ISSUE 3 - June 2021
The future of Ireland’s
ELECTRICITY SYSTEM
Mark Foley, EirGrid Group Chief Executive, said: “The grid requires unprecedented change in the next ten years. This transition to clean electricity will affect everyone in Ireland and will unquestionably be difficult, however the benefits will be truly transformative at both a societal and an economic level.”
In March EirGrid and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan TD launched a nationwide consultation on the future of Ireland’s electricity system. EirGrid, as operator of the national electricity grid, announced it was seeking feedback on Shaping Our Electricity Future; a new initiative that details fresh approaches to developing the electricity grid in order to meet ambitious 2030 renewable energy targets. The initiative is EirGrid’s response to the Government’s request that it transforms the electricity system in anticipation of a future without coal, oil, new peat and ultimately one with net zero emissions. Specifically, EirGrid must redevelop the grid to manage 70% of Ireland’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030. Shaping Our Electricity Future comprises four approaches to achieving this, as well as meeting the projected increase demand for electricity over the coming years. Each of the four approaches requires numerous investments in network development projects throughout the country, with costs ranging from €500 million to €2 billion. There are some foundation projects that are common to all four approaches and the final plan is likely to include elements of all approaches, strongly led by one of them.
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The Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade is a key project that will enable EirGrid achieve its goals. The project is a high-capacity connection between Dunstown substation in Kildare and Woodland substation in Meath. These two substations are the endpoints for two high-voltage power lines from Moneypoint in Clare, which are used to transport large volumes of renewable energy from the west across the country to the east coast. The project will help to more effectively transfer this power and distribute it efficiently within the electricity network in Kildare, Meath and surrounding counties. The Kildare-Meath Grid Upgrade will also help meet the growing demand for electricity in the east of the country. This growth is due to increased economic activity and the planned connection of new large-scale IT industry infrastructure in the region. EirGrid last year wrote to 57,000 homes across Kildare and Meath seeking feedback on five technical solutions for the project. The five options were connecting and ‘up-voltaging’ two 220 kV overhead lines; a new 400 kV overhead line; a new 220 kV underground cable; a new single 400 kV underground cable; and a new 400 kV underground cables along two separate routes. Earlier this month, following extensive local engagement and a multi-criteria assessment, EirGrid announced that the single underground cable emerging as the best-performing option.
