Irish renewable sector questioned by ESB

The body in charge of the electricity supply in Ireland has questioned the logic of some of the most contentious renewable projects currently being planned on the island.

The Irish Farmers Journal has obtained a copy of the ESB’s submission on the Government’s green energy paper, which calls into question many of the renewable strategies currently being undertaken by the Irish Government.

From the pace at which Ireland is moving towards decarbonisation and the amount of wind turbines required to the need for EirGrid’s Grid Link and Grid West projects, the ESB levels serious and fundamental criticisms at the Government’s energy policy.

In terms of affecting consumers, the ESB has voiced considerable concerns over higher than necessary energy bills should Ireland continue with its approach to the renewable sector.

In May, former energy minister Pat Rabbitte launched a green paper proposal and a 10-week public consultation on how the country’s energy needs will look in the future. The Department received dozens of submissions from semi-state bodies, private companies as well as individuals in that time.

As part of European Union (EU) climate change targets, Ireland must generate 40% of its energy needs through renewable energy.

The ESB is especially damning of the Government in terms of the country’s drive towards decarbonisation. It warns that the country’s approach to decarbonisation could end up hitting the Irish consumer.

“Ireland should concentrate its efforts in providing strong advocacy for a global solution to the decarbonisation problem. Should Ireland decide to take unilateral action it is doing so at significant risk ... There is a risk that early adopters of technologies could lock-in high-cost solutions (with 20- to 50-year cost implications). The pace of decarbonisation of the electricity sector should be driven by market forces at European and global level ... rather than prescribed at a national level.”

ESB said decarbonisation should occur, but with the public at the “centre” of any plans.

EirGrid split from ESB in 2000 before becoming fully operational in 2006. Its role is to manage the country’s national grid while ownership remained with the ESB.

In 2008, EirGrid launched Grid25, a long-term strategy for developing the transmission system in the country. The strategy was designed to double the capacity of the grid.

Economic strength

Grid25 was developed at a time of more economic strength in Ireland, with expectations that there would be much greater need for energy generation. The development would require building of new pylons as well as thousands of kilometres of 400KV power lines and to take energy from new forms of power like wind energy.

According to the ESB, Ireland’s electricity networks “now face major questions and challenges that must be addressed”.

These challenges and concerns can be boiled down to three points:

ESB argues that in the current economic landscape, the Grid Link and Grid West projects should be reviewed. Experts in the sector suggest that there is “absolutely no need for Grid West” and that Grid Link could be “scaled back”.

The ESB submission goes on to say that as Grid Link and Grid West were planned nearly seven years ago, there is a need to review these so that research “reflects the latest evidence” on the projects. This is leaning towards underground cables as opposed to building large pylons.

EirGrid was unable to provide a spokesperson on these issues.

Turbines

The Republic of Ireland currently has 182 wind farms, but there is a total of 180 wind farms currently in either planning or development phases.

The country’s wind farms generate over 2,200MW. The ESB estimates that Ireland needs just over 1,000MW more to meet demand. This forecast means that most of the planned 182 wind farms are unnecessary.

“An assessment of the most recent forecasts suggests that only 3,500MW of wind energy will be required to meet this mandate ... our analysis points to the need to reassess the timing and scope of the overall programme.”

Kenneth Matthews, chief executive of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA), disagrees with the ESB and its figure of 3,500MW being the required amount of energy generated from wind.

“Broadly speaking, we need to almost double wind energy requirements,” Matthews said.

Matthews went on to say the ESB figure of 3,500MW is short of what he expects the demand to be. The Republic of Ireland currently generates 2,250MW of energy from wind power and Matthews said that as much as 1,800MW to 2,000MW more wind power will be needed.

Communities have come out in force in opposition to wind farm or pylon developments. There have been those in favour of such plans, but they have been overshadowed by the “anti” movement.

Criticisms have been levelled at individual wind developers as well as EirGrid. The ESB submission does nothing to dispel these beliefs.

“Along the routes of the projects, there has been a lack of acceptance by residents. In a sense, the planning process for these lines has become the debating arena for questions of national energy policy ... We have a comprehension gap between citizens and the energy policy intended to serve them.”

The ESB goes on to say that there is a “lack of public awareness of national energy policy and its implications”.

A spokesperson for the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources said the Department would not be making comment on individual submissions to its green paper, but would instead be publishing its own follow-up white paper on renewable energy sometime in 2015.