindale Niall Martindale is Interim Managing Director of firmus energy. Niall has over 15 years’ experience working within the natural gas industry in Northern Ireland. He moves to the post having been Director of Regulation and Pricing with firmus energy for seven years. In his new role, Niall is responsible for the strategic direction and governance of firmus energy’s Distribution and Supply businesses, as well as spearheading the pivotal role firmus energy will play in Northern Ireland’s transition to net zero carbon.

Margie McCarthy Margie McCarthy is Director of Research and Policy Insights, with key responsibilities for analytical and research functions within SEAI including the development and delivery of energy data and insights to support policy decisions, and investment in innovative energy research which contribute to Ireland’s energy transition. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team of SEAI contributing to the development and implementation of organisational strategy and operationalising that strategy for optimal delivery of results. Margie is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of Engineers Ireland. She joined SEAI from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), where she served as Head of Education and Public Engagement and as Interim Director of Science for Society.

Peter McClenaghan Peter McClenaghan is Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability at the Consumer Council whose statutory responsibilities in the Northern Ireland energy market include consumer education, research, representation, complaints, and investigations. He is responsible for the strategic leadership of energy, water, and transport policy. Peter has managed regulatory affairs and compliance in gas distribution and supply which included leading in-house development of price control business plans and an appeal to the Competition and Markets Authority. He has also worked as a senior policy advisor to British Government ministers and MPs and as a consultant advising utility companies in policy, regulation, and compliance.

Kim McClenaghan Kim McClenaghan is an Advisory Partner at PwC, heading up the Energy and Utilities team of the Irish firm. He has worked across the industry supporting clients on complex strategy and transformation programmes in the electricity, gas, and water sectors. Kim and his team have supported clients on a wide range of renewables and energy infrastructure deals. Kim is a chartered engineer.

Ian McCracken Ian McCracken has been involved in supplying off-grid energy solutions for over 30 years, including seven years working in Asia and Europe. He joined Balcas in 2014 as Director of Business Development for Balcas’ Energy division. The core business of Balcas is producing sawn timber for the construction, fencing, and pallet wood sector. Since 2005, the sawmill residues have been used to produce heat and electrical energy to power the manufacturing processes, as well as making carbon-neutral wood pellets for use in homes and businesses across the UK and Ireland. In the last 15 years the wood pellets sold by Balcas Energy to domestic and commercial customers ranging from homes, hospitals, distilleries, supermarkets, nursing homes, leisure centres, and offices have displaced more than one billion litres of imported oil and saved over three million tonnes of carbon.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Lorraine McCullen Lorraine McCullen is HR Partner at Bord Gáis Energy. Lorraine has led the HR department at Bord Gáis Energy since 2016 and is also responsible for the facilities team, supporting two office locations. Lorraine guides the Bord Gáis Energy business in strategic people decisions, sitting on the Ireland Executive Management team but also working closely with the Global Centrica HR function. Prior to joining Bord Gáis Energy, Lorraine worked for 15 years in commercial, operational and HR roles in the Irish aviation industry.

Paul McGowan Paul McGowan has been a member of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) since 2013 and was appointed Chair from February 2017 to February 2020. His lead responsibilities within CRU include water regulation and energy safety. Since 2000, Paul has held various roles in CRU across energy safety, all-island energy markets and gas regulation. Paul also previously worked in the offshore oil and gas, education, and construction sectors. Paul is a Chartered Surveyor by profession with a PhD in the field of construction/engineering management.

Colm McGrath Colm McGrath is the Founder and Managing Director of Irelands’ only Surety Specialist “Surety Bonds”. Having specialised in Surety for over 12 years, Colm and his team are the preeminent surety placement brokers operating from Ireland and in international markets. Utilising their team of specialist brokers and financial analysts, they understand the issues for clients and for surety providers, and are able to open up new facilities, consult at high levels of complexity and deliver consistent results to their client base.

Siobhán McHugh Siobhán McHugh is Chief Executive Officer of the Demand Response Association of Ireland, representing 600MW of demand and embedded generation response operating in the energy, capacity and DS3 (system services) markets on the island of Ireland. Siobhán has over 15 years’ energy sector experience, having worked for Aryzta, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, the Single Electricity Market Operator and EirGrid. Most recently, she worked for management consultants EY, focused on energy strategy, transformation, and major programme delivery.

Alex McLean Alex McLean is Head of Sustainability and ESG in the leading all-island law firm, Arthur Cox. Alex has more than 25 years of domestic and international energy sector expertise and has been centrally involved in almost every major development in the energy sector in Ireland and Northern Ireland for the past 20 years. Alex’s experience includes project development, trading, market design, regulatory reform, M&A, and financing in the conventional and renewable electricity and upstream and downstream gas sectors.

Kevin McPartlan Kevin McPartlan is the CEO who led the former Irish Petroleum Industry Association through a transition to Fuels for Ireland. This new brand and vision reflect the sector’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality while powering Ireland’s today and tomorrow. Fuels for Ireland’s core position is that fossil fuels cannot be the basis of Ireland’s long-term energy plans or the sectors’ long-term business strategies. Kevin was educated at UCC and the Honorable Society of Kings Inns. He previously led industry associations in the food sector and gave public affairs and communications counsel to start-ups, multinationals, NGOs, and governments.

Owen McQuade Owen McQuade is Director of Energy Ireland. Owen has an extensive knowledge of the energy sector gained from a number of strategic roles within Ireland with the Viridian Group and internationally with the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. He is author of several best-selling reports for FT Energy and Reuters Business. Owen is former editor of the Energy Ireland Yearbook, the Environment Ireland Yearbook and the Energy Ireland Renewable Energy magazine. He is Chair of the Energy Institute in Ireland.

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Nicola McSweeney

Nicola McSweeney is the Director of People at Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. She is responsible for developing and executing the people and culture strategy to support delivery of the business plan and strategic direction of the organisation, specifically in the areas of human resources and organisational development and effectiveness. Prior to being appointed to her current role, Nicola held a number of senior positions including Head of HR Shared Services & Business Partnering with Ervia and Head of HR with Gas Networks Ireland.

Declan Meally Declan Meally is Director of Business, Public Sector and Transport and a member of the Executive Leadership Team in SEAI. Declan joined SEAI in 2005 and has been involved in the successful delivery of many of the organisation’s programmes. Declan has served as Head of Department across a number of areas at SEAI including industry, marine/ocean energy, smart grid, transport, communities and more recently national retrofit. He is a chartered mechanical engineer and has worked for over 20 years in management in both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining SEAI, Declan worked in management in Xerox Europe Limited and Aer Rianta, as well as the Defence Forces.

Éanna Mellett Éanna Mellett is a Partner in DLA Piper and leads the firm’s corporate group in Ireland. Éanna advises primarily on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions with a particular focus on the energy sector. He advises many leading Irish and international clients, including financial institutions, private equity houses, and the Irish State.

John Melvin John Melvin was appointed as the Director of Energy Markets and Smart Metering at the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in May 2018, having previously been Director of Energy Networks and Legal. He is a graduate of University College Dublin where he completed a BEng in mechanical engineering, and also holds a MSc in finance from the Smurfit School of Business. John is responsible for overseeing all aspects of competition and consumer protection in the energy retail markets in Ireland and the wholesale all-island electricity market (SEM) in cooperation with colleagues from the Utility Regulator in Northern Ireland. John’s division also has responsibility for the overall coordination of the Smart Meter Upgrade Project.

Rory Monaghan Dr Rory Monaghan is a Senior Lecturer of Energy Systems Engineering at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway). He is the Leader of the NUI Galway Ryan Institute’s Energy Research Centre, a Funded Investigator in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, and the Director of the NUI Galway Energy Engineering Programme. Dr Monaghan’s research on decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors covers hydrogen, bioenergy, renewable gases, and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS). He leads a team of 15 researchers funded by national, EU and industrial research partners. Dr Monaghan has co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications, and policy documents for the Northern Ireland Executive, SEAI and EPA. He earned his PhD in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on energy technology and policy.

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Ross Moore Ross Moore is a Partner in A&L Goodbody's Projects Group and is Head of the Energy, Infrastructure & Natural Resources Group. He is recognised as one of Ireland's leading energy and projects practitioners. Uniquely he combines his specialism as a banking lawyer in project finance transactions with extensive contractual experience on PPP, renewable and conventional energy projects and specialism in regulatory advice in respect of the electricity, gas and renewable energy markets. Ross also specialises in utility and semi-State energy and infrastructure transactions, oil and gas projects, and energy/infrastructure sector M&A and joint ventures.

Klair Neenan Klair Neenan is Managing Director of SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of 100% green energy to 700,000 homes and businesses, with responsibility for leading the Irish retail operation of SSE plc. Klair is an economics graduate with over 20 years’ experience of leading teams across customer service, corporate services, and IT. Over the last 10 years, she has held various roles within SSE including two years as the company’s Head of IT in Ireland. Prior to this, Klair led a number of large transformational programmes and was responsible for leading significant change across the organisation. In 2017 she was the winner of a Women in IT Excellence award.

David Newbery Professor David Newbery is Director of the Energy Policy Research Group and Emeritus Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Cambridge. He has managed research projects on utility privatisation and regulation, electricity restructuring and market design, regulation and transmission access pricing, climate change policies, merger analysis and the design of energy policy and energy taxation. He is Deputy Independent Member of the Single Electricity Market Committee of the island of Ireland, a panel member of Ofgem's Low Carbon Network Fund and subsequently its Network Innovation Competition from its start in 2012 to its closure in 2021, former member of the Competition Commission, Chairman of the Dutch Electricity Market Surveillance Committee, and advisor to Ofgem, Ofwat and ORR.

Philip Newsome Philip Newsome is the Principal Officer of the Renewable Electricity Division in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. He is responsible for the development of onshore renewable electricity policy to deliver on Climate Action Plan targets including the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, community energy policy and spatial planning for onshore renewable technologies.

Edwina Nyhan Edwina Nyhan is the Director of Strategy and Regulation at Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. She is responsible for defining Gas Networks Ireland’s strategy, sustainability focus, regulatory affairs in addition to managing the organisation’s stakeholder and policy environment. Edwina has extensive experience in the energy industry, is a Fellow of the institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland and is the executive sponsor of Gas Networks Ireland’s Diversity and Inclusion Programme. Prior to being appointed to her current role, Edwina held a number of senior positions including Head of Finance Operations in Ervia and Head of Finance in Gas Networks Ireland.

Brian Ó Gallachóir Brian Ó Gallachóir is Professor of Energy Engineering in University College Cork and Director of MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine. His research focus is on building and using integrated energy systems models that have been used to inform energy and climate mitigation policy. Brian is also the elected Chair of the Executive Committee for the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programme on energy systems modelling (IEA-ETSAP). Brian has published over 120 journal papers, secured over 7,800 citations and is an elected Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering.

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Marion O’Brien Marion O’Brien is Director of Corporate Services within SEAI and a member of the Executive Leadership Team in SEAI. She is responsible for overseeing wide-ranging aspects of SEAI’s corporate services and governance functions. Prior to joining SEAI, Marion was Chief Governance & Strategy Officer and Group Company Secretary with Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Marion is a Fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants of Ireland, holds a BA from the University of Limerick, an MBS from Dublin City University and Diplomas in Corporate Governance and Strategy from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School. Marion is an external member of Dublin City University’s Audit Committee.

Ciarán O’Brien Ciarán O’Brien leads Deloitte’s Energy, Resources & Industrials practice and is a Partner in the Audit & Assurance Department. The Energy, Resources & Industrials practice serves clients across a number of sectors, including power and utilities; oil, gas and chemicals; industrial products and construction; and mining and metals. Ciarán has extensive experience in the provision of assurance and advisory services to a range of companies including large listed, commercial state and multinational companies. He has substantial knowledge and expertise in the areas of ESG, complex transactions, regulatory reporting, internal controls, and IFRS. He previously led Deloitte’s Financial Reporting Advisory team and currently serves a portfolio of clients primarily in the energy, resources and industrials sector.

John O’Brien John O’Brien is the Treasurer and founder of the YPN for the Energy Institute Republic of Ireland. John has a BSc in Geology from University College Cork and an MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geoscience from the University of Aberdeen. John has a wide range of experience in energy industry from working in governmental departments, semistate bodies and private companies. John’s current role is as the Client Trading Business Partner for ElectroRoute, currently based in Dublin.

Feilim O’Caoimh Feilim O’Caoimh is Head of Fieldfisher's Renewable Energy practise in Ireland. He has been involved in the renewable energy industry for over 20 years, working alongside semistate entities, international developers, private developers, financial institutions, and investors. Feilim advises on wind (both onshore and offshore, including floating offshore), solar and biomass developments. His team provide expert legal advice on project development from inception, the planning and consenting phase, right through to project finance and construction. Feilim also advises on renewable project sales / acquisitions including portfolio sales. With Fieldfisher colleagues across Europe, the team also has the ability to manage complicated cross border transactions. Feilim served as a council member of Wind Energy Ireland from 2003 to 2020.

Olivia O’Connor Olivia O’Connor is Head of Corporate Services and a member of the senior management team at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, with responsibility for leading governance within SEAI and overseeing finance, contracts and inspections. She joined SEAI in 2011 and previously held senior positions in both the private and public sector having qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC. Olivia holds a Bachelor of Commerce from University College Galway and Master of Accounting from University College Dublin. She also holds a Certificate in Leadership Development from University College Dublin.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Brian O’Mahony Brian O’Mahony is Head of National Retrofit and Communities Department and a member of the senior management team in SEAI. This portfolio includes all aspects of the SEAI communities programmes and works closely with Delivery teams on achieving the significant organisational targets in the domestic retrofit sector. Prior to joining SEAI, Brian worked in Foster + Partners, London.

Nick O’Neill Nick O’Neill is a Director at SLR Ireland. He worked internationally in hydrocarbon exploration since 1977 before returning to Ireland to take up the role of Project Manager for the Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme in 1997. Since then he has managed research projects that addressed joint government and industry objectives to enhance Ireland’s hydrocarbon prospectivity and attract international explorers to offshore Ireland. This involved significant collaboration with similar research initiatives in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia. He is Chairman of the Industry Advisory Committee of SFI’s Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience and a member of the IGI Energy Geoscientists Working Group. His current focus is to apply the data and skills, acquired by Irish petroleum geologists, to accelerate Ireland’s energy transition from fossil fuels by enabling deep geothermal energy exploration, clean hydrogen production and CO2 storage in Ireland.

Barry O’Regan Barry O’Regan is Finance Director of SSE Renewables as well as Finance Director at SSE plc for Corporate Finance, and is responsible for investments, acquisitions, project finance and financial control in the renewable energy sector consistent with the company’s strategy as well as group M&A activities, investment appraisal and credit ratings. Barry trained as a chartered accountant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Dublin before joining Airtricity in 2005. He has around 15 years’ experience working in the Energy sector holding various roles in financial control, corporate finance, and treasury. He is also a director on a number of Joint Venture Boards, including Dogger Bank and Seagreen offshore wind farms.

Nico O’Rourke Nico O’Rourke is Assets & Trading Director at Bord Gáis Energy. Nico is responsible for the maintenance and operations of the 441MW Whitegate Power Station, trading and pricing of all wholesale activities, development of new assets for Bord Gáis Energy and the health and safety of the company as a whole. Nico joined Bord Gáis Energy from ESB where he was most recently responsible for development and acquisitions of renewables for the state entity, the core of ESBs generation investment programme. Nico holds a BA (Mod)Hons in natural sciences from Trinity College Dublin, master’s in optoelectronics and optical information processing, and a PhD in high energy plasma physics and X-Ray lasers from Queen’s University of Belfast.

Duncan Osborne Duncan Osborne is CEO of Calor, a leading supplier of lower carbon and renewable energy solutions for off-grid homes and businesses across Ireland. Duncan is leading the Calor team on a journey to a sustainable future with increased emphasis on renewable products such as Calor BioLPG, its certified renewable gas. Duncan joined Calor having previously been CEO of SHV Energy’s Primagaz business in Scandinavia. In the role, Duncan developed the blueprint for the rollout of LNG across the SHV network to provide a new lower carbon alternative for businesses – a strategy he continues to champion with Calor Ireland.

Ian O’Flynn Ian O’Flynn is the Director of Business Services at Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. He is responsible for delivering vital business services that power the organisation including IT, supply chain, and facilities. Ian has over 30 years of experience in leading strategic change and transformation initiatives. Prior to being appointed to his current role, Ian has held several senior positions within the organisation including Head of Commercial and Corporate Affairs, Head of Shared Services and Head of IT.

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Peter O’Shea

Peter O’Shea was appointed Head of ESB Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in 2018. Prior to this, Peter was Head of Regulatory Affairs and Corporate Strategy. He is vice Chairman of the Electricity Association of Ireland and a board member of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce. Before joining ESB in 1999, he spent 12 years working with the CEGB and National Grid Company in the UK in a range of technical roles, including NGC’s Programme Manager for the development of the NETA trading arrangements.

Clíona O’Sullivan Clíona O’Sullivan is the Head of Development Onshore for RWE Renewables Ireland. Cliona holds a BSc. from UL and has worked in the renewables industry since 2003. Prior to joining RWE in 2017, Clíona worked for both private and semi-state energy firms developing and delivering medium and large scale renewable projects. Clíona also has considerable experience in the management and technical oversight of renewable project and portfolio acquisitions and divestments in Ireland and internationally.

Denis O’Sullivan Denis O’Sullivan is the Chief Operating Officer of Gas Networks Ireland, the semi-state organisation responsible for operating Ireland’s €2.7 billion, 14,617km national gas network, and ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of gas to more than 706,000 homes and businesses across the country. He has been at the forefront of Ireland’s energy sector for over 20 years with experience in conventional and renewable energies, including natural gas, wind energy, biomass, and waste to energy. Denis is also the co-chair of the Low Carbon Economy Group with Business in the Community, working with like-minded companies to develop innovative and ambitious ideas to support the transition to a low carbon economy.

Jerry O’Sullivan Jerry O’Sullivan is Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director Strategy, Innovation and Transformation at ESB. He joined ESB in 1981 and has held a number of positions in power station construction, marketing, retail, contracting, customer service, distribution and transmission. Jerry was appointed Head of Network Services in 2002 and Head of Sustainability and Network Systems in 2008, before becoming Managing Director of ESB Networks Ltd in 2010. He is a member of the board of the International Energy Research Centre in UCD and a member of the European Technology Platform. Jerry holds a degree in civil engineering from University College Cork.

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Paddy Phelan Paddy Phelan is the current President of the Irish Energy Storage Association and Irish BioEnergy Association. He is the CEO of 3cea, managing a multi-disciplinary team which has grown from two to 22 in seven years. Paddy is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Irish Wind Farmers Association, member of the Chambers of Ireland Low Carbon Taskforce and Advisory Board, and a member of the European Biogas Association. He was previously a Board Member of SEAI between 2015-2018 and is a part-time lecturer in WIT in Sustainable Energy Engineering. Civil Engineering Graduate of UCD 2000 and following 10 years in main stream construction management on large scale mixed development delivery, moved to the energy sector in 2010. A keen interest in facilitation of the energy transition with particular focus in the South East Region where all forms of clean energy are developed across electricity, heat and transport.

Paula Pinho Paula Pinho is Head of Unit at the Directorate-General Energy in the European Commission. She is responsible for the Strategy, and Policy Coordination and notably for planning, strategy and legal questions. She has been previously Member of Cabinet of EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger both in his quality of Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society and during his mandate as EU Commissioner for Energy. As a member of the Cabinet, she has been involved in the trilateral gas talks between the EU, Russia and Ukraine. She has also been involved in the negotiations of the Southern Corridor and the EU negotiations with Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan regarding the TransCaspian pipeline. Paula has coordinated the preparation and adoption of the “Clean Energy for all Europeans” package, adopted by the European Commission on 30 November 2016. Paula represented the Commission in the negotiations of the Commission Proposal for a Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union, which entered into force in December 2018. She is responsible notably for the overall coordination of the assessment of the national Energy and Climate Plans.

Teresa Purtill Teresa Purtill is Director of Services and Solutions at Bord Gáis Energy and is responsible for the growth of Bord Gáis Energy’s services and solutions business, driving the revenue and commercial strategies for the organisation. Teresa previously held the role of Customer and Field Operations Director within Bord Gáis Energy with a focus on driving the company’s customer experience strategy, business excellence and strategic programme delivery. Prior to joining Bord Gáis Energy, Teresa was Global VP for Customer Care for the Hertz Corporation leading an organisation of over 2,000 people across 15 sites globally. Teresa holds an MA in European integration from the University of Limerick and is the Bord Gais Energy Ambassador for Neurodiversity.

John O’Sullivan John O’Sullivan is Head of Public Sector and Regulatory Programmes with SEAI. He has responsibility for the development of organisational performance, business systems, IT, and supporting the development of new and existing SEAI programmes. He joined SEAI in 2006 and previously had responsibility for the large industry and business supports. He is a graduate of the University of Limerick, qualified with BEng and MEng in mechanical engineering and diploma in project management. Prior to joining SEAI he worked in the electronics manufacturing sector for 12 years.

Teresa Perchard Teresa Perchard became a board member of the Utility Regulator in September 2013. She has more than 30 years’ experience of consumer affairs policy and advocacy in a number of markets. This includes working in both the Office of Water Services and the Office of Rail Regulation and also as Director of Policy and Advocacy at Citizens Advice. Teresa now holds a number of non-executive and advisory roles concerned with consumer protection and regulation. These include member of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers in England and Wales and the Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) Customer Engagement Group for the ED2 price control (GB). She is also Chair of the Fairbanking Foundation charity. Between 2005 and 2015 she was Vice-Chair of the UK Government’s Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (England), she was Consumer Champion for CIGA between 2015 and 2018 and Chair of the Affinity Water Customer Challenge Group from 2016 to 2020.

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Barry Quinlan Barry Quinlan is the Assistant Secretary leading on Built Environment; Retail Energy and Regulation at the Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications. Barry joined the Department in December 2021 from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, where he had led the Affordable Housing and Local Government Divisions. Prior to that Barry worked in the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Justice. Barry is the Assistant Secretary leading the Built Environment; Retail Energy and Regulation – Energy function aims to ensure a modern, efficient, competitive and sustainable energy system. Working with key delivery partners and stakeholders, and within EU and global frameworks, key priority areas include: the National Retrofit Programme; the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme; public sector energy efficiency; renewable heat policy; and retail energy policy.

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Laura Rafferty Laura Rafferty is Of Counsel in the Environment & Planning Group at Arthur Cox. She has advised on some of the most complex energy projects in Ireland. Laura works with clients during the full life cycle of their projects; through preplanning, planning, development, funding and operational phases, for wind, solar, biomass, CHP, waste to energy and battery storage projects. She is a specialist in litigation avoidance and defence, with a particular expertise in judicial review, injunctions and criminal enforcement proceedings. Laura has significant experience in de-risking renewable energy and major infrastructure projects.

John Randles John Randles is Head of Delivery in SEAI with responsibility for the Building Energy Rating (BER) Programme and home energy grant schemes. He joined SEAI in 2014 and previously held senior positions with Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and British Airways. He holds a BSC in business, masters in business administration (MBA) and has recently completed an MSC in business and executive coaching with Smurfit Graduate School of Business at UCD.

John Reilly John Reilly is Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna. He is a member of Bord na Móna’s Senior Leadership team with specific responsibility for the operation and continued development of Bord na Móna’s expanding portfolio in the Irish electricity market. His team is currently leading a €1.6 billion investment programme which will see the company add at least 1GW of new renewable assets to its fleet by 2030. John has over 20 years’ experience in the energy sector and was previously part of the senior management team at Edenderry Power, prior to its acquisition by Bord na Móna. He has worked for a number of major international utility players in the sector, such as the German utility E.ON and Fortum, a Finnish utility company. John, who is currently on the Board of the Electricity Association of Ireland, also sits on a number of policy committees across the energy sector and holds a PhD in chemistry from UCD.

Martin Reilly Martin Reilly is the Commercial Manager for Kyte Powertech Ltd. He is responsible for the commercial activities of the Distribution Transformer manufacturing facility located in Cavan, Ireland. He joined Kyte Powertech in 1999 and has held several senior management positions in various European countries and was appointed Commercial Manager for business in 2018. Martin Holds a batchelor of business studies in marketing and a master’s in business administration (MBA).

Joe Reynolds Joe Reynolds is Head of Energy Strategy Directorate in the Department for the Economy. He was previously Director of the Programme for Government in the Executive Office and moved to the Department for the Economy in March 2018. He led the Department’s EU Exit work on Article 9 of the Protocol to ensure the protection of the Single Electricity Market and has returned to lead the Strategy Directorate as it develops and delivers on the Energy Strategy Action Plan for 2022.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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John Rooney John Rooney is Managing Director of Flogas Ireland, employing 350 people, with an energy portfolio of LPG, renewable electricity, natural gas, biogas and related services for residential, SME and large commercial customers in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Its business units include Clearpower, one of Ireland’s leading bioenergy companies, Budget Energy and Flogas Enterprise (formerly Naturgy Ireland).

Andrew Rothwell Andrew Rothwell is the Operating Unit Manager for Hitachi Energy Grid Integration in Ireland and has overall responsibility for the business within Ireland covering full turnkey design and delivery in transmission-distribution, power quality solutions projects within the industrial and utility sector. Andrew’s Senior Management experience covers 20 years of successful project delivery and innovation, while now expanding Hitachi Energy Ireland to contribute to the long-term targets of a Net Zero Society.

Lisa Ryan Lisa Ryan is a Professor in Energy Economics in UCD School of Economics and the Energy Institute. Her research is in clean energy technology adoption, energy markets, and climate change economics and related policy. She is also a Board Member of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and contributes to government working groups on energy and climate action. Previously, she was the senior energy economist in the Energy Efficiency Unit at the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris. She has a PhD in environmental economics and Masters degrees in engineering and economics.

Maria Ryan Maria Ryan is Director of Offshore Development at SSE Renewables, part of the FTSE-listed SSE plc and the leading developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy across Ireland and the UK. Maria leads the development of SSE Renewables’ 7GW-plus pipeline of offshore wind energy projects in the UK and Ireland. Maria has extensive experience having worked in the wind energy industry for nearly 18 years, holding portfolio management roles across Airtricity, Mainstream Renewable Power and SSE Renewables. Maria is a chartered engineer and a graduate of mechanical engineering from University College Dublin (UCD) with an MSc from UCD.

Shaun Ryan Shaun Ryan is the Commercial Director for Quality Freight Group and Key Account Manager across all sectors served, renewable and wind energy, power generation, specialized project cargo and pharmaceutical industries. He has over 18 years’ industry experience in logistics including market entry strategies, customs practice and plays a key role as the GDP Champion (Good Distribution Practice) in assuring quality of the supply chain and distribution of pharmaceutical products for clients. Shaun has an MSc in Marketing and postgraduate diplomas in Global Trade and e-Business.

Richard Rodgers Richard Rodgers is Head of Energy at the Department for the Economy where he led the development of the recently published Northern Ireland Executive’s Energy Strategy – The Path to Net Zero Energy. He has almost 35 years’ experience in the energy industry, including British Gas for eight years, Phoenix Natural Gas for 12, as MD (International) at Eaga for five years (responsible for the delivery of fuel poverty programmes for Governments across the world), five years as Strategic Advisor (Energy) at the Strategic Investment Board and for the past three years as Head of Energy in the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland. Richard was also a non-executive director on the Board of the Utility Regulator for nine years (ending in March 2019).

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Who’s Who in Irish Energy Eamon Ryan TD

Eamon Ryan TD is the Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport. He was appointed to this role in June 2020. Eamon Ryan was elected to represent Dublin Bay South in the 2020 general election. He was born in Dublin and raised in Dundrum and Dartry. He studied commerce in UCD before taking a job managing a marketing course in the university's School of Business. He went on to establish a cycling tourism company, Irish Cycling Safaris, in the late 1980s and in 1996 won the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. He was the founding chairperson of the Dublin Cycling Campaign and began his political career as a Dublin City Councillor for the RathgarRathmines ward. He then went on to serve both as a TD for Dublin South and as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. In recent years he has worked for a European climate organisation and chaired the digital policy group in the Institute of International and European Affairs. He is currently leader of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas.

Marguerite Sayers Marguerite Sayers was appointed Executive Director, Customer Solutions at ESB in May 2018. Prior to this she held the role of Managing Director ESB Networks Ltd. An electrical engineer by profession, she has worked in various technical and managerial positions in ESB including Customer Service Manager and Head of Asset Management in ESB Networks. She was also Generation Manager in Generation and Trading. She has a degree in Electrical Engineering from University College Cork, a diploma in Accounting and Finance from University of Limerick and a diploma in Project Management from University College Cork.

Jim Scheer Jim Scheer is Head of Data and Insights (interim) at SEAI with responsibility for policy analysis and support, energy modelling, statistics, and behavioural economics remits in support of delivery of Ireland’s sustainable energy goals. He joined SEAI in 2007 and prior to that worked for the Government of South Australia. Jim holds a Professional Diploma in Advanced Management Performance from Smurfit Graduate Business School, an MSc. in Economic Policy Studies from Trinity College Dublin and a primary degree in Environmental Science from Flinders University (South Australia).

Fergus Sharkey Fergus Sharkey is Head of Business Supports and Transport with SEAI. His team is responsible for working with SMEs, large industry, and the transport sector to provide supports for energy efficiency improvement. Supports range from advice and training on energy management, monitoring and reporting, best practice, project development, to grants and other financial support. Fergus is a chartered engineer with experience in the power generation, renewables, and energy efficiency sectors. Prior to joining SEAI, Fergus worked in a range of positions in ESB.

Kerrie Sheehan Kerrie Sheehan is Head of Research and Technology at SEAI with responsibility for research and innovation, offshore energy, electricity and wind, heat and bioenergy, Nearly Zero Energy Buildings, high performance retrofit and future technical integrations. Kerrie joined SEAI in 2017, having previously worked in various positions in University College Dublin. Kerrie has over 15 years’ experience managing funded research and surrounding activities in academia and funding agency settings, along with significant industry coaction. Kerrie holds a UCD BA in Mathematics and Geography, a Masters in Environmental Public Policy and is an FCCA accountant.

Barry Sherry Barry Sherry is currently Head of Energy Solutions with Kingspan Ltd. With 20 years’ experience within the energy sector in Ireland, Barry has worked on the EPC Engineering, Procurement and Construction of two of the largest CCGT plants on the Island. In more recent years Barry has focused on the renewable energy sector developing and executing Rooftop Solar PV across C&I industry. Barry holds a BEng in Electrical Engineering (DIT), a Chartered Engineer (EI), MBA in Project Management (DBS) and a PgD in Façade Engineering (UWE).

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Kevin Shiels Kevin Shiels is Director of Retail Markets and Consumer Protection at the Utility Regulator. His role includes leading on energy retail and customer protection strategy development; developing effective retail competition in the regulated energy sectors; managing the cost and price regulation of the incumbent electricity and gas suppliers; and leading on retail market information and compliance issues. He has been with the Utility Regulator for over 10 years, working on gas industry regulation; setting up the initial water regulation framework in Northern Ireland; corporate strategy development and latterly leading on all retail and consumer energy market issues. His current priorities include liaison with the Department for the Economy on the development of the new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Kadri Simson Kadri Simson is the EU Commissioner for Energy, a position she took up on 1 December 2019. She was a Member of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), Chairman of the Estonian Centre Party faction and Leader of the Estonian NATO Parliamentary Assembly Delegation. She previously served as Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure between 2016 and 2019.

Marie Sinnott Marie Sinnott was appointed Company Secretary at ESB in August 2019. Prior to this she was ESB’s Group Head of Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management. Marie joined ESB in 1989 as part of the Business Graduate Development Programme and has held a number of senior management roles in the group. A UCD commerce graduate, she holds a Masters in Economic Policy Studies from TCD and a Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Governance from UCD (Smurfit). She also holds a Certificate in Data Protection Practice from the Law Society. Marie is an external member of DCU's Governing Authority Risk Management Committee.

Tom Slattery Tom Slattery is a Partner in the Technology Consulting practice in EY Ireland. He leads EY Ireland’s technology strategy and implementation services in energy and assets. Over the course of 25 years, Tom has led some of the largest utility transformation programmes. In addition, Tom leads EY Ireland’s cyber practice, providing services to secure our national utility infrastructure.

Paul Smith Paul Smith was appointed Executive Director, Engineering and Major Projects at ESB in December 2021. Paul joined ESB in 1992 and has held a number of senior management roles in the company including Station Manager at Aghada Generating Station, Head of Generation Operations and most recently, Head of Asset Development where he led the expansion of ESB’s renewables portfolio in Ireland and the UK. He holds a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast and an MBA from UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Russell Smyth Russell Smyth is a Partner in KPMG Ireland and leads the firm’s dedicated renewables and climate change advisory division, KPMG Sustainable Futures. Russell has extensive experience in Renewables M&A, transacting over €2 billion of Irish renewable assets in 2021 across a wide variety of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage. Russell is also assisting corporate and public sector clients navigate the wider climate change and sustainability agenda as Ireland transitions to a net zero economy, including corporate PPAs, decarbonisation pathways and sustainability strategies.

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Paul Stanfield Paul Stanfield is Director of Sales, Marketing and Customer Services at firmus energy. Paul joined firmus energy in 2009 and has over 30 years’ experience in the Northern Ireland energy market. He has extensive knowledge of the industrial/commercial and domestic sectors within the Northern Ireland natural gas industry. Paul is responsible for delivering commercial growth across the company’s business and domestic channels and accountable for customer service and marketing.

Paul Stapleton Paul Stapleton is Managing Director of NIE Networks Ltd, a position he took up in May 2018. NIE Networks owns and manages the electricity networks in Northern Ireland, with c. 50,000km of network and c. 900,000 connected customers. Paul previously held a number of senior roles within ESB including General Manager of Electric Ireland, ESB Group Treasurer, and Financial Controller of ESB Networks Ltd. He is a Board member of the Energy Networks Association (UK), E.DSO (European Organisation for DSOs), The Centre for Competitiveness, and Smart Grid Ireland. He is a member of the Institute of Directors NI Committee and a member of the NI Economic Advisory Group. He is a chartered director and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

John Sweeney John Sweeney is Emeritus Professor of Geography at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth. Over the past 40 years he has served on several national international bodies concerned with environmental issues and has served as President of the Irish Meteorological Society, the Geographical Society of Ireland and An Taisce: The National Trust for Ireland. He has published approximately 100 scientific papers, edited/co-authored four texts and is currently involved in researching various aspects of climate change in Ireland.

Nicholas Tarrant Nicholas Tarrant was appointed Managing Director, ESB Networks in September 2021. Prior to this he was Executive Director, Engineering and Major Projects and Managing Director, Northern Ireland Electricity Networks. Nicholas joined ESB in 1993 where he held a number of senior management positions including Generation Manager with responsibility for ESB’s 4,800MW generation portfolio and lead manager on ESB’s €200 million Novus Modus Clean Tech Fund. He is a chartered engineer at the Institute of Engineers of Ireland and holds an MSc (management) from Trinity College, Dublin.

Who’s Who in Irish Energy

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Siobhán Tinnelly Siobhán Tinnelly is Operations Director for the Environment and Planning (E&P) division of TOBIN Consulting Engineers. She is responsible for the management and co-ordination of multi-disciplinary teams consisting of experienced planners, scientists and engineers who provide specialist expertise for the successful delivery of large-scale infrastructural projects. Examples include energy transmission projects, wind energy (onshore and offshore) projects, solar farms, green energy infrastructure, residential and commercial developments, waste management and extractive industry projects. She holds undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications from Trinity College Dublin, Newcastle University and the Irish Management Institute (IMI). An active member of Geoscience Ireland and former President of the IMQS, she also holds the title of P.Geo with the Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI).

Karen Trant Karen Trant joined the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in 2006. Karen was appointed Director of Energy Networks and Legal in 2018. Karen has responsibility for the economic regulation of the electricity and natural gas infrastructures in Ireland, network development, connection policy and licencing, approving charges for access to and use of the networks and resolving connection disputes. Her division also has a general role in advising the organisation on all legal matters. Karen is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast where she completed and LLB in law and is a qualified solicitor with the Law Society of Ireland. Karen also holds an advanced diploma in corporate, white collar and regulatory crime (King’s Inns) and a diploma in regulatory law and practice (law society of ireland).

Elaine Traynor Elaine Traynor is a Partner in Fieldfisher LLP's Renewable Energy team. Elaine works exclusively in the area of renewable energy and advises a wide range of renewable energy industry participants including large and mediumsized developers of renewable energy projects and financial institutions and investors providing funding to energy projects. Elaine advises on all aspects of the development of renewable energy projects from the planning permission phase through to the development, construction, financing, and operation stages. She has particular expertise acting for developers in respect of project financing and the sale and purchase of renewable energy projects. Elaine previously acted as sole in-house counsel to a large renewable energy development company with a portfolio of renewable energy projects in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Africa.

Marian Troy Frans Timmermans Frans Timmermans is the European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal and was appointed in 2019. He leads the Commission’s work on the European Green Deal and its first European Climate Law to enshrine the 2050 climate-neutrality target into EU law. This involves stepping up the commitment to the 2030 emission reduction target, increasing it to at least 50% by 2030. He was previously First Vice-President of the EU Commission, in charge of Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights between 2014 and 2019.

Marian Troy is Head of Corporate Affairs for SSE Thermal, comprising the company’s operations in thermal generation and energy storage. She is responsible for the business’ policy, public affairs and communications activity across the UK and Ireland. Marian was previously Head of Corporate Affairs for SSE Ireland, managing the company’s external affairs and sustainability activities. Marian has over 12 years’ experience in the energy sector having joined SSE in 2013 from Endesa Ireland. She also previously worked with the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities and the European Commission. Marian is a lawyer and town planner by background.

Arno Verbeek Arno Verbeek is Project Director at Codling Wind Park Project. Arno Verbeek joined the Codling Wind Park project as Project Director in September 2020, returning to Ireland’s offshore wind industry for a second time in his 20-year career in renewables. While head of Offshore Wind Development for Airtricity/SSE Renewables (2002-2010), based in Ireland, Arno led the development of the first phase of the Arklow Wind Bank, Ireland's first and only offshore wind farm. Arno has overseen the delivery of major offshore wind projects, such as Greater Gabbard (504MW, UK), Borssele 3&4 (731MW, Netherlands) and Norther (370MW Belgium). In 2013, Arno established a renewable energy consultancy, working with developers, investors and manufacturers in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

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Koen Verbruggen is Director of Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), Ireland’s geoscience agency that provides data, partnering and advice in all aspects of Irish geology, which is a part of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Koen has been with GSI for 20 years including seven as manager of INFOMAR the national marine mapping programme and previously spent 15 years in private industry in mineral and petroleum exploration worldwide. Geological Survey are involved in energy projects and research as both funders and partner, including the areas of geothermal energy, CCS and marine renewables.

William Walsh William Walsh is Chief Executive Officer in SEAI, having previously held the position of both Chief Operations Officer and Chief Financial Officer. William joined SEAI in 2013. Prior to joining SEAI he worked for IFI where he held a number of roles including Assistant Chief Executive Officer and Director. Before this he held senior management positions in the private sector. William is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Dublin City University and a Graduate Diploma in Strategy, Innovation and Change from UCD.

Gerry Walsh Gerry Walsh is an independent business advisor who provides strategic support to the boards and senior management teams of a number of Irish and international companies. He is a Director of Vermilion Energy Ireland Ltd (operator and joint owner of Corrib gas field) and international retailer, ARI. He has previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bord Gáis Éireann (now known as Ervia) from August 2000 to September 2007 and was a Director at EirGrid plc between July 2015 and May 2016.

Gerry Wardell Gerry Wardell is a non-executive director of Dublin’s sustainable energy agency Codema which he founded, along with Dublin City Council, in 1997. He has a lifelong experience of working with innovation, sustainable energy, and climate change. He is currently working with cultural partners to explore the nexus between the arts and the sciences in pursuing innovative approaches to the challenges of climate change. Gerry is a chartered physicist with the Institute of Physics, a chartered engineer with Engineers Ireland, a European Engineer with FEANI and a Member of the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Stephen Wheeler Stephen Wheeler is Managing Director of SSE Renewables, the leading developer, owner and operator of renewable energy across the UK and Ireland, with a portfolio of around 4GW of onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro. Together with his team Stephen is responsible for delivering SSE Renewables’ strategy to drive the transition to a net zero future through the world class development, construction and operation of renewable energy assets. Stephen was previously Managing Director of SSE Thermal, focused on decarbonising the company’s flexible generation and energy storage portfolio, as well as Managing Director of SSE Ireland and General Manager for Ireland of SSE Renewables, leading the company’s wind farm projects across the island. Before joining SSE, spent over 10 years working with ABB and Siemens internationally, specialising in the development and construction of thermal generation assets. Stephen is a graduate of electrical engineering at University College Dublin, with an MBA from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and a past Chairman of Wind Energy Ireland (WEI).

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Claire Williams Claire Williams joined the Utility Regulator board in May 2019. She is also a Board Director for Citizen Housing Group and the Single Source Regulation Office. Claire has held senior positions in the electricity, renewable energy, and rail industries for over 20 years. She is an experienced General Counsel and Company Secretary of many years standing, most recently for Low Carbon Contracts Company (counterparty to Contracts for Difference under the CFD scheme) and Electricity Settlements Company (the organisation managing settlement in the British Capacity Market). Prior to this Claire was General Counsel and Company Secretary for the Carbon Trust group and for Elexon (the British Balancing and Settlement Code company) and counsel for Network Rail (Union Railways). Claire has also served as a director of Carbon Trust International Ltd. Claire has a Masters in Law from Cambridge University.

Damian Wilson Damian Wilson is the Managing Director of Click Energy, one of the five domestic electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland. The Click Energy ethos is simple: to provide a transparent and simple service to customers. Damian has been in the energy sector for over eleven years and has successfully taken the company from start-up phase to its position as an established player in the energy market. Damian has also led a number of philanthropic initiatives through the company in recent years, raising over £100,000 for charities which directly aid local communities.

Andrew Wilson Andrew Wilson founded Wilson Power and Energy following a successful career with Northern Ireland Electricity starting in 1999. Andrew was responsible for installing and maintaining distribution equipment on the network up to 33kV. Working with NIE has given him a wealth of experience and knowledge on which he has expanded considerably throughout his working life in the sector. Since 2009 Andrew has worked in the secure power industry and has been trusted by some of the world’s largest blue-chip companies as well as critical health care facilities across the island of Ireland.

Alex Wiseman Alex Wiseman became a board member of the Utility Regulator in November 2015. Alex has over 20 years’ experience in utility regulation and strategy. He was Regulation Director at a British gas network and prior to that Head of Strategic Planning at an electricity and water utility. Alex has non-executive director experience at a large NHS Foundation Trust as well as at xoserve, the organisation responsible for managing British gas data and meter point administration. He is currently a non-executive director at a local authority holding company owning energy, waste and housing businesses, and for a company in the construction industry; and at both, he chairs the audit committee. For the last 10 years, Alex has been an independent consultant completing interim assignments for regulators and government as well as a number of consultancy projects across gas, water and electricity both in the UK and in Europe. Alex has an MBA and is a qualified management accountant.

John Young John Young is Head of Policy and External Relations for SSE Ireland. With over a decade’s experience in the energy industry, John manages the development of policy and leads Group corporate affairs efforts on behalf of SSE plc on the island of Ireland. Participating extensively in various industry and business fora, John has expertise on a wide range of areas including offshore and onshore wind, the single electricity market, the operation of the system, energy efficiency and decarbonisation of the energy sector at large. Prior to joining SSE, John worked for both EirGrid and National Grid, the system operators in Ireland and the UK respectively, where he covered a number roles both technical and policy related including work on EirGrid’s DS3 programme.

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Legal advisors Market entry services Financial and economic advisors Banking/corporate finance Accounting/insurance/economic consultants Technical and engineering consultants Environmental consultants Renewable energy consultants IT consultants and system support companies Certification services

Equipment and service suppliers Power generation and CHP Renewable energy technology Wind energy Bioenergy Solar energy Ocean energy Monitoring and control systems, instrumentation Air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and insulation products Mechanical fabrication, pipes, valves and pumps Electrical contractors and service providers Water treatment and waste management Geological/geothermal products and services Offshore services Marine services Drilling services

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The Energy Ireland directory Representative groups and associations in Irish energy Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland 46 Merrion Square Dublin 2, D02 VF66 Tel: 01 642 5588 Web: www.acei.ie Email: info@acei.ie President: David McHugh The Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) is the representative body in Ireland for professional engineers from all branches of engineering. Bryson Energy 4th Floor, Stockmans House 39-43 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7EE Tel: 028 9032 5835 Web: www.brysonenergy.org Email: info@brysonenergy.org Director: Nigel Brady Bryson Energy is the EU regional energy agency for Northern Ireland. Bryson aims to secure the active engagement of Northern Ireland’s energy users in combating climate change. CBI Northern Ireland 2nd Floor, Hamilton House 3 Joy Street Belfast, BT2 8LE Tel: 028 9010 1100 Web: www.cbi.org.uk Email: ni.mail@cbi.org.uk Director: Angela McGowan The CBI represents the interests of employers in Northern Ireland and takes an active interest in energy and environmental issues.

COFORD Council Forest Sector Development Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford, Y35 PN52 Tel: 053 9170322 Web: www.coford.ie Email: fsd@agriculture.gov.ie Chairman: Dr Eugene Hendrick Consumer Council for Northern Ireland Floor 3, Seatem House 28-32 Alfred Street Belfast, BT2 8EN Tel: 028 9025 1600 Web: www.consumercouncil.org.uk Email: info@consumercouncil.org.uk CEO: Noyona Chunder Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Whitaker Square Sir John Rogerson’s Quay Dublin 2, D02 K138 Tel: 01 863 2000 Web: www.esri.ie Email: admin@esri.ie Director: Professor Alan Barrett Electrical Industries Federation of Ireland (EIFI) Electric Bureau Bluebell House Business Centre Bluebell Avenue Dublin 12 Tel: 087 669 8028 Web: www.eifi.ie Email: info@electric.ie President: Gay Byrne The EIFI was established in 1934 to promote the interests of persons, firms and corporations engaged in the electrical industry i.e., in manufacturing, importing, distributing products for heating, lighting and motive power.

Centre for Competitiveness Innovation Centre Queens Road Belfast BT3 9DT Tel: +44 (0)28 9073 7950 Email: compete@cforc.org Contact: Bob Barbour

Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI) 127 Baggot Street Lower Dublin 2, D02 F634 Tel: 01 524 1046 Web: www.eaireland.com Email: info@eaireland.com Chief Executive: Dara Lynott The Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI) is the authoritative voice of the electricity industry on the island of Ireland. Energy Institute 61 New Cavendish Street London, W1G 7AR Tel: 020 7467 7100 Web: www.energyinst.org Email: info@energyinst.org Chief Executive: Nick Wayth Irish Branch Email: ireland@energyinst.org Chair: Owen McQuade Secretary: Liam P Ó Cléirigh Treasurer: John O’Brien Membership officer: Ben Costelloe Northern Ireland Branch Email: northernireland@energyinst.org Chair: Nicola Murphy The purpose of the Energy Institute is the promotion of the safe, environmentally responsible, and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications. Energy Networks Association 4 More London Riverside London, SE1 2AU Tel: 020 4599 7700 Web: www.energynetworks.org Email: info@energynetworks.org Chief Executive: David Smith The Energy Networks Association (ENA) represents the licensed gas and electricity transmission and distribution companies in the UK. Energy UK 4th Floor, 26 Finsbury Square London, EC2A 1DS Tel: 020 7930 9390 Web: www.energy-uk.org.uk Chief Executive: Emma Pinchbeck Energy UK is the trade association for the UK energy industry.

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Engineers Ireland 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge Dublin 4, D04 R3N2 Tel: 01 665 1300 Web: www.engineersireland.ie Email: info@engineersireland.ie President: Orla Feely Director General: Caroline Spillane

Institute of Industrial Engineering and Safety Management Systems 2 Great George’s Street Waterford, X91 AH9K Tel: 01 525 2527 Web: www.iiesms.ie Email: info@iiesms.ie President: Seamus O'Sullivan

Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) DCU Alpha Business Unit ICA104 Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin 11, D11 KXN4 Tel: 086 125 6709 Web: www.irbea.org Email: contact@irbea.org Chief Executive: Seán Finan

Federation of Small Businesses (Northern Ireland) 143 Royal Avenue, Belfast, BT1 1FH Tel: 028 9032 6035 Web: www.fsb.org.uk/ni Email: fsbni@fsb.org.uk Chair: Tina McKenzie Development Manager: Roisin McAliskey

The Institution of Chemical Engineers (ICE) Davis Building, Railway Terrace Rugby, CV21 3HQ Tel: 01788 578 214 Web: www.icheme.org Email: membersupport@icheme.org

The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) was launched in 1999. It was formed to promote the bioenergy industry and to develop this potentially important sector in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Michael Faraday House Six Hills Way Stevenage, SG1 2AY Tel: 01438 313 311 Web: www.theiet.org Email: postmaster@theiet.org Chief Executive: Nigel Fine

Ibec 84/86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2, D02 H720 Tel: 01 605 1500 Web: www.ibec.ie Email: info@ibec.ie President: Frank Gleeson CEO: Danny McCoy Head of Energy and Environment Policy: Neil Walker

Friends of the Earth Ireland 9 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 639 4652 Web: www.foe.ie Email: info@foe.ie Director: Oisín Coghlan Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland 7 Donegall Street Place Belfast, BT1 2FN Tel: 028 9023 3488 Web: www.friendsoftheearth.uk/northernireland Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk Director: James Orr Fuels for Ireland 13 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin D02 RX73 Tel: 01 662 9814 Web: www.fuelsforireland.ie Email: info@fuelsforireland.ie CEO: Kevin McPartlan Fuels for Ireland is the representative body of those companies in Ireland engaged in the importation, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products. Its membership represents about 95% of the oil industry in the Republic of Ireland. Fuels for Ireland promotes the interests and represents the views of the oil industry.

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Irish Congress of Trade Unions 31/32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 889 7777 Web: www.ictu.ie Email: congress@ictu.ie General Secretary: Patricia King

Liquid Gas Ireland 180 Rathgar Road, Dublin 6 Web: www.lgi.ie Email: info@lgi.ie Chair: Brian Derham Company Secretary: Liam Doyle

Northern Ireland Committee Irish Congress of Trades Unions 45-47 Donegall Street Belfast, BT1 2FG Tel: 02890 247940 Email: info@ictuni.org Assistant General Secretary: Owen Reidy

Marine Renewables Industry Association c/o Leixfort Corrig Avenue Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Web: www.mria.ie Email: chairman@mria.ie Chair: Peter Coyle

Irish Hydropower Association Joseph Stewart and Company Corn Mills, Boyle, Co Roscommon Tel: 071 967 0100 Web: www.irishhydro.com Email: info@irishhydro.com Contact: Neil Stewart

Northern Ireland Oil Federation Tel: 077 1470 5120 Web: www.nioil.com Email: david@nioil.com Executive Director: David Blevings

Irish Offshore Operators Association Suite No. 2119 Fitzwilliam Business Centre 26 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 675 3754 Web: www.iooa.ie Email: assistant@iooa.ie Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association 17 Kildare Street Dublin 2, D02 P766 Tel: 01 662 2755 Web: www.isme.ie Email: info@isme.ie Chief Executive: Neil McDonnell Irish Solar Energy Association 616 Edenderry Business Campus Edenderry, R45 TD37 Tel: 046 977 3434 Web: www.irishsolarenergy.org Email: info@irishsolarenergy.org Chief Executive: Conall Bolger ISEA was established in 2013 to advance a policy and regulatory landscape promoting solar as a leading renewable energy technology.

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RenewableNI Arthur House, 41 Arthur Street Belfast, BT1 4GB Tel: 028 9044 6240 Web: ww.renewableni.com Email: steven.agnew@RenewableNI.com Contact: Steven Agnew Small Firms Association (SFA) 84/86 Lower Baggot Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 605 1500 Web: www.sfa.ie Email: sven.spollen-behrens@ibec.ie Director: Sven Spollen-Behrens Smart Grid Ireland Unit 16, The Innovation Centre NI Science Park Queen's Road Belfast, BT3 9DT Tel: +44 (0)28 9073 7950 Email: info@smartgridireland.org Chair: Bob Hanna CEO: Bob Barbour Solar Energy Society of Ireland c/o Focas Institute Dublin Institute of Technology Kevin Street, Dublin 8 Web: www.sesireland.ie Email: sesireland@gmail.com President: Professor Brian Norton Secretary: Sarah McCormack

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Wind Energy Ireland Sycamore House, Millennium Park Oberstown, Naas Co Kildare, W91 D627 Tel: 045 899 341 Web: www.windenergyireland.com Email: office@windenergyireland.com CEO: Noel Cunniffe

Consultants and advisors Legal advisors A&L Goodbody International Financial Services Centre, North Wall Quay Dublin 1, D01 H104 Tel: 01 649 2000 Web: www.algoodbody.com Partner: Ross Moore / John Dallas 42-46 Fountain Street Belfast, BT1 5EF Tel: 028 9031 4466 Partner: Ciaran McAlinney Arthur Cox Ten Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 T380 Tel: 01 920 1000 Web: www.arthurcox.com Email: dublin@arthurcox.com Partner: Alex McLean Victoria House Gloucester Street Belfast, BT1 4LS Tel: 028 9023 0007 Email: belfast@arthurcox.com Partner: Alan Taylor Beauchamps Riverside Two Sir John Rogerson’s Quay Dublin 2, D02 KV60 Tel: 01 418 0600 Web: www.beauchamps.ie Email: info@beauchamps.ie Partner: Ainsley Heffernan Carson McDowell Murray House, Murray Street Belfast, BT1 6DN Tel: 028 9024 4951 Web: www.carson-mcdowell.com Partner: Gary McGhee

The Energy Ireland directory DLA Piper 40 Molesworth Street Dublin 2, D02 YV57 Tel: +353 1 436 5450 Web: www.dlapiper.com Legal Director: William Marshall Elva Carbery Pembroke House 28-32 Upper Pembroke Street Dublin 2, D02 EK84 Web: www.elvacarbery.ie Email: elva@elvacarbery.ie Tel: +353 86 839 9224 Fieldfisher The Capel Building Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7 Tel: 01 828 0600 Web: www.fieldfisher.ie Email: elaine.traynor@fieldfisher.com Partner: Elaine Traynor LK Shields Solicitors 40 Upper Mount Street Dublin 2, D02 PR89 Tel: 01 661 0866 Web: www.lkshields.ie Email: email@lkshields.ie Partner: Philip Daly Maples Group 75 St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2 D02 PR50 Tel: 01 619 2000 Web: www.maples.com Partner: Mary Dunne Matheson 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay Dublin 2 Tel: 01 232 2000 Web: www.matheson.com Email: dublin@matheson.com Partner: Garret Farrelly Philip Lee 7-8 Wilton Terrace Dublin 2, D02 KC57 Tel: 01 237 3700 Web: www.philiplee.ie Email: info@philiplee.ie Partner: Clare Cashin Pinsent Masons The Soloist Building 1 Lanyon Place Belfast, BT1 3LP Web: www.pinsentmasons.com Tel: 028 9089 4800 Partner: Richard Murphy

1 Windmill Lane Dublin 2, D02 F206 Tel: 01 553 8600 Partner: Garrett Monaghan TLT NI LLP River House 48-60 High Street Belfast, BT1 2BE Tel: 0333 006 0600 Web: www.tltsolicitors.com Email: kevin.murphy@TLTsolicitors.com Partner: Kevin Murphy William Orbinson QC Senior Counsel 91 Chichester Street Belfast, BT1 3JQ Tel: 078 6024 5324 Web: www.williamorbinson.co.uk Email: william.orbinson@barlibrary.com

Market entry services Oakhall Consulting Dublin 9, Ireland Tel: +353 87 954 8871 Web: www.oakhall.ie Email: hello@oakhall.ie Contact: Jessica Gregory

Financial and economic advisors The term financial and economic consultants cover a wide range of activities, including corporate finance, banking, lending, economic analysis, and accounting services.

Banking/corporate finance Accenture 3 Grand Canal Plaza Grand Canal Street Upper, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 407 6000 Web: www.accenture.com Managing Director: Hilary O’Meara AIB Corporate Banking AIB Bankcentre, Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Tel: 01 6600311 Web: www.aib.ie Email: paul.e.travers@aib.ie Contact: Paul Travers

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Bank of Ireland Global Markets 2 Burlington Plaza Burlington Road, Dublin 4 Tel: 087 9962337 Web: www.bankofireland.com/corporate Contact: Eoin McGuinness Barclays One Molesworth Street Dublin 2, D02 RF29 Tel: 01 618 2600 Web: www.barclayscorporate.com Danske Bank Ireland 3 Harbourmaster Place International Financial Service Centre Dublin 1, D01 K8F1 Tel: 01 484 2254 Web: www.danksebank.ie Email: alistair.welch@danskebank.ie Country Manager: Alistair Welch Davy Corporate Finance Ltd Davy House, 49 Dawson Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 679 7788 Web: www.davy.ie Email: dublin@davy.ie Contact: Michael Mitchell Deloitte Ireland 29 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 AY28 Tel: 01 417 2200 Web: www.deloitte.com/ie Email: info@deloitte.ie Contact: Ciarán O'Brien EY City Quarter, Lapps Quay Cork Tel: 021 4805700 Bedford House, 16 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7DT Tel: 028 9044 3500 Web: www.ey.com Partner: Sean Casey Goodbody Stockbrokers 2 Ballsbridge Park, Ballsbridge Dublin 4, D04 YW83 Tel: 01 667 0400 Web: www.goodbody.ie Email: goodbody@goodbody.ie

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IBI Corporate Finance 33 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2, D02 W899 Tel: 01 963 1200 Web: www.ibicorporatefinance.ie Email: info@ibicorporatefinance.ie Chief Executive: Tom Godfrey KPMG 1 Stokes Place, St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2, D02 DE03 Tel: 01 410 1000 The Soloist Building 1 Lanyon Place Belfast, BT1 3LP Tel: 028 9024 3377 Web: www.kpmg.com Email: michael.hayes@kpmg.ie Global Head of Renewables: Michael Hayes Investec Corporate Finance The Harcourt Building Harcourt Street Dublin 2, D02 F721 Tel: 01 421 0000 Web: www.investec.com/en_ie.html CEO: Michael Cullen Surety Bonds Insurance House Main Street, Townparks Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim Tel: 071 962 3228 Web: www.suretybonds.ie Email: bonds@suretybonds.ie Managing Director: Colm McGrath PwC One Spencer Dock North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 792 6000 Web: www.pwc.ie Director: Kim McClenaghan Belfast Merchant Square 20-26 Wellington Place Belfast, BT1 6GE Tel: 028 9024 5454 Ulster Bank Corporate Markets Group Centre 16 Georges’ Quay Dublin 2, D02 VR98 Tel: 087 738 5890 Web: www.ulsterbank.ie Email: karen.doyle@ulsterbank.com Contact: Karen Doyle

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Accounting, assurance, insurance, and economic consultants AON Ireland Ltd Metropolitan Building James Joyce Street Dublin 1, D01 K0Y8 Web: www.aon.ie Email: michael.spellman@aon.ie Davy Group Davy House, 49 Dawson Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 679 7788 Web: www.davy.ie Email: dublin@davy.ie Contact: Michael Mitchell Deloitte Ireland 29 Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2, D02 AY28 Tel: 01 417 2200 Web: www.deloitte.com/ie Email: info@deloitte.ie Contact: Ciarán O'Brien EY EY Building, 2 Harcourt Centre Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 475 0555 Bedford House, 16 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7DT Tel: 028 9044 3500 Web: www.ey.com Partner: Sean Casey Goodbody Stockbrokers 2 Ballsbridge Park, Ballsbridge Dublin 4, D04 YW83 Tel: 01 667 0400 Web: www.goodbody.ie Email: goodbody@goodbody.ie Oakhall Consulting Dublin 9, Ireland Tel: +353 87 954 8871 Web: www.oakhall.ie Email: hello@oakhall.ie Contact: Jessica Gregory Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited Marsh House, 25-28 Adelaide Road Saint Kevin's, Dublin Tel: 01 604 8100 Web: www.marsh.ie Email: guy.banton@marsh.com Contact: Guy Banton KPMG 1 Stokes Place St Stephen’s Green Dublin 2, D02 DE03 Tel: 01 410 1000

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The Soloist Building 1 Lanyon Place Belfast, BT1 3LP Tel: 028 9024 3377 Web: www.kpmg.com Email: michael.hayes@kpmg.ie Global Head of Renewables: Michael Hayes PwC One Spencer Dock North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 792 6000 Web: www.pwc.ie Director: Kim McClenaghan Waterfront Plaza 8 Laganbank Road, Belfast BT1 3LR Tel: 028 9024 5454 RSA Insurance RSA House Sandyford Road Dundrum Dublin 16 Tel: 01 290 1000 Web: www.rsagroup.ie Smith and Williamson Alexandra House 3 Ballsbridge Park, Ballsbridge Dublin, D04 C7H2 Tel: +353 1 500 6500 Web: www.smithandwilliamson.com Contact: Con Casey Sandyford office Paramount Cour Corrig Road Sandyford Business Park Dublin, D18 R9C7 Belfast office 32-38 Linenhall Street Belfast, BT2 8BG Tel: +44 (0)28 9072 3000 Surety Bonds Insurance House Main Street, Townparks Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim Tel: 071 962 3228 Web: www.suretybonds.ie Email: bonds@suretybonds.ie Managing Director: Colm McGrath Zurich Financial Services Zurich House, Frascati Road Blackrock, Dublin Tel: 01 283 1301 Web: www.zurich.ie

The Energy Ireland directory

Technical and engineering consultants Aramark Property 5th Floor, St Stephen’s Green House Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 871 5400 Web: www.aramarkproperty.ie Arup Consulting Engineers 50 Ringsend Road, Ringsend Dublin 4, D04 T6X0 Tel: 01 233 4455 Web: www.arup.com Email: dublin@arup.com Authentic Energy Management Services (AEMS) Merrion Hall 50-56 Merrion Road, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 230 5018 Web: www.aems.ie Email: team@aems.ie Contact: Conor Molloy Products/Service: energy management services aimed at transport and logistics sectors. B9 Energy Ltd Millbrook Industrial Estate 5 Willowbank Road, Larne BT40 2SF Tel: 028 2826 8273 Web: www.b9energy.co.uk Email: info@b9energy.com BAM Contractors Kill, Co Kildare W91 KH3E Tel: 045 886 400 Web: www.bamireland.ie Email: info@bamcontractors.ie Director: Theo Cullinane Product/Service: civil, structural, and environmental engineers. Bord na Móna Main Street, Newbridge Co Kildare, W12 XR59 Tel: 045 439 000 Web: www.bordnamona.ie CEO: Tom Donnellan Product/Service: environmental consultancy services, clean air solutions and wastewater treatment technologies.

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Brady Shipman Martin Mountpleasant Business Centre Ranelagh Dublin D06 X7P8 Tel: 01 208 1900 Web: www.bradyshipmanmartin.ie Email: mail@bradyshipmanmartin.com Contact: John Kelly

Ecofact Environmental Consultants Ltd Unit 39, Tait Business Centre Dominic Street, Limerick V94 NW81 Tel: 061 419 477 Web: www.ecofact.ie Email: info@ecofact.ie Managing Director: William O’Connor

Building Design Partnership Blackhall Green Dublin 7, D07 VORF Tel: 01 474 0600 Web: www.bdp.com Email: dublin@bdp.com Contact: David Brennan

Energy Services Unit C1, Core House Pouladuff Road, Cork Tel: 021 432 0480 Web: www.energy.ie Email: info@energy.ie Commercial Director: Harry O’Farrell

Product/Service: consulting engineers.

Environmental Efficiency Parnell House, 19 Quinsboro Road, Bray Tel: 01 276 1428 Web: www.enviro-consult.com

Byrne Ó Cléirigh 30a Westland Square Pearse Street Dublin 2, D02 PN76 Tel: 01 677 0733 Web: www.boc.ie Email: info@boc.ie CADFEM Ireland 18 Windsor Place Dublin 2, D02 PW74 Tel: 016 522 730 Web: www.cadfem.net/ie/en/home Email: info@cadfem.ie Cunnane Stratton Reynolds 3 Molesworth Place Dublin 2, D02 EP97 Tel: 01 661 0419 Web: www.csrlandplan.ie Email: info@csrlandplan.ie Product/Service: environmental consultants. Donnelly Troy & Associates 1st Floor, Richmond House Richmond Road, Fairview Dublin 3 Tel: 01 853 2223 Web: www.donnellytroy.com Email: info@donnellytroy.com Product/Service: structural and civil consultants.

ESB International Ltd One Dublin Airport Central Dublin Airport, Cloghran K67 XF72 Tel: 01 703 8000 Web: www.esbinternational.ie Email: marketing@esbi.ie Fehily Timoney & Co Ltd Core House Pouladuff Road Cork, T12 D773 Tel: 021 496 4133 Web: www.fehilytimoney.ie Email: info@ftco.ie Contact: Jim Hughes Product/Service: full design and project management of renewable energy projects. Garland Consultancy Garland House 28-30 Rathmines Park Rathmines, Dublin 6 D06 F8Y1 Tel: 01 496 4322 Web: www.garlandconsultancy.com Email: dublin@garlandconsultancy.com Product/Service: civil and structural engineers.

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Horganlynch Consulting Engineers Tellengana, Blackrock Road Cork Tel: 021 4936100 Web: www.horganlynch.ie Email: cork@horganlynch.ie

O’Connor Sutton Cronin 9 Prussia Street, Dublin 7 Tel: 01 868 2000 Web: www.ocsc.ie Email: martin.mcgrath@ocsc.ie Contact: Martin McGrath

Retrofit Ireland Gibberwell, Duncormick Co Wexford Tel: 051 563 349 Web: www.retrofit.ie Email: info@retrofit.ie

Product/Service: consulting engineers and project managers.

Product/Service: structural and civil consultants.

Product/Service: energy consultants and assessors.

Jacobs Engineering Merrion House, Merrion Road Dublin, D04 R2C5 Tel: 01 269 5666 Web: www.jacobs.com

Nicholas O’Dwyer Consulting Engineers Nutgrove Office Park Nutgrove Avenue Dublin, D14 V3F6 Tel: 01 296 9000 Web: www.nodwyer.com Email: dublin@nodwyer.com Managing Director: Jim Oliver

Roughan & O’Donovan Arena House, Arena Road Sandyford, Dublin 18 D18 V8P6 Tel: 01 294 0800 Web: www.rod.ie Email: info@rod.ie Managing Director: Jim Thorpe

Jennings O’Donovan & Partners Finisklin Business Park, Sligo Tel: 071 916 1416 Web: www.jodireland.com Email: info@jodireland.com Director: Conor McCarthy Product/Service: renewable energy consultants. Kirby Group Engineering White Swan Business Park South Circular Road Dublin, D08 VX59 Tel: 01 454 0411 Web: www.kirbygroup.com Email: info@kirbygroup.com Business Development Director: Aidan J Kerins Patrick McCaul Environmental Consulting Engineers Unit 3, Bankmore Business Park Bankmore Road, Omagh, BT79 0BE Tel: 028 8225 1155 Web: www.pmccaul.com Email: info@pmccaul.com Contact: Patrick McCaul McElroy Associates 69 Leeson Street Lower Dublin 2, D02 YP04 Tel: 01 660 9000 Web: www.mea.ie Email: info@mea.ie Mott MacDonald Ireland Ltd South Block, Rockfield Dundrum Dublin 16, D16 R6V0 Tel: 01 291 6700 Web: www.mottmac.com Email: dublin@mottmac.com

Omexom Unit 5B, 21 Old Channel Road Belfast, BT3 9DE Tel: 02890 958110 Web: www.omexom.co.uk Email: info@omexom.co.uk Contact: Paul McGreevy PM Group Killakee House, Belgard Square Tallaght, Dublin, D24 XFW2 Tel: 01 404 0700 Web: www.pmgroup-global.com Email: dublin@pmgroup-global.com Contact: Leonard Sheil Product/Service: engineering and project management. Quality Freight Port Centre Alexandra Road Dublin, D01 H4C6 Tel: +353 (0)1 836 6233 Web: www.qualityfreight.com Email: sryan@qualityfreight.com Commercial Manager: Shaun Ryan RSK Raw Group Ground Floor, Redwood House 66 Newforge Lane Belfast, BT9 5NF Tel: 02890 457 271 Web: www.raw-group.com Email: raw.enquiries@raw-group.com Product/Service: environmental and engineering consultants.

Product/Service: consultant engineers.

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Product/Service: civil, structural, transportation and environmental engineers. RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland Contact: Ciarán Butler John Sisk & Son Wilton Works, Naas Road Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Tel: 01 409 1500 Web: www.johnsiskandson.com Email: paulbrown@sisk.co.uk CEO: Paul Brown SLR Consulting Ireland 7 Dundrum Business Park Windy Arbour, Dublin, D14 N2Y7 Tel: 01 296 4667 Web: www.slrconsulting.com Email: noneill@slrconsulting.com Contact: Nick O’Neill Product/Service: upstream oil and gas and geotechnical consultants. Smith Brothers Power Engineering Limited 3 Inns Quay, Dublin Tel: 01 903 6480 Web: www.smithbrothers.ie Email: info@smithbrothers.ie

The Energy Ireland directory Tobin Consulting Engineers Fairgreen House Fairgreen Road Galway, H91 AXK8 Tel: 091 565 211 Dublin office Block 10-4 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Dublin 15 D15 X98N Tel: 01 803 0406 Web: www.tobinconsultingengineers.com Email: info@tobin.ie Contact: Siobhán Tinnelly Varming (VMRA) Consulting Engineers Classon House Dundrum Business Park Dundrum Road, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 487 2300 Web: www.varming.ie Email: info@varming.ie Chief Executive: James Kavanagh Product/Service: engineering consultancy. Malachy Walsh and Partners Park House Mahon Technology Park Bessboro Road, Blackrock Cork, T12 X251 Tel: 021 4536 400 Web: www.mwp.ie Email: info@mwp.ie Managing Director: Peter O’Donnell Product/Service: consulting engineers. Waterman Moylan Block S, East Point Business Park Dublin, D03 H3F4 Tel: 01 664 8900 Web: www.watermangroup.com/ie Director: Richard Osborne Product/Service: transportation planning, traffic modelling and highway design.

Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratech.com Email: ireland@tetratech.com Product/Service: engineering services including civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering. Yokogawa Ireland Unit 411 Grants Park Greenogue Business Park Rathcoole, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 457 7454 Web: www.yokogawa.com/eu Email: info@ie.yokogawa.com

Environmental consultants AECOM 4th Floor, Adelphi Plaza Georges Street Upper Dún Laoghaire A96 T927 Tel: 01 238 3100 Web: www.aecom.com/ie Product/Service: environmental consultants Arup Consulting Engineers 50 Ringsend Road, Ringsend Dublin, D04 T6X0 Tel: 01 233 4455 Web: www.arup.com Email: dublin@arup.com Cunnane Stratton Reynolds 3 Molesworth Place, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 661 0419 Web: www.csrlandplan.ie Email: info@csrlandplan.ie Director: Eamonn Prenter DNV GL Ballsbridge Park 3 Regus Alexandra House Dublin, D04 C7H2 Tel: 01 664 1229 Web: www.dnvgl.com

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ECOFACT Environmental Consultants Ltd Unit 39, Tait Business Centre Dominic Street, Limerick, V94 NW81 Tel: 061 419 477 Web: www.ecofact.ie Email: info@ecofact.ie Managing Director: William O’Connor Enviro Grind Ltd Donegal Road, Pettigo Co Donegal Tel: 071 986 1772 Web: www.envirogrindltd.com Email: info@envirogrindltd.com Environmental Impact Services Ltd 1st Floor 24-26 Ormond Quay Upper Dublin 7, D07 DAV9 Tel: 01 872 1530 Web: www.eis.ie Email: info@eis.ie ERM 5 School House Lane East Dublin 2, D02 EC62 Tel: 01 592 5960 Web: www.erm.com Fehily Timoney & Co Ltd Core House, Pouladuff Road Cork, T12 D773 Tel: 021 496 4133 Web: www.fehilytimoney.ie Email: info@ftco.ie CEO: Eamon Timoney Golder / WSP Town Centre House Dublin Road, Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 045 810 200 Web: www.golder.com Email: peter_corrigan@golder.com Contact: Peter Corrigan Gravis Planning 1 Pavilions Office Park Kinnegar Drive Holywood, BT18 9JQ Tel: 028 9042 5222 Web: www.gravisplanning.com Email: info@gravisplanning.com Director: Richard Bowman Inenco Ribble House Ballam Road, Lyntham Lancashire, FY8 4TS Tel: 08451 463 626 Web: www.inenco.com Email: enquiries@inenco.com

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MBA Planning 4 College House Citylink Business Park Belfast, BT12 4HQ Tel: 028 9042 1011 Web: www.mbaplanning.com Email: planning@mbaplanning.com Contact: Diana Thompson PM Group Killakee House, Belgard Square Tallaght, Dublin D24 XFW2 Tel: 01 404 0700 Web: www.pmgroup-global.com Contact: Leonard Sheil RSK Raw Ground Floor, Redwood House 66 Newforge Lane Belfast, BT9 5NF Tel: 028 9045 7271 Web: www.rskraw.com Email: raw.enquiries@raw-group.com RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland Contact: Olivier Gaillot Clyde Shanks Second Floor 7 Exchange Place Belfast, BT1 2NA Tel: 028 9043 4393 Web: www.clydeshanks.com Email: enquiries@clydeshanks.com Contact: Clyde Shanks SLR Consulting Ireland 7 Dundrum Business Park Windy Arbour, Dublin, D14 N2Y7 Tel: 01 296 4667 Web: www.slrconsulting.com Email: noneill@slrconsulting.com Director: Nick O’Neill Product/Service: upstream oil and gas and geotechnical consultants. John Spain Associates 39 Fitzwilliam Place Dublin 2, D02 ND61 Tel: 01 662 5803 Web: www.jsaplanning.ie Email: info@johnspainassociates.com Contact: John Spain

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Southern Scientific Services Unit B5, 4Park Business Centre Farranfore, Co Kerry V93 E220 Tel: 066 976 3588 Web: www.southernscientificireland.com Email: info@southernscientificireland.com Managing Director: Kate Murphy Tobin Consulting Engineers Fairgreen House Fairgreen Road Galway, H91 AXK8 Tel: 091 565 398 Web: www.tobinconsultingengineers.com Email: galway@tobin.ie Contact: Siobhán Tinnelly Dublin office Block 10-4 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Dublin 15 D15 X98N Tel: 01 803 0406 Email: dublin@tobin.ie Turley Hamilton House, 3 Joy Street Belfast, BT2 8LE Tel: 028 9072 3900 Web: www.turley.co.uk Email: michael.gordon@turley.co.uk Director: Michael Gordon Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road Belfast, BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratecheurope.com Email: ireland@tetratecheurope.com

Renewable energy consultants AECOM 24 Lower Hatch Street Dublin 2, D02 TY88 Tel: 01 676 3671 Web: www.aecom.com Arup Consulting Engineers One Albert Quay Cork, T12 X8N6 Tel: 021 422 3200 Web: www.arup.com Email: cork@arup.com Contact: Liam Luddy

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Ashgrove Renewables Coolnahane, Kanturk Cork, P51 Y963 Tel: 0818 626 626 Web: www.ashgrove.ie Email: info@ashgrove.eu Managing Director: Shane Murphy B9 Energy Ltd 5 Willowbank Road Millbrook Industrial Estate Larne, BT40 2SF Tel: 028 2826 8273 Web: www.b9energy.co.uk Email: info@b9energy.com Brady Shipman Martin Mountpleasant Business Centre Ranelagh, Dublin D06 X7P8 Tel: 01 208 1900 Web: www.bradyshipmanmartin.ie Email: mail@bradyshipmanmartin.com Contact: Thomas Burns Buro Happold Limited Camden Mill 230 Lower Bristol Road Bath, BA2 3DQ Tel: 01225 320 600 Web: www.burohappold.com ClearPower The Greenhouse Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhills Road, Tallaght Dublin, D24 E780 Tel: 01 462 5000 Web: www.clearpower.ie Email: info@clearpower.ie Coffey Construction Castlewood, Moanbaun Athenry, Co Galway, H65 YO78 Tel: 091 844 356 Web: www.coffeygroup.com Email: info@coffeygroup.com Contact: Gary Coffey DP Energy Ireland Ltd Mill House, Buttevant Co Cork, P51 TN35 Tel: 02 223 955 Web: www.dpenergy.com Email: info@dpenergy.com ESB International Engineering One Dublin Airport Central Dublin Airport Cloughrane, K67 XF72 Tel: 01 703 8000 Web: www.esbinternational.ie

The Energy Ireland directory Fehily Timoney & Co Ltd Core House, Pouladuff Road Cork, T12 D773 Tel: 021 496 4133 Web: www.fehilytimoney.ie Email: info@ftco.ie Director: Sinéad Timoney

Mabey Bridge Ltd Unit 9, Lydney Harbour Estate, Harbour Road Lydney, Gloucestershire, GL15 4EJ Tel: 01291 623 801 Web: www.mabeybridge.com Email: mail@mabeybridge.co.uk

GAIA Ecotecture 184 Sancton Wood Building 9F Heuston South Quarter, Kilmainham Dublin 8 Tel: 01 661 0957 Web: www.gaia-ecotecture.eu Email: sallystarbuck@gaiaecotecture.eu Director: Sally Starbuck

Mainstream Renewable Power Ground Floor, Block G Central Park, Leopardstown Dublin, D18 NH10 Tel: 01 290 2000 Web: www.mainstreamrp.com Email: info@mainstreamrp.com CEO: Mary Quaney

Golder / WSP Town Centre House Dublin Road, Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 045 810 200 Web: www.golder.com Email: peter_corrigan@golder.com Contact: Peter Corrigan Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd Queen’s Island, Belfast, BT3 9EU Tel: 0330 124 0427 Web: www.harland-wolff.com Email: info@harland-wolff.com Contact: Lawrence Cobain Hitachi Energy Ireland Limited Regus Block 1 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin Road Blanchardstown Dublin, D15 AKK1 Tel: +353 1 574 7981 Email: contactus@hitachienergy.com Managing Director: Peter Lantry Jennings O’Donovan & Partners Finisklin Business Park Co Sligo, F91 RHH9 Tel: 071 916 1416 Web: www.jodireland.com Email: info@jodireland.com Director: David Kiely Patrick McCaul Environmental Consulting Engineers Unit 3 Bankmore Business Park Bankmore Road, Omagh BT79 0BE Tel: 028 8225 1155 Web: www.pmccaul.com Email: info@pmccaul.com

Malachy Walsh and Partners Park House Mahon Technology Park Bessboro Road, Blackrock Cork, T12 X251 Tel: 021 453 6400 Web: www.mwp.ie Email: info@mwp.ie Managing Director: Peter O’Donnell Mott MacDonald Ireland Ltd South Block, Rockfield Dundrum, Dublin 16 Tel: 01 291 6700 Web: www.mottmac.com Email: dublin@mottmac.com Managing Director: John Murphy Natural Power Consultants Suite 6, The Mall, Beacon Court Sandyford, Dublin, D18 A3W8 Tel: 01 697 1344 Web: www.naturalpower.com Email: sayhello@naturalpower.com OceanEnergy Ltd 3 Casement Square Cobh, Co Cork Tel: 021 481 6780 Web: www.oceanenergy.ie Email: info@oceanenergy.ie CEO: John McCarthy Oriel Windfarm Limited Digital Office Centre Balheary Road, Swords, Co Dublin Tel: 019 630 313 Web: www.orielwindfarm.ie Email: contact@orielwindfarm.ie Overy & Associates Gurtnafleur Business Park Clonmel, Co Tipperary, E91 RX68 Tel: 052 612 7667 Web: www.overy.ie Email: info@overy.ie

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PM Group Killakee House, Belgard Square Tallaght, Dublin, D24 XFW2 Tel: 01 404 0700 Web: www.pmgroup-global.com Contact: Leonard Sheil Omexom Unit 5B, 21 Old Channel Road Belfast, BT3 9DE Tel: 028 9095 8110 Web: www.omexom.co.uk Email: info@omexom.co.uk Pure Energy Technology Ltd Kilmallock Road, Bruff, Co Limerick Tel: 061 525 137 Web: www.pet.ie Email: sales@pet.ie Quality Freight Port Centre Alexandra Road Dublin, D01 H4C6 Tel: +353 (0)1 836 6233 Web: www.qualityfreight.com Email: sryan@qualityfreight.com Commercial Manager: Shaun Ryan RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Dublin, A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland Contact: Olivier Gaillot Siemens Ltd Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.com Email: info.ie@siemens.com Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemensgamesa.com Email: info@siemensgamesa.com SSE Renewables Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin, D18 W688 Tel: 01 655 6000 Web: www.sserenewables.com Director of Capital Projects: Paul Cooley

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Synergy Engineering Ltd Unit B4, Block B Centrepoint Business Park Oak Drive, Dublin 12, D12 P791 Tel: 01 424 3000 Web: www.synergyengineering.ie Email: info@synergyengineering.ie Tobin Consulting Engineers Fairgreen House Fairgreen Road Galway, H91 AXK8 Tel: 091 565 398 Web: www.tobinconsultingengineers.com Email: galway@tobin.ie Contact: Siobhán Tinnelly Dublin office Block 10-4 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Dublin 15 D15 X98N Tel: 01 803 0406 Email: dublin@tobin.ie Turner & Townsend Ashford House, 18-23 Tara Street Dublin, D02 VX67 Tel: 01 400 3300 Web: www.turnerandtownsend.com Email: dublin@turntown.com Managing Director: Mark Kelly

IT consultants and systems support companies 1 Spatial Block 4, Harcourt Centre Harcourt Road, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 697 8410 Web: www.1spatial.com Product/Service: GIS specialists, providing design, development and consultancy services to the local government, utilities and engineering sectors. CADFEM Ireland Ltd 18 Windsor Place Dublin, D02 PW74 Tel: 01 652 2732 Web: www.cadfem.net Email: info@cadfem.ie Managing Director: Derek Sweeney Diatec Unit 17, The Seapoint Building 44-45 Clontarf Road Dublin, D03 DH96 Tel: 01 853 0661 Web: www.diatec.ie Email: autodesk@diatec.ie Product/Service: interactive mapping solutions.

Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road Belfast, BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratecheurope.com Email: ireland@tetratecheurope.com

ESET Ireland Weston, Westgate Wexford Y35 TH7W Tel: +353 (0)53 914 6600 Web: www.eset.com Email: hello@eset.ie

Wilson Power and Energy 73 Listullycurran Road Dromore BT25 1RD Tel: +44 (0) 28 9273 2159 Web: www.wilsonpowerandenergy.com Email: hello@wilsonpowerandenergy.com Director: Andrew Wilson

i3 Digital 12 Lower Hatch Street Dublin D02 R682 Tel: 01 839 6580 Web: www.i3digital.com Email: dublin@i3digital.com

Xodus Group Xodus House, 50 Huntly Street Aberdeen, AB10 1RS Tel: 01224 628300 Web: www.xodusgroup.com Contact: Rachel Mair

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Product/Service: e-services provider. IBM Ireland Ltd IBM House, Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 815 4000 Web: www.ibm.com Email: ibmenquire@ie.ibm.com Product/Service: project management, technical audits and software.

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Lowri Beck Building B, Swan Meadow Road Wigan, WN3 5BB Tel: 01942 772 060 Web: www.lowribeck.co.uk Email: lbenquiries@lowribeck.co.uk Product/Service: data capture services including a variety of innovative and flexible solutions to utilities and businesses; handheld field data collection and relaying. Rockwell Automation IDA Business Technology Park Carrigtwohill Industrial Estate Co Cork Tel: 01 8132 010 Web: www.rockwellautomation.com Product/Service: integrated solutions provider, process technology, automated design, control systems and information technology. SOGETI Ireland Ground Floor, Metropolitan Building James Joyce Street, Dublin 1 D01 K0Y8 Tel: 01 639 0100 Web: www.sogeti.ie Email: info.ie@ie.sogeti.com CEO: James Govan Product/Service: consulting, technology and outsourcing services.

Certification services Certification Europe Block 20A, Beckett Way Parkwest Business Park Dublin, D12 P8R2 Tel: 01 642 9300 Web: www.certificationeurope.com Email: info@certificationeurope.com Contact: Robert Lyons SAI Global Block 3, Quayside Business Park Mill Street, Dundalk, Louth A91 WNH1 Tel: 042 9320 912 Web: www.saiassurance.com

The Energy Ireland directory National Standards Authority of Ireland 1 Swift Square Northwood, Santry, Dublin 9 D09 A0E4 Tel: 01 807 3800 Web: www.nsai.ie Email: info@nsai.ie

Equipment and service suppliers Ireland has a buoyant market in the supply of equipment and services to the energy sector. Although much of the equipment is manufactured outside Ireland, some of it is produced locally and all the major international equipment companies have a presence in some capacity. Some of the main equipment suppliers to the Irish energy sector are listed below.

Power generation and CHP AC Automation Trooperslane Industrial Estate 5 Sloefield Park Carrickfergus, BT38 8GR Tel: 028 9336 4779 Web: www.acautomation.co.uk Email: info@acautomation.co.uk Managing Director: Gary Callaghan Aggreko Ireland Clonminam Industrial Estate Portlaoise, Co Laois Tel: 01 57 863 8069 Web: www.aggreko.com/en-ie Product/Service: hire and rental of power equipment. Arup Consulting Engineers 50 Ringsend Road Ringsend, Dublin 4, D04 T6XO Tel: 01 233 4455 Web: www.arup.com Email: dublin@arup.com AZOROM 12 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 631 6080 Web: www.azorom.com Email: information@azorom.com Contact Michael O’Brien

Baxi Potterton Myson Unit F 5&6, Calmount Park Calmount Road, Ballymount Dublin 12 Tel: 01 459 0870 Web: www.baxipottertonmyson.ie Email: sales@potterton-myson.ie Product/Service: manufacturer of hot water solutions. Clarke Energy Ireland Limited Unit 7, Newtown Business Park Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow Tel: 01 281 0010 Web: www.clarke-energy.com Email: ireland@clarke-energy.com General Manager: John Curley Energyst Rental Solutions Limited Unit A, Aerodrome Business Park Rathcoole, Co Dublin Tel: 01 401 8580 Web: www.energyst.com/ie Email: info.ie@energyst.com Edina Ltd Delaire House Unit 4, Swords Business Park Co Dublin, K67 HN56 Tel: 01 882 4800 Web: www.edina.eu Product/Service: gas-engine combined heat and power units/diesel generators. Edina UK Ltd Lissue Industrial Estate West Lisburn, Co Antrim BT28 2RE Tel: 028 9262 2122 Product/Service: CHP modules/diesel generators. Electrogen International Ltd Rathregan, Batterstown Co Meath, A86 PX01 Tel: 01 825 1644 Web: www.electrogen.ie Email: fergal@electrogen.ie Managing Director: Fergal Bent

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F4energy CSM Ltd Clonmore Crossagalla Industrial Estate Ballysimon Road Limerick City, V94 P7K6 Tel: 061 603 939 Web: www.f4energy.ie Email: info@f4energy.com Product/Service: small-scale CHP units. Finning Ireland Ltd Unit A, Aerodrome Business Park Collegeland Rathcoole, Co Dublin, D24 WC04 Tel: 01 257 4000 Web: www.finning.com Product/Service: agent for the Caterpillar brand and CAT Power Systems in Ireland. Hitachi Energy Ireland Limited Regus Block 1 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin Road Blanchardstown Dublin, D15 AKK1 Tel: +353 1 574 7981 Email: contactus@hitachienergy.com Managing Director: Peter Lantry Kyte Powertech Dublin Road Cavan, H12 KV20 Tel: +353 49 433 1588 Web: www.kytepowertech.com Commercial Manager: Martin Reilly Product/Service: Kyte Powertech has a large and diverse range of Distribution Transformer products and services. MacGen Power Generation 14 Drumagarner Road Kilrea, BT51 5TB Tel: 028 2954 2500 Web: www.macgen.co.uk Email: sales@macgen.co.uk Product/Service: suppliers of power generation equipment.

Product/Service: sales of electrical power standby generators.

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OHM Group Clonlara Road Baldonnell Business Park Baldonnell, Dublin, D22 W1H9 Tel: 01 403 4100 Web: www.ohm.ie Chief Executive: Declan McCourt Product/Service: distribution and hire of generators and industrial support equipment. OMICRON electronics UK Ltd Staples Close Redhill Business Park Stafford, ST16 1WQ Tel: +44 1785 848 100 Web: www.omicronenergy.com Email: david.brazier@omicronenergy.com Contact: David Brazier

Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road Belfast, BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratecheurope.com Email: ireland@tetratecheurope.com Head of Geo-Environment: Michael Boyd Wilson Power and Energy 73 Listullycurran Road Dromore BT25 1RD Tel: +44 (0) 28 9273 2159 Web: www.wilsonpowerandenergy.com Email: hello@wilsonpowerandenergy.com Director: Andrew Wilson

OMICRON is an international company serving the electrical power industry with innovative testing and diagnostic solutions. Quality Freight Port Centre Alexandra Road Dublin, D01 H4C6 Tel: +353 (0)1 836 6233 Web: www.qualityfreight.com Email: sryan@qualityfreight.com Commercial Manager: Shaun Ryan Siemens Ltd Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.com Email: info.ie@siemens.com Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemensgamesa.com Email: info@siemensgamesa.com Temp Tech Unit 9 Childers Road Industrial Estate Limerick Tel: 061 413 299 Web: www.temptech.ie Email: info@temptech.ie Contact: Declan Ryan

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Renewable energy technology Wind energy Coillte Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN25 Tel: 0818 776 301 Web: www.coillte.ie Email: info@coillte.ie Chief Executive: Imelda Hurley GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore Hitachi Energy Ireland Limited Regus Block 1 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Ballycoolin Road Blanchardstown Dublin, D15 AKK1 Tel: +353 1 574 7981 Email: contactus@hitachienergy.com Managing Director: Peter Lantry Medite Europe Ltd Redmondstown, Clonmel Co Tipperary, E91 V584 Tel: 087 248 3794 Web: www.mdfosb.com Email: david.murray@mdfosb.com Contact: David Murray Nordex Energy Ireland Ltd Clonmel House, Forster Way Swords, Co Dublin, K67 A6X3 Tel: 01897 0260 Web: www.nordex-online.com Email: salesireland@nordexonline.com Contact: Nigel Hayes Pure Energy Technology Ltd Kilmallock Road, Bruff, Co Limerick Tel: 061 525 137 We: www.pet.ie Email: sales@pet.ie

The Energy Ireland directory Siemens Ltd Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemens.com Email: info.ie@siemens.com

Glennon Bros Ltd Farran South, Fermoy, Co Cork Tel: 025 37 400 Web: www.glennonbrothers.ie Email: info@glennonbrothers.ie Managing Director: Patrick Glennon/ Mike Glennon

Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Innovation House, DCU Alpha Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2000 Web: www.siemensgamesa.com Email: info@siemensgamesa.com

NTR plc Burton Court, Burton Hall Drive Sandyford, Dublin D18 Y2T8 Tel: 01 206 3700 Web: www.ntrplc.com Email: info@ntrplc.com Chief Executive: Rosheen McGuckian

Bioenergy

Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow Co Carlow, R93 XE12 Tel: 059 917 0200 Web: www.teagasc.ie Email: info@teagasc.ie Director: Frank O’Mara

B9 Energy Ltd 5 Willowbank Road Millbrook Industrial Estate Larne, BT40 2SF Tel: 028 2826 8273 Web: www.b9energy.co.uk Email: info@b9energy.com

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Kingspan Light + Air Ireland Carrickmacross Road Kingscourt, Co Cavan Tel: 042 9698 500 Web: www.kingspan.com Email: info@kingspanlightandair.ie Lightsource BP Trinity House, Charleston Road Ranelagh, D06 C8X4 Tel: 01 685 6263 Web: www.lightsourcebp.com Email: ireland@lightsourcebp.com Pure Energy Technology Ltd Kilmallock Road, Bruff, Co Limerick Tel: 061 525 137 Web: www.pet.ie Email: sales@pet.ie

Solar energy

Shamrock Solar Energies Ltd Doora Industrial Estate Doora, Ennis, Co Clare Tel: 065 686 8468 Web: www.shamrocksolar.com Email: info@shamrocksolar.com

Balcas Ltd 75 Killadeas Road, Ballinamallard Enniskillen, BT94 2ES Tel: 028 6632 3003 Web: www.balcas.com Email: info@balcas.com Contact: Ian McCracken

Clearpower The Green House Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhills Road, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 5000 Web: www.clearpower.ie Email: info@clearpower.ie

Solmatix Ltd 14 Glenwell Road Glengormley, Newtownabbey BT36 7RF Tel: 028 9082 4000 Web: www.solmatix.com Email: info@solmatix.com

Clearpower The Green House Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhills Road, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 5000 Web: www.clearpower.ie Email: info@clearpower.ie

Elgin Energy 4th floor, Hambleden House 19-26 Pembroke Street Lower Dublin 2, D02 WV96 Tel: 01 660 0190 Web: www.elgin-energy.com Email: office@elgin-energy.com Managing Director: Ronan Kilduff

Wilson Power and Energy 73 Listullycurran Road Dromore BT25 1RD Tel: +44 (0) 28 9273 2159 Web: www.wilsonpowerandenergy.com Email: hello@wilsonpowerandenergy.com Director: Andrew Wilson

Coillte Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN25 Tel: 0818 776 301 Web: www.coillte.ie Email: info@coillte.ie Chief Executive: Imelda Hurley GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore

GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore Glas Energy Technology Johnstown Business Centre Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 0818 227 050 Web: www.glasenergytechnology.ie Email: info@glasetech.ie

Ocean energy AWS Ocean Energy Ltd Findhorn House Dochfour Business Centre Inverness, IV3 8GY Tel: +44(0) 1463 725 410 Web: www.awsocean.com Email: info@awsocean.com Blue Power Energy Ltd Feltrim House, Feltrim Road Malahide, Co Dublin Web: www.bluepowerenergy.ie

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Carnegie Wave Energy Ireland Limited 4th Floor, North Block Rockfield Central Dundrum, Dublin 16 Web: www.carnegiece.com Email: enquiries@carnegiece.com Ocean Energy 3 Casement Square Cobh, Co Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 481 6780 Web: www.oceanenergy.ie Email: info@oceanenergy.ie CEO: John McCarthy GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore Sea Energies Surgeview Blacksod, Co Mayo Email: info@seaenergies.com Sea Power Ltd Main Street, Enniscrone Co Sligo, F26 RF86 Tel: 091 442 820 Web: www.seapower.ie Email: info@seapower.ie

Monitoring/control systems/instrumentation AC Automation Trooperslane Industrial Estate 5 Sloefield Park Carrickfergus, BT38 8GR Tel: 028 9336 4779 Web: www.acautomation.co.uk Email: info@acautomation.co.uk Managing Director: Gary Callaghan Aggreko Ireland Clonminam Business Park Portlaoise, Co Laois Tel: 01 57 863 8069 Web: www.aggreko.com/en-ie ATC Systems Limited 3 Enterprise Way, Mallusk Newtownabbey, BT36 4EW Tel: 028 9034 0300 Web: www.atc-systems-ltd.com Email: sales@atc-ni.com

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Danfoss Power Solutions Limited Building 4, Uxbridge Business Park Sanderson Road, Uxbridge Buckinghamshire, UB8 1DH Tel: 01895 617 000 Web: www.danfoss.co.uk

Kyte Powertech Dublin Road Cavan, H12 KV20 Tel: +353 49 433 1588 Web: www.kytepowertech.com Commercial Manager: Martin Reilly

EDMI Europe Limited Form 1 17 Bartley Wood Business Park Bartley Way, Hook Hampshire, RG27 9XA Tel: 01256 830 990 Web: www.edmi-meters.com Email: sales-europe@edmi-meters.com

Manotherm Limited The Control Centre 4 Walkinstown Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 452 2355 Web: www.manotherm.ie Email: info@manotherm.ie

Jones Engineering Group Jones Engineering House 83 Pembroke Road Dublin 4, D04 HN50 Tel: 01 474 9800 Web: www.joneseng.com Email: info@joneseng.com Contact: Barry Steele Reg Farrell Engineering Limited Unit 19, Oak Road Business Park Western Industrial Estate, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 465 9010 Web: www.rfe.ie Email: info@rfe.ie Managing Director: Ian Checkley Gem-Utilities Ltd Gem Business Suite Cherry Avenue Ennis Road, Limerick Tel: 087 797 4359 Web: www.gem.ie Email: info@gem.ie GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore Hanley Technology Unit 2B, Fingal Bay Business Park Balbriggan, Co Dublin, K32 XP23 Tel: 01 517 5200 Web: www.hanleytechnology.com Email: sales@hanleytechnology.com Johnson Controls Ireland Ltd Block 9A, Beckett Way Park West Business Park Dublin 12 Tel: 01 620 5888 Web: www.johnsoncontrols.com

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MCA Systems Limited 65-66 Dunlop Commercial Park 4 Balloo Drive Bangor, BT19 7QY Tel: 028 9145 0186 Web: www.mca-systems.com Email: info@mca-systems.com Moog Ireland Ltd 15 Northwest Business Park Ballycoolin, Dublin D15 FF6K Tel: 01 866 5418 Web: www.moog.com NewFound Energy Ltd Park View House, Worrall Street Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1DT Tel: 01260 290 151 Web: www.newfound-energy.co.uk Email: info@newfound-energy.co.uk Nitronica Limited 4 Antrim Road Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 8AN Tel: 028 9756 6200 Web: www.nitronica.com Obelisk Enterprise Centre Dublin Road, Cavan H12 W6X5 Tel: 049 437 1044 Web: www.obelisk.com Orbis Information Systems Ltd Maple House South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin D18 F863 Tel: 01 292 3206 Web: www.orbislabsystems.com Email: info@orbislabsystems.com

The Energy Ireland directory Rototherm Ltd Unit C2, Clonlara Avenue Baldonnell Business Park Naas Road, Dublin D22 YY31 Tel: 01 466 0260 Web: www.rototherm.ie Email: sales@rototherm.ie Managing Director: Maria Kenaney Schneider Electric Ireland Block A Maynooth Business Campus Maynooth, Co Kildare Tel: 01 800 805 800 Web: www.se.com/ie/en Siemens Limited DCU Alpha Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2241 Web: www.siemens.ie Email: gary.ocallaghan@siemens.com CEO: Gary O’Callaghan Standard Control Systems Standard House Riverview Business Park New Nangor Road, Dublin 12 D12 VK38 Tel: 01 429 1800 Email: info@standardcontrol.ie SystemLink Technologies Limited Unit 1a Greenhills Business Park Greenhills Road Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 403 1200 Web: www.systemlink.ie Email: info@systemlink.ie

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Temp Tech Unit 9 Childers Road Industrial Estate Limerick Tel: 061 413 299 Web: www.temptech.ie Email: info@temptech.ie

BSS Belfast 36-38 Duncrue Road Duncrue Industrial Estate Belfast, BT3 9BP Tel: 028 9078 4000 Web: www.bssindustrial.co.uk Email: 1910.sales@bssgroup.com

Air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and insulation products

Product/Service: commercial heating and ventilation.

Air Technology Ltd 1 The Oaks Industrial Estate Festival Drive Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 5XN Tel: 01509 264 900 Web: www.airtechnology.co.uk Email: office@airtechnology.co.uk Product/Service: energy saving solutions in the fields of compressed air, water and inert gases. ATC Electrical and Mechanical ATC House, Broomhill Drive Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 467 8301 Web: www.atc.ie Email: sales@atc.ie Product/Service: electrical and water door curtains. Baxi Potterton Myson Unit F 5&6, Calmount Park Calmount Road, Ballymount Dublin 12 Tel: 01 459 0870 Web: www.baxipottertonmyson.ie Email: sales@potterton-myson.ie Product/Service: manufacturer of hot water solutions. BM Heat Services Ltd Unit 1, Block B Scrabo Business Park Jubilee Road, Newtownards Co Down, BT23 4YH Tel: 028 9181 5991 Web: www.bmheat.com Email: info@bmheat.com Product/Service: range of heating and ventilation products.

Doosan Babcock Energy Ltd Doosan House Crawley Business Quarter Manor Royal, Crawley West Sussex, RH10 9AD Tel: 01293 612 888 Web: www.doosanbabcock.com Email: db.info@doosan.com Product/Service: boilers and burners. Geoff Castles Boiler Services 97a Belfast Road, Carrickfergus Co Antrim, BT38 8BX Tel: 028 9336 8949 Web: www.geoffcastles.co.uk Email: gary@geoffcastles.co.uk Unit A Euro Business Park Quartertown Industrial Estate Quartertown Mallow, Co Cork Tel: 022 51914 Product/Service: sales and service agents for Cochran boilers. Concord Boiler Engineering JFK Drive, JFK Industrial Estate Dublin, D12 RD72 Tel: 01 453 2727 Web: www.concordboilerengineering.ie Email: info@concord.ie Product/Service: boilers. Crystal Air Limited Unit 3, Butterstream Business Park Clane, Co Kildare Tel: 045 893 228 Web: www.crystalair.ie Managing Director: Domnick Ward Product/Service: air conditioning systems.

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Hamworthy Heating Limited Wessex House Units 7 & 8 New Fields Business Park Stinsford Road Poole, Dorset, BH17 0NF Tel: 012 0266 2500 Web: www.hamworthy-heating.com Email: sales@hamworthyheating.com Product/Service: boilers, water heaters.

South Antrim Boiler Services Ltd (SABS) 7-15 Enterprise Crescent, Lisburn Co Antrim, BT28 2BP Tel: 028 9266 5335 Web: www.s-antrim-boilers.co.uk Email: yvonne@s-antrimboilers.co.uk

Aqua Heating Solutions Unit 27, Togher Industrial Estate Togher, Co Cork T12 EY28 Tel: 021 431 9984 Web: www.aquatech.ie Email: info@aquatech.ie Director: Brian McCarthy

Product/Service: boiler sales and maintenance.

Ashgrove Renewables Coolnahane, Kanturk, Co Cork Tel: 1890 626 626 Web: www.ashgrove.ie Email: info@ashgrove.eu

Lindab Ireland Ltd Nangor Road Business Park Nangor Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 456 8200 Web: www.lindab.ie Email: sales@lindab.ie

Thermodial Ltd Block A Centrepoint Business Park Oak Road, Dublin 12 D12 C9T2 Tel: 01 409 7696 Web: www.thermodial.ie Email: info@thermodial.ie

McCaig Collim 92-94 Dargan Crescent Belfast, BT3 9JP Tel: 028 9077 7788 Web: www.mccaig-collim.co.uk Email: sales@mccaig-collim.co.uk

Viessmann Limited Hortonwood 30, Telford Shropshire, TF1 7YP Tel: 01952 675 000 Web: www.viessmann.co.uk Email: info-uk@viessmann.com

Product/Service: heat, cold, sound and energy saving insulation.

Warmflow Lissue Industrial Estate Moira Road Lisburn, BT28 2RF Tel: 028 9262 1515 Web: www.warmflow.co.uk Email: sales@warmflow.co.uk

MT Agencies Ireland Fearn House Unit 3 & 4 Jamestown Business Park Jamestown Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 864 3363 Email: sales@mtagencies.ie Product/Service: hydroflame fires. RVR Energy Technology Kenmare, Co Kerry V93 F386 Tel: 064 664 1344 Web: www.rvr.ie Email: info@rvr.ie

Willis Heating and Plumbing Co Ltd Unit 28, Somerton Industrial Park Dargan Crescent Belfast, BT3 9JP Tel: 028 9078 1236 Web: www.willis-heating.com Email: mail@willis-heating.com Director: Ian Steele

Mechanical fabrication, pipes, valves and pumps

Product/Service: air handling units. Sermet (NI) Limited 12A Crescent Business Park Lisburn, BT28 2GN Tel: 028 9268 2531 Web: www.sermet.co.uk Email: info@sermet.co.uk

Air Products Ireland Ltd Unit 950 Knockmitten Close Western Industrial Estate, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 465 9650 Web: www.airproducts.ie Product/Service: suppliers of gases and equipment.

Product/Service: boilers/calorifiers/gas units.

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Atlas Copco Ireland Ltd Unit 4, Plato Business Park Damastown Industrial Park Dublin 15 Tel: 01 450 5978 Web: www.atlascopco.com Email: info.ireland@ie.atlascopco.com Product/Service: compressors. Blagdon Pump 79 Shannon Industrial Estate Shannon, Co Clare Web: www.blagdonpump.com Email: support@blagdonpump.com Product/Service: manufacture of Blagdon pumps – internal and external gear, metric motor speed, magnetically couples (applications include LPG). Crane ChemPharma Energy 6 Alexander Road Belfast, BT6 9HJ Tel: 028 9070 4222 Web: www.cranecpe.com Email: csvlsales@craneflow.com Energy Superstore Ltd Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly Tel: 057 932 4062 Web: www.energysuperstore.ie Email: info@energysuperstore.ie Environmental Installations Unit 5 Business Centre Ballintogher, Co Sligo Tel: 071 912 7220 Web: www.eil.ie Email: info@eil.ie

The Energy Ireland directory Manotherm Limited The Control Centre 4 Walkinstown Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 452 2355 Web: www.manotherm.ie Email: info@manotherm.ie Medical and Industrial Pipeline Systems Ltd Dunshaughlin Business Park Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, A85 DY95 Tel: 01 825 0677 Web: www.mips.ie Email: sales@mips.ie Polytherm Heating Systems Ltd Muirfield Drive, Naas Road Dublin 12 Tel: 01 419 1990 Web: www.polytherm.ie Email: info@polytherm.ie Pure Energy Technology Ltd Kilmallock Road, Bruff Co Limerick Tel: 061 525 137 Web: www.pet.ie Email: sales@pet.ie Radius Systems Ltd Halfpenny Valley Industrial Estate Parkview Street, Portadown Road Lurgan, BT66 8TP Tel: 028 3844 6060 Web: www.radius-systems.com Email: info@radius-systems.com Schlumberger Peregrine Road Westhill Business Park Aberdeenshire, Westhill Scotland, AB32 6JL Tel: +44 1244 957 500 Web: www.slb.com Shamrock Solar Doora Industrial Estate, Doora Ennis, Co Clare Tel: 065 686 8468 Web: www.shamrocksolar.com Email: info@shamrocksolar.com Smith Brothers Power Engineering Limited 3 Inns Quay, Dublin Tel: 01 903 6480 Web: www.smithbrothers.ie Email: info@smithbrothers.ie

Unipipe Ireland Ltd 40 Southern Cross Business Park Boghall Road, Bray, Co Wicklow A98 KP20 Tel: 01 286 4888 Web: www.unipipe.ie Email: info@unipipe.ie Wolseley Unit 1, M2 Business Park 132 Duncrue Street Belfast, BT3 9AR Tel: 028 9075 1626 Web: www.wolseley.co.uk Email: vx.belfast@wolseley.co.uk

Electrical contractors and service providers AC Automation Trooperslane Industrial Estate 5 Sloefield Park Carrickfergus, BT38 8GR Tel: 028 9336 4779 Web: www.acautomation.co.uk Email: info@acautomation.co.uk ATR Group Unit 510, Grants Avenue Greenogue Business Park Dublin, D24 CY24 Tel: 01 257 2513 Web: www.atrgroup.ie Email: info@atrgroup.ie Demesne Electrical Sales The Square Industrial Complex Tallaght, Dublin 24 D24 ED71 Tel: 01 404 7700 Web: www.demesne.ie Email: sales@demesne.ie Energyst Rental Solutions Ltd Unit A, Aerodrome Business Park Rathcoole, Co Dublin Tel: 189 036 9469 Web: www.energyst.com Email: info.ie@energyst.com Enel X Ireland 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay Grand Canal Dock Dublin 2 Tel: 01 539 7120 Web: www.enelx.com Email: enelxireland@enel.com

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Entso Renley Unit 1A, Dunboyne Business Park Dunboyne, Co Meath Tel: 01 801 3526 Web: www.renley.ie Hivar Engineering Unit 64B, Heather Road Sandyford Business Park Dublin 18 Tel: 01 295 7475 Email: sales@hivarengineering.com GES Group 18a Pennybridge Industrial Estate Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT42 3HB Tel: 028 2565 6406 Web: www.ges-group.com Email: info@ges-group.com CEO: David Moore Kyte Powertech Dublin Road Cavan, H12 KV20 Tel: +353 49 433 1588 Web: www.kytepowertech.com Commercial Manager: Martin Reilly Mercury Engineering Ltd Mercury House, Ravens Rock Road Sandyford Business District Dublin 18, D18 XH79 Tel: 01 216 3000 Web: www.mercuryeng.com Email: info@mercuryeng.com CEO: Eoin Vaughan Merrimack Trading Group Industrial Estate, Rathangan Co Kildare, R51 A997 Tel: 045 524 548 Email: sales@merrimack.ie Contact: Martin Shiel Meteor Electrical 7 Corchoney Road Cookstown, BT80 9HU Tel: 028 8675 1515 Web: www.meteorelectrical.com Email: enquiries@meteorelectrical.com Omexom Unit 5b, 21 Old Channel Road Belfast, BT3 9DE Tel: 028 9095 8110 Web: www.omexom.co.uk Email: info@omexom.co.uk

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OMICRON electronics Ltd Staples Close Redhill Business Park Stafford, ST16 1WQ United Kingdom Tel: +44 1785 848 100 Web: www.omicronenergy.com Prysmian Group UK Chickenhall Lane Eastleigh Hampshire, SO50 6YU Tel: 023 8029 5555 Web: www.prysmiangroup.com Email: cables.marketing.uk@prysmiangroup .com Rockwell Automation Ltd Swords Business Campus Balheary Road Swords, Co Dublin Tel: 01 813 2010 Web: www.rockwellautomation.com Schneider Electric Ireland Block A Maynooth Business Campus Maynooth, Co Kildare Tel: 01 800 805 800 Web: www.se.com/ie/en Siemens Limited DCU Alpha Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 216 2241 Web: www.siemens.ie Email: carl.ennis@siemens.com CEO: Carl Ennis Wilson Power and Energy 73 Listullycurran Road Dromore BT25 1RD Tel: +44 (0) 28 9273 2159 Web: www.wilsonpowerandenergy.com Email: hello@wilsonpowerandenergy.com Director: Andrew Wilson

Water treatment and waste management Aquachem Ltd Unit 9A, Dunboyne Business Park Dunboyne, Co Meath Tel: 01 825 2775 Web: www.aquachem.ie Email: info@aquachem.ie Director: Shane Coleman Product/Service: manufactured chemicals, industrial pre-treatment, dosing and control systems. Biofuture Ltd 62C Heather Road Sandyford Industrial Park Dublin 18 Tel: 01 214 9749 Web: www.biofuture.ie Email: info@biofuture.ie Managing Director: Ciaran Gillen Product/Service: biological solutions provider. Chemifloc Ltd Smithstown Industrial Estate Shannon, Co Clare, V14 VY67 Tel: 061 708 699 Web: www.chemifloc.ie Email: info@chemifloc.ie Product/Service: water and effluent specialists, chemical manufacturers. Chemstore Ltd Clondrinagh Industrial Estate Ennis Road, Limerick Tel: 061 327 792 Web: www.chemstore.ie Email: sales@chemstore.ie CEO: Neil O’Carroll Colloide Engineering Systems Derryloran Industrial Estate Cookstown, BT80 9LU Tel: 028 8675 8638 Web: www.colloide.com Email: stacey@colloide.com Covanta Dublin Waste to Energy Poolbeg Power Station Pigeon House Road Dublin, D04 N2P2 Tel: 01 603 2100 Email: dublininfo@covanta.com

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Enva Ireland Ltd Clonminam Industrial Estate Portlaoise, Co Laois, R32 XD95 Tel: 057 867 8600 Web: www.enva.com Email: info@enva.com Fitz Scientific Unit 35, Boyne Business Park Drogheda, Co Louth, A92 D5D2 Tel: 041 984 5440 Web: www.fitzsci.ie Email: info@fitzsci.ie General Chemicals Ltd A2 Bymac Centre Northwest Business Park Blanchardstown Dublin 15, D15 RK7D Tel: 01 829 3048 Web: www.generalchemicals.net Email: sales@genchem.ie Granville Eco Park Granville Road Granville Dungannon, BT70 1NJ Tel: 028 8703 2601 Web: www.granvilleecopark.com Plant Manager: Shane Doherty Indaver Headquarters The Highline, 1st Floor Bakers Point, Pottery Road Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin Cork office Unit 11, South Ring Business Park Kinsale Road, Cork Dublin Port Tolka Quay, Dublin Port, Dublin 1 Indaver Waste-to-Energy Drogheda Road, Duleek Co Meath Tel: 01 697 2900 Web: www.indaver.com Contact: Jackie Keaney Product/Service: chemical disposal, soil remediation, waste-to-energy.

The Energy Ireland directory Independent Laboratory Ltd Unit 36 & 37 Docklands Innovation Park Eastwall Road, Dublin 3 Tel: 01 240 1374 Web: www.indlab.ie Email: info@indlab.ie Product/Service: oil, chemical and effluent discharge licence, monitoring and analysis. Panda Panda Customer Service Centre Millennium Park, Ballycoolin Road Dublin 11 Tel: 01 829 8992 Web: www.greenstar.ie Email: customercare.energy@panda.ie Perfect Water Systems Ltd Ballysally Business Park Railway Road, Charleville Co Cork, P56 KN82 Tel: 063 89290 Web: www.perfectwater.ie Email: info@perfectwater.ie Product/Service: water treatment, purification and suppliers of a range of water treatment equipment. PM Group Killakee House, Belgard Square Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XFN2 Tel: 01 404 0700 Web: www.pmgroup-global.com Contact: Leonard Shiel Radius Systems Ltd Halfpenny Valley Industrial Estate Parkview Street, Portadown Road Lurgan, BT66 8TP Tel: 028 3844 6060 Web: www.radius-systems.com Email: info@radius-systems.com Product/Service: investigation and remediation of oil and chemical contaminated land and water. RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com Contact: Olivier Gaillot

Smith Brothers Power Engineering Limited 3 Inns Quay, Dublin Tel: 01 903 6480 Web: www.smithbrothers.ie Email: info@smithbrothers.ie Stericycle Westgate Business Park 6A Ballymount Road Upper Dublin, D24 F5KX Tel: 1800 937 628 Web: www.stericycle.ie Email: ireland@stericycle.com Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratecheurope.com Email: ireland@tetratech.com Head of Geo-Environment: Michael Boyd Product/Service: consulting services in water, wastewater and waste management. TMS Environment Ltd 53 Broomhill Drive, Tallaght Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 6710 Web: www.tmsenv.ie Email: ishanahan@tmsenv.ie Managing Director: Imelda Shanahan Product/Service: emissions monitoring, environmental monitoring and chemical analysis. USA Ltd Block 2, First Floor Offices Blessington Business Park, Santryhill Blessington, Wicklow W91 YX65 Tel: 01 4539 4010 Web: www.usa-ltd.ie Email: info@usa-ltd.ie

Chapter 9

Geological/geothermal products and services Geological Survey Ireland DECC, Block 1 Booterstown Hall, Booterstown Blackrock, A94 N2R6 Tel: 01 678 2896 Web: www.gsi.ie Email: duty.geologist@gsi.ie Product/Service: geological advice and information. IGSL Ltd Unit F, M7 Business Park Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 045 846 176 Web: www.igsl.ie Email: info@igsl.ie Contact: John Clancy Irish Drilling Ltd Old Galway Road Loughrea, Co Galway Tel: 091 841 274 Web: www.irishdrilling.ie Email: info@irishdrilling.ie Petroleum Geo-Services 4 The Heights, Brooklands Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0NY Tel: 01932 376 000 Web: www.pgs.com RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com Contact: Olivier Gaillot Innishmore, Ballincollig Co Cork, P31 KR68 Tel: 021 466 5900 Contact: John Shalloe SLR Consulting Ireland 7 Dundrum Business Park Dundrum Road, Windy Arbour Dublin 14, D14 N2Y7 Tel: 01 296 4667 Web: www.slrconsulting.com Director: Tim Paul Product/Service: upstream oil and gas and geotechnical consultants.

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The Energy Ireland directory

Tetra Tech 1 Locksley Business Park Montgomery Road, Belfast BT6 9UP Tel: 028 9070 6000 Web: www.tetratecheurope.com Email: ireland@tetratech.com Head of Geo-Environment: Michael Boyd Whiteford Geoservices Straid House, 2 Main Street, Straid Ballyclare, BT39 9NE Tel: 028 9334 9351 Web: www.whitefordgeoservices.com

Offshore services Marine services

Arup Consulting Engineers One Albert Quay Cork, T12 X8N6 Tel: 021 422 3200 Web: www.arup.com Email: cork@arup.com Director: John O’Mahony Product/Service: offshore project management, design of offshore structures, sub-sea pipelines and tanker loading facilities. Blue Power Energy Ltd Feltrim House, Feltrim Road Malahide, Co Dublin Web: www.bluepower.ie Email: info@bluepower.ie

ABCO Marine 282 Moira Road Lisburn, BT28 2TU Tel: 028 9262 2731 Web: www.abcomarine.co.uk Email: info@abcomarine.co.uk

CMSE Euro Business Park Little Island, Cork T45 DK25 Tel: 021 497 8100 Web: www.cmse.ie Email: info@cmse.ie Managing Director: Chris Mee

ABPmer Quayside Suite, Medina Chambers Town Quay, Southampton SO14 2AQ Tel: 023 8071 1840 Web: www.abpmer.co.uk Email: enquiries@abpmer.co.uk

Coastal Zone Services Ltd Knockbreaga, Newport, Co Mayo Tel: 087 225 5440 Web: www.coastalzoneservices.ie Email: czsmail@coastalzoneservices.ie Operations Manager: Niall O’Boyle

Arctic Ships Agents Roshine Road, Killybegs Co Donegal Tel: 074 974 1165 Web: www.arcticshipsagents.com Email: info@articshipagents.com

DEME Offshore UK Ltd Tavistock Square Tavistock House North London, WC1H 9HR Tel: 020 7531 1904 Web: www.deme-group.com Email: info.dbm@deme-group.com

Arklow Marine Services North Quay, Arklow, Co Wicklow Web: www.arklowmarine.com Email: info@arklowmarine.com Tel: 040 232 126 Director: Billy Tyrrell

Doyle Shipping Group Alexandra Road, Dublin Port Dublin 1 Tel: 01 819 2600 Web: www.doyleshipping.ie Email: info@dsg.ie Product/Service: ship repairs. Errigal Training Centre Aonad 3, Estát Tionslaíochta Bhaile Chonaill An Fál Carrach, Co Dún nan Gall Tel: 074 913 5999 Web: www.errigaltraining.ie Email: info@errigaltraining.ie

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Fugro Marine Limited 1st Floor, 9C Beckett Way Park West Business Park Dublin Tel: 01 687 2900 Web: www.fugro.com Gardline Marine Sciences Endeavour House, Admiralty Road Great Yarmouth NR30 3NG Tel: 01493 845 600 Web: www.gardline.com Email: environmental.web@gardline.com Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries Ltd Queen’s Island, Belfast, BT3 9DU Tel: 028 9045 8456 Web: www.harland-wolff.com Email: info@harland-wolff.com HiDef Aerial Surveying Ltd The Observatory Dobies Business Park Lillyhall, Workington Cumbria, CA14 4HX Tel: 01946 814 463 Web: www.hidefsurveying.co.uk Email: enquiries@hidefsurveying.co.uk Managing Director: Andy Webb Hilti Unit 3A, Ballymount Retail Centre Dublin, D24 EV84 Tel: 1806 287 387 Web: www.hilti.ie Email: iesales@hilti.com Hydrographic Surveys Limited Unit 12, Owencurra Business Park Midleton, Co Cork, P25 C563 Tel: 021 483 1184 Web: www.hydrosurvey.com Email: info@hydrosurvey.com Product/Service: hydrographic surveys. Irish Dredging Co Ltd Pembroke House Pembroke Street, Cork Tel: 021 427 7399 Web: www.boskalis.com/irishdredging Email: info@dominicjdaly.com Director: Dominic Daly

The Energy Ireland directory

Chapter 9

Irish Hydrodata Ltd Ballygarvan, Cork Tel: 021 431 1255 Web: www.hydrodata.ie Email: admin@hydrodata.ie JDR Cables Systems Ltd Littleport Innovation Park 177 Wisbech Road, Littleport Cambridgeshire, CB6 1RA Tel: 01353 860 022 Web: www.jdrcables.com Jotun Paints Unit K7, Marina Commercial Park Centre Park Road, Cork Tel: 021 4965 955 Web: www.jotun.com Email: enquiries.ireland@jotun.com Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore Co Galway, H91 R673 Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie Mott MacDonald Ireland Ltd South Block, Rockfield Dundrum, Dublin 16 Tel: 01 291 6700 Web: www.mottmac.com Email: dublin@mottmac.com Product/Service: offshore project management/consulting engineers. NAUE Geosynthetics Ltd The Genesis Centre, Unit G14 Birchwood, Warrington WA3 7BH Tel: 01925 810 280 Web: www.naue.com/ie Email: enquiries@naue.co.uk Director: Christopher Quirk P&O Maritime Services (Ireland) Ltd Parkmore Business Park West Galway Tel: 091 773 980 Web: www.pomaritime.com Email: info@pomaritime.com

Quality Freight Port Centre Alexandra Road Dublin, D01 H4C6 Tel: +353 (0)1 836 6233 Web: www.qualityfreight.com Email: sryan@qualityfreight.com Commercial Manager: Shaun Ryan Ridgeway Plant Company 103 Airport Road West Belfast, BT3 9ED Tel: 028 9045 4599 Web: www.ridgeway-online.com Email: info@ridgeway-online.com SEFtec NMCI OFFSHORE Ltd National Maritime College of Ireland Ringskiddy, Cork Tel: 021 433 5600 Web: www.nmci.ie Email: reception@nmci.ie

Shannon Foynes Port Company Harbour Office, Foynes Co Limerick, V94 R232 Tel: 069 73 100 Web: www.sfpc.ie Email: info@sfpc.ie Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy DCU Alpha, Innovation House Old Finglas Road, Glasnevin Dublin 11, D11 KXN4 Tel: 01 907 2760 Web: www.siemensgamesa.com Email: kevin.moloney@siemensgamesa.com Contact: Kevin Moloney Sinbad Marine Services Ltd Shore Road, Killybegs Co Donegal, F94 DC8N Tel: 074 974 8900 Web: www.sinbadmarine.com Email: info@sinbadmarine.com Managing Director: Jim Parkinson SmartBay Ireland GMIT Innovation Hub (IHUB) Dublin Road Co Galway, H91 DCH9 Tel: 091 394 251 Web: www.smartbay.ie Email: info@bluewisemarine.ie General Manager: John Breslin

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SSL International Marine Ltd Main Street, Foynes Co Limerick Tel: 069 65710 Web: www.sslmarine.ie Email: services@sslmarine.ie Managing Director: Uday Bhandarkar Subsea Marine Ltd 15 Belfry Gardens, Dundalk Co Louth, A91 V5Y6 Tel: 087 254 7362 Web: www.subseamarine.ie Email: info@subseamarine.ie Managing Director: Paddy Agnew Tech Works Marine Pottery Enterprise Zone Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin, A96 K571 Tel: 01 236 5990 Web: www.techworks.ie Email: office@techworks.ie Chief Executive Officer: Charlotte O’Kelly

Drilling services Diamond Offshore Drilling (UK) Ltd Howe Moss Drive Kirkhill Industrial Estate Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GL Tel: 01224 727 500 Web: www.diamondoffshore.com Email: marketing@dodi.com Dolphin Drilling Ltd Howe Moss Drive Kirkhill Industrial Estate Dyce, Aberdeen, AB21 0GL Tel: 01224 411 411 Web: www.dolphindrilling.com Stena Drilling Ltd Ullevi House, Greenbank Crescent East Tullos, Aberdeen AB12 3BG Tel: 01224 401 180 Web: www.stena-drilling.com Email: sdlcommercial@stena.com CEO: Erik Ronsberg

Thornton Tomasetti 94 Malone Road Belfast, BT9 5HP Tel: 028 2563 2916 Web: www.thorntontomasetti.com Tobin Engineering Fairgreen House Fairgreen Road Galway, H91 AXK8 Tel: 091 565 211 Web: www.tobinconsultingengineers.com Email: galway@tobin.ie Contact: Siobhan Tinnelly Dublin office Block 10-4 Blanchardstown Corporate Park Dublin 15 D15 X98N Tel: 01 803 0401 Email: dublin@tobin.ie Transocean Prime View Kingswells Causeway Prime Four Business Park Kingswells Aberdeen, AB15 8PU Tel: 01224 944 000 Web: www.deepwater.com

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Reference section: Energy tables Energy tables

308

Standard conversion factors

310

Reference section Section A: Energy tables Table A1: Energy Approximate Equivalents The approximations below reflect averages of all grades and uses of fuel (e.g. power station and other coal) and all types of product (e.g. petroleum products) except for electricity generated. For this, only power station grades of coal and oil have been used in arriving at the approximations. The equivalents for the different fuels relate to fuels as supplied to the user and do not take account of efficiency of utilisation, except that for electricity generation an average thermal efficiency 50 per cent at power stations has been assumed.

Coal

1 million tonnes

• • • • • •

250 million therms (1) 600 thousand tonnes petroleum (1) 7,100 GWh electrical energy (2) 3,550 GWh electricity produced (3) 24,500 million cu ft natural gas 700 million cu m natural gas

Natural gas

1 million therms

100 million cu ft per day

• • • • • • • • • • •

100 million cu ft 2.75 million cu m 4,000 tonnes coal 2,400 tonnes petroleum (1) 29 GWh electrical energy (2) 14.5 GWh electricity produced (3) 375 million therms per year 1,050 million cu m per year 130 million therms per year 27 million cu ft per day 0.75 million cu m per day 140 tonnes coal 80 tonnes petroleum (1) 34 thousand therms (1) 3.3 million cu ft natural gas 100 thousand cu m natural gas

1 million cu m per day = 100 million therms per year =

Electrical energy

1 GWh

• • • • •

Petroleum (Fuel products)

1 million tonnes

• • • • •

1 million barrels

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7.5 million barrels 425 million therms (1) 1.7 million tonnes coal 12,700 GWh electrical energy (2) 6,350 GWh electricity produced (3) • 42,000 million cu ft natural gas • 1,200 million cu m natural gas • • • • • • •

140 thousand tonnes 60 million therms (1) 230 thousand tonnes coal 1,700 GWh electrical energy (2) 850 GWh electricity produced (3) 5,600 million cu ft natural gas 160 million cu m natural gas

Reference section Crude petroleum (4)

1 million tonnes 1 million barrels per day

= =

• 7.55 million barrels • 50 million tonnes a year

Electricity generated

1 GWh

• • • • •

280 tonnes coal 160 tonnes petroleum (1) 68 thousand therms natural gas 6.6 million cu ft natural gas 200 thousand cu m natural gas

Notes (1) In general, data for comparing different fuels are expressed in tonnes of oil equivalent. This unit is a measure of energy, equal to 396.8 therms. It is not intended to represent an actual physical tonne of oil equivalent. (2) The amount of electricity that has the same energy content as the amount of fuel in the left-hand column. (3) The approximate amount of electricity that could be produced using the amount of fuel in the left-hand column. (4) The equivalents vary according to the type of crude.

Table A2: Standard Conversion Factors for Energy To: From: TJ Gcal Mtoe Mbtu GWh

TJ multiply by: 1 4.1868 x 10-3 4.1868 x 104 1.0551 x 10-3 3.6

Gcal

Mtoe

Mbtu

GWh

238.8 1 107 0.252 860

2.388 x 10-5 10-7 1 2.52 x 10-8 8.6 x 10-5

947.8 3.968 3.968 x 107 1 3412

0.2778 1.163 x 10-3 11630 2.931 x 10-4 1

Table A4: CO2 Emission Factors and Calorific Values

Table A3: Calorific Values of Energy Fuels Fuel Crude Oil Gasoline (petrol) Kerosene Jet Kerosene Gasoil / Diesel Residual Fuel (heavy oil) Milled Peat Sod Peat Peat Briquettes Coal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Petroleum Coke

Net Calorific Value toe/t 1.0226 1.0650 1.0556 1.0533 1.0344 0.9849 0.1860 0.3130 0.4430 0.6650 1.1263 0.8329

Net Calorific Value MJ/t 42,814 44,589 44,196 44,100 43,308 41,236 7,787 13,105 18,548 27,842 47,156 34,870

Electricity

Conversion Factor 86 toe/GWh

Conversion Factor 3.6 MJ/GWh

Natural Gas

Coal Peat Briquettes Gasoline Kerosene Fueloil LPG Gasoil Natural Gas Electricity

g CO2/kWh

t CO2/toe

325 390 390 249 257 274 229 264 198 776

3.78 4.54 4.54 2.90 2.99 3.18 2.67 3.07 2.3 9.02

Gross Calorific Value (kJ/scm)2 39,706

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Reference section

Section B: Standard conversion factors Table B1: Standard conversion factors for LENGTH cm

1 centimetre (cm)

0.01

0.3937

0.032808

0.010936

1 metre (m)

100

39.3701

3.28084

1.09361

1 inch (in)

2.54

0.0254

0.08333

0.02777

1 foot (ft)

30.48

0.3048

0.33333

1 yard (yd)

91.44

0.9144

1 mile = 1.60934 kilometres

1 kilometre = 0.62137 mile

Table B2: Standard conversion factors for AREA cm2

in2

ft2

yd2

1 square centimetre (cm2)

0.0001

0.155

1.0764x10-3

1.196x10-4

1 square metre (m2)

10,000

1,550

10.7639

1.196

1 square inch (in2)

6.4516

6.4516 x 10-4

6.94x10-3

7.72x10-4

1 square foot (ft2)

929.03

9.2903 x 10-2

144

0.1111

1 square yard (yd2)

8,361.27

0.836127

1,296

1 hectare (ha) = 10, 000 square metres = 2.47 acres

310

1 square mile = 640 acres = 259 hectacres = 2.59km2 1 acre = 4,840yd2 = 0.405 hectare

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Reference section Table B3: Standard conversion factors for CAPACITY/VOLUME cm3

dm3

l (1901)

in3

UKgal

USgal

1 cubic 1 centimetre (cm3)

0.001

0.999x10-3

0.06102

2.1997 x 10-4

2.6417x10-4

1 cubic 1, 000 decimetre (dm3)

0.999972

61.0237

0.219969

0.264170

1 litre (l):

1,000.028

1.000028

61.0255

0.219976

0.264178

1 cubic inch (in3)

16.387

0.016387

0.0163866

3.60465 x10-3

4.32898 x10-3

1 UK (Imperial) gallon (UKgal)

4, 546.09

4.54609

4.54596

277.42

1.20094

1 US 3, 785.41 (American) gallon (US gal)

3.78541

3.78533

231.00

0.83268

Under the SI, the term litre is synonymous with the cubic decimetre, but to avoid confusion with the litre as defined for the UK, since 1901 it is not to be used for precision measurements.

Table B3: Standard conversion factors for CAPACITY/VOLUME (continued) m3

ft3

UKgal

USgal

bbl

1 cubic metre (m ) 1

35.3147

219.969

264.17

6.28976

1 cubic foot (ft )

0.028317

6.2288

7.4805

0.178107

1 UK (imperial) gallon (UKgal)

0.004546

0.160544

1.2009

0.028594

1 US (American) gallon (US gal)

0.003785

0.133681

0.83268

0.02381

1 US barrel (bbl)

0.158988

5.6146

34.9726

cubic metre = kilolitre

Table B4: Standard conversion factors for MASS kg

long ton

short ton

1 kilogram (kg)

0.001

0.000984

0.001102

2.20462

1 tonne (t)

1,000

0.984207

1.10231

2, 204.62

1 long ton (UK ton) 1,016.05

1.01605

1.12

2, 240

1 short ton (US ton)

907.185

0.90719

0.892857

2, 000

1 pound (lb)

0.453592

4.53592 x 10-4

4.46429 x 10-4

0.0005

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Reference section Table B5: Standard conversion factors for DENSITY kg/m3

lb/ft3

Ib/UKgal

Ib/USgal

1 kilogramme per cubic metre (kg/m3)

0.062428

0.010022

0.008345

1 pound per cubic foot (lb/ft3)

16.0185

0.160544

0.133681

1 pound per UK gallon (Ib/UKgal)

99.7764

6.22884

0.83268

1 pound per US gallon (lb/USgal)

119.826

7.48047

1.20094

Note: For all practical purposes, 1 kg/m3 = 1 g/litre, 1 kg/l = 1,000 kg/m3 = 1g/ml = 1g/cm3

Table B6: Standard conversion factors for PRESSURE bar

atm

kgf/cm2

Ibf/in2 (or psi)

torr (mm Hg)

in Hg

in H2O

N/m2

1 bar

0.98692

1.01972

14.5038

750.062

29.53

401.46

100,000

1 standard atmosphere (atm)

1.01325

1.03323

14. 6959

760

29.9213

406.83

101,325

1 kilogramme force per square cm (kgf/cm2)

0.98066

0.967841

14.2233

735.559

28.959

393.7

98,066

1 pound-force 0.06895 per square inch (lbf/in2 or psi)

0.068046

0.070307

51.715

2.03602

27.68

6,895

1 torr (1mmHg) 0.00133

1.3158x10-3

1.3595x10-3

0.019337

0.03937

0.5352

133

1 inch of 0.03386 mercury (inHg)

0.033421

0.034532

0.491154

25.4

13.595

3,386

1 inch of water 0.00249 (in H2O)

0.00246

0.00254

0.03613

1.8683

0.07356

249

1 newton per square metre (N/m2)

0.987 x 10-5

1.02 x 10-5

14.5x10-5

0.0075

0.0003

0.004

Notes

1 x 10-5

(1) For all practical purposes, 1 torr = 1mm Hg (2) N/m2 is the basic SI unit of pressure. Values mat be expressed in kN/m2 or MN/m2

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Reference section Table B7: Standard conversion factors for HEAT J

cal IT

Btu

1 joule (J)

0.2388

0.9478x10-3

1x10-6

1 calorie IT (calIT)

4.1868

1 British 1,055.06 thermal unit (Btu) 1 megajoule (MJ)

kcal

0.2388x10-3

0.2389x10-6

3.9683x10

4.1868x10

-6

1 x10

252

1.0551x10-3

1x106

238.8x103

948

1 kilocalorie (kcal)

4,187

1x103

1 thermie (th)

4.1855x106

1 therm

105.51x106

1 kilowatt hour 3.6x10 (kWh) Notes

therm

kW h

0.9478x10-8

2.7778x10-7

1.00031x10

3.9683x10

1.163x10-6

0.252

0.2521x10-3

1x10-5

2.9307x10-4

239

0.2389

0.9478x10-2

0.2778

3.9683

4.1868x10-3

1.00031x10-3

3.9683x10-5

0.001163

999.7x103

3,967

4.1855

999.69

0.03967

1.16264

25.2x106

1x105

105.51

25,200

25.207

3,412.14

3.6

859.845

0.8601

3.4121x10

-3

859.8x10

-3

-6

(1) 1 horsepower hour (hph) = 2.6845MJ

(2) 1 foot pound-force (ft Ibf) = 1.3558 J

(3) thermie = megacalorie, 15OC value (Mcal15)

(4) Tcal = 1012 cal = 40,000 therms (approx.)

-8

29.307 -2

Table B8: Standard conversion factors for POWER AND HEAT FLOW W

metric horsepower

kcal/h

Btu/h

1 watt (W) = 1J/s

1.34102x10-3

1.35962x10-3

0.859845

3.41214

1 (hp) horsepower

745.700

1.01387

641.186

2,544.43

1 metric horsepower

735.499

0.98632

632.415

2,509.63

1 kilocalorie per hour (kcal/h)

1.163

1.5596x10-3

1.58124x10-3

3.96832

0.39301x10-3

0.39847x10-3

0.251996

1 British thermal 0.293071 unit per hour (Btu/h)

B9: TEMPERATURE SCALES Although the basic SI unit is the kelvin, it will be the practice outside the sphere of scientific calculations to express customary temperatures in degrees Celsius (formerly centigrade), as the intervals of kelvin and degrees Celsius are the same. The Fahrenheit scale, however, is not compatible with SI. kelvin (K)

C + 273.5 = 5/9 (O R)

Celsius (OC)

5/9 (O F-32)

Fahrenheit (OF)

9/5 (O C) + 32

Rankine (OR)

F + 459.67 = 9/5 (K)

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

313

Reference section Codling Wind Park

Index 1990 UN Earth Summit

192

2010 Strategic Energy Framework

2021 Report on the State of the Energy Union

2022 Action Plan

2030 Climate Target Plan

132

A&L Goodbody

110, 286

Action Renewables

Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC)

Affordable Energy Strategy

Affordable Warmth Scheme

Agency for the Co-operation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

All-Island Energy Market Development Framework

All-Island Grid Study

An Bord Pleanála

Arthur Cox

9, 40, 41, 286

Balcas Energy Beauchamps

152, 153, 189, 208, 297 148, 149, 286

Better Energy Programme

Bioenergy Action Plan 2010-2015

Biofuels Obligation Scheme

Birol, Fatih

Bord Gáis Energy Brexit

2, 44, 69, 76, 95, 117, 263 48, 114

British-Irish Council

Bryson Energy

Calor Gas

109, 129, 130

Calor Gas Northern Ireland

129

Carbon budgets

Carbon Trust

Celtic Interconnector Centre for Sustainable Technologies Citizen's Assembly on Biodiversity Clean Vehicles Directive 2019 Clearpower

86 186 39 223 189, 206, 209

Click Energy

90, 96

Climate Action Act 2021

23, 27, 46

Climate Action Delivery Board

Climate Action Fund

Climate Action Plan 2019

45, 162, 193

Climate Action Plan 2021

23, 40, 46, 164, 192

Climate Change Advisory Council

Climate Change Bill

314

E N E R G Y I R E L AN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

Coillte Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU)

140, 141, 189 61, 186 16, 17, 61, 95

Committee for Climate Change

Committee for the Economy

Committee on Climate Action

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy Common Arrangements for Gas (CAG)

22 112

Competition and Consumer Protection Commission

Connecting Europe Facility

Coolkeeragh ESB

COP 21

COP 25

COP 26

Corporate Power Purchase Agreements

138

Covanta

189

Deloitte

10, 11, 287, 288

Department for Communities

Department for Infrastructure

Department for the Economy

Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

60, 189

DG Climate Action

DG Competition

DG Energy Digitalisation of Energy Action Plan 2022 Directive 2018/2001/EU DLA Piper Draft Bioenergy Plan 2014-2020

21 256 136 137, 138, 287 176

Draft Policy Statement on Geothermal Energy for a Circular Economy 2021 Dublin Energy Lab

Earth Institute East-West Interconnector EirGrid Transmission Map Electric Ireland Electricity Regulation Act 1999 Energy Act 2016

174 186 186 58, 70 72 96, 263 80 45

Energy Efficiency Directive 2012

211

Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme

193

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2018

212

Energy Saving Trust Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland

63 126

Energy System Integration Strategy 2020

Energy Union Strategy

Reference section Energy White Paper 2015

193

Enterprise Ireland

Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC)

187

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Environmental Research Institute

187

EP Ballylumford

89, 97, 114

EP Kilroot

89, 91, 97

ESB ESB International

174

Geological Survey of Ireland

62, 128

Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI)

64, 126, 127, 181

Good Friday Agreement

Granville Ecopark

182, 183, 189

Green Connect Project

112

Green Growth Strategy and Delivery Framework

Green Innovation Challenge Fund

247

Greenlink Interconnector

97, 206

Grid Implementation Plan

96, 189, 265

ESB eCars

Geo-Energy Europe

ESB Networks

81, 97

Grid West

ESB Networks Dingle Project

84, 85

Grid25

Grid25 Review

ESB Power Generation

205

EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework

EU Hydrogen Strategy 2020

240

Hitachi Energy

EU Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism

147

Hydrogen Centre of Excellence

EU Renovation Wave Strategy

213

Hydrogen Energy Network

146

Hydrogen Strategy 2020

EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy European Clean Hydrogen Alliance

19, 241

European Commission

European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity)

Indaver

92, 171, 189, 295, 296 50 240 19 173, 189, 209, 302

International Energy Agency

Regulations 2000

European Directive on Energy Efficiency 2012

204

Invest Northern Ireland

European Green Deal 2020

Ireland Strategic Investment Fund

European Invesment Bank

Irish Bioenergy Assocation

European Parliament

8, 12

Intgrated Single Electricity Market

14 163, 190

Irish Shelf Petroleum Studies Group Strategy 2020-2023

123

European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) 2007

256

ISLES II

170

European Technology and Innovation Platforms

257

ISLES Project

170

European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014

204

Fieldfisher

71, 264, 287

Kingspan

157, 287 233

KPMG

Finance Bill 2015

112

Kyoto Protocol

firmus energy

97, 117, 124, 125

Flogas Ireland

100, 115, 118, 129 118, 129

144, 145

Kirwan, Dave

Finance Act 2020

Flogas Northern Ireland

144, 145, 190

Kingspan PowerPanel

Kyte Powertech

2, 95, 117 142, 143, 288 12 137, 190, 295, 297, 301

LK Shields

147, 287

Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018

Low Emission Mobility Strategy 2016

222

Fuel Poverty Strategy

Low Emissions Vechicles Taskforce

230

Fuels for Ireland

Gas Market Operator Northern Ireland Gas Networks Ireland

224, 225, 235, 285 118 62, 107, 113, 118, 189, 205

Maples Group Marine Institute

Gas Networks Ireland Causeway Project

105

Maritime Area Planning Act 2021

Gas Point Registration Operator (GPRO)

103

Maritime Area Regulatory Authority

Gas to East Down

57, 117

Gas to the West

57, 117

200, 201, 287

MaREI

Matheson

187 62, 128, 188 148, 170 148 134, 135, 287

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2022

315

Reference section

National Adaptation Framework

National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme

National Dialogue for Climate Action (NDCA)

National Economic and Social Council

National Energy and Climate Plan 2021-2030

192

National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP)

194

National Marine Planning Framework

168

National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA)

National Planning Framework

National Retrofit Plan

24, 192, 214

National Retrofitting Scheme

215

National Smart Meter Rollout Programme

National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to 2030

NEA Northern Ireland

Next Generation EU Recovery Package

North South Interconnector

Northern Ireland Energy Action Plan

126

Northern Ireland Energy Forum

Northern Ireland Energy Strategy

Northern Ireland Environment Link

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Northern Ireland Protocol

Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO)

North-South Interconnector

Oakhall Consulting

15, 287, 288

Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP)

170

Offshore Renewable Energy Strategic Action Plan (ORESAP) Oil and Gas Authority (OGA)

53 127

Paris Agreement 2015

Path to Net Zero Energy

Petroleum (Production) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964

126

Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP)

123

Programme for Government 2020

25, 162, 229

Projects of Common Interest (PCI)

Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy

39, 194

PwC

13, 78, 79, 288

Quality Frieight Group

229, 290, 293, 296, 305

Regulation on Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E)

146

Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS)

164

Renewable Energy Directive

132

Renewable Energy Magazine Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

6 56

Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021

165

RESS 2

150, 165

RWE

E N E R G Y I R E L AN D Y E AR B OOK 2 0 2 2

159

Ryan Institute

188

Ryan TD, Eamon

1, 60

Science Foundation Ireland

Scotland-Northern Ireland Pipeline SGN Natural Gas

114 111, 175, 182, 183, 207

Simson, Kadri

Single Electricity Market

58, 83

Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) SLR Consulting

77 176, 190, 290, 292, 303

Smart Grid Ireland

29, 98, 286

Smith & Williamson

285, 288

SSE Airtricity

24, 98, 190

SSE plc

98, 264

SSE Renewables

133, 190

Strategic Energy Framework

Support Scheme for Renewable Heat

205

Surety Bonds

42, 169, 288

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 8, 62, 190, 196, 197, 206, 247, 264 Sustainable Mobility Policy in the Public Sector

System Operator Northern Ireland

Teagasc

63, 188

The Consumer Council

54, 55, 63, 284

Timmermans, Frans Tobin Consulting Engineers

21 165, 291, 292, 294, 306

Transport Ireland

231

Trinity College Dublin

188

UK Climate Change Act 2008

UK Climate Change Committee

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Utility Regulator

51, 64, 95

Vestager, Margrethe

Vision 2050

105

Walsh, William

196

Warmer Healthier Homes 2011

Warmer Homes: A Strategy for Affordable Energy in Ireland

White Paper 2015

Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy Wilson Power and Energy

316

237

RESS 1

251, 294, 296, 297, 302

Reference Section

E NER GY IR ELA ND Y EA R BO O K 2016

317