Grid development
Updated: 08.01.2019
Author: Georgios Maroulis
The Irish grid operators are generally obliged to operate and develop the grid system (Sec. 8 (1), Sec. 22 (2) S.I. 445/2000). However, this obligation does not confer to individual plant operators the right to demand from the grid operator grid expansion or reinforcement to connect a given plant to the grid or to export the electricity produced by a given plant to the grid. As far as connection to the grid is concerned, the grid operator shall bear the so-called „deep costs“, i.e. the costs related to a development of the grid, which is required to connect additional renewable energy plants to the grid.
Obligated party. The obligated entities are the grid operators (Sec. 8 (1), Sec. 22 (2) S.I. 445/2000).
Procedure
| Process flow | The plant operators are not entitled to the development of the grid. |
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Distribution of costs
| Grid operator | The grid operator shall bear the costs arising from grid development works required to connect additional renewable energy plants to the grid and to ensure the proper operation of the grid. This general obligation does however not extend to individual installations, i.e. the grid operator is not obliged to develop or reinforce the grid to allow for the connection of an individual installations. |
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Grid studies
- The 2008 All-Island Grid Study comprised of four work streams (Renewable Energy Resource Assessment, High Level Assessment of Suitable Generation Portfolios for the All-Island System in 2020, Wind Variability Management Studies, and Analysis of Impacts and Benefits) is available at: Link.
- The Government White Paper - “Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland” with the strategy and the energy policy framework from 2007 to 2020 is available at: Link.
- The Irish transmission system operator EirGrid published the "Grid 25-Report", which was officially acknowledged by the Irish government and provides an overview of which reinforcement works to the Irish transmission grid are required to meet the national renewable target of 40% by 2020: Link.
- According to Sec. 38 ERA and Condition 7 of its licence, the Irish TSO is obliged to publish a so-called "Transmission Forecast Statement", which analyses how the transmission grid will develop from 2016 to 2027 and describes the reinforcement works to be implemented: Link.
- EirGrid’s Transmission Development Plan 2017-2027: Link
- Furthermore, “Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System” (DS3) is a multi-annual programme by EirGrid that envisages to ensure that the power system can be operated with increasing amounts of variable non-synchronous renewable generation over the coming years. The programme combines many different strands, which include the development of financial incentives for better plant performance, and the development of new operational policies and system tools to use the portfolio to the best of its capabilities. One of the key elements of DS3 is System services, i.e. services from generators and market participants. Financial incentives are offered for the provision of such services that contribute to the core targets of the programme: Link.
Ireland