Renewable Electricity Export
Request for Tender for the Provision of a study on the Viability and Cost Benefit Analysis for Ireland exporting renewable electricity (RES-E) using the Co-operation Mechanisms in Directive 2009/28/EC
SEAI, Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, EirGrid and the Commission for Energy Regulation will oversee all aspects of the tender process and the work programme together. SEAI will act as co-ordinator of the proposed study.
Tender published on http://www.etenders.gov.ie/ 29/7/2011. 9 bids were received. A proposal from Redpoint Energy Ltd and GL Garrad Hassan was awarded the contract.
New! 14/11/11 Stakeholder Forum!
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in co-operation with the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR), EirGrid and the Commission for Energy Regulation has commissioned Redpoint Energy Ltd and GL Garrad Hassan to undertake a Study on the Viability and Cost Benefit Analysis for Ireland of Exporting Renewable Electricity (RES-E) using the Co-operation Mechanisms in Directive 2009/28/EC.
We have decided to host a Stakeholder Forum to provide the relevant industry stakeholders with an opportunity to get an update from Redpoint and Garrad Hassan on the study approach and methodology to be applied.
A representative from DCENR will also give a short presentation on work on the co-operation mechanisms under Directive 2009/28/EC.
There will be an opportunity for discussion and comment on the day post presentations.
Date and Time: Wednesday 7th December at 2.30pm
Location: Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2
Attendance is by registration only.
There will be two representatives invited from each of IWEA, Meitheal na Gaoithe, MRIA and NOW Ireland. As there are a limited number of further places available, the following criteria will be applied to determine allocation of places, in the event of over-subscription:
(a) maximum of one representative per company
(b) individual companies with a demonstrable interest in developing renewable projects for the export market (e.g. companies should send details of their project proposals to support this )
(c) preference will be given in the first instance to individual companies that are not already represented by the umbrella organisations, who in any case will each have two representatives present
(d) preference will be given to companies that are proposing to develop projects using maturer proven technologies that are more likely to be in a position to deliver renewables for export within the timeframe of the study (i.e. to be operational by 2020.)
Please submit your attendance request, accompanied by details of project proposals demonstrating interest in the renewable export market by 25th November 2011 to Stephen O’Sullivan by email at stephen.osullivan@seai.ie
Applicants will be informed during the following week of whether they have secured a place.
Contact: Stephen O’Sullivan, SEAI (01) 8082038
New! August 2011: EirGrid publishes Offshore Grid Study: Analysis of the Appropriate Architecture of an Irish Offshore Network
Communiqué from the British Irish Council Summit June 2011
Ireland's submission on the Atlantic Strategy
New! Memorandum of Understanding North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative
Public Consultation on Strategic Environmental Assessment on Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan
Wave and Tidal Energy in Ireland
The origins of the development of Ireland’s marine renewable energy sector date back to 2005 when ‘An Ocean Energy Strategy for Ireland’ was put forward. The strategy was aimed at advancing Ireland’s research and development capabilities and the speed at which ocean energy technologies are deployed in Ireland. It proposed a four phase strategy to capitalise on Ireland’s marine energy resource.
In order to take the strategy forward, the Minister provided for the establishment of a dedicated Ocean Energy Development Unit (OEDU) section in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The OEDU is charged with operating a prototype development funding scheme for ocean energy devices, establishing national wave and tidal test facilities, enhancing the national wave tank facility and initiating other measures to promote and develop the sector.
The 2007 Government White Paper on energy policy ‘Delivering a sustainable energy future for Ireland - The Energy Policy Framework 2007-2020’ sets out a number of strategic goals to support achievement of the overall policy objectives. This includes a specific ocean (wave and tidal) energy target of 500 MW by 2020 and this target has been restated in the current Programme for Government.
The OEDU is currently overseeing a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of offshore wind, wave and tidal development scenarios in a draft offshore renewable energy development plan. The draft plan and SEA Environmental Report were published in November 2010 and are now open for consultation until mid January 2011. It is intended that in future there would be a more planned approach towards delivering the wave and tidal target in Ireland, through synergies between the offshore energy leasing function and onshore and offshore grid connections.
Offshore Wind
Offshore wind is a rapidly maturing technology around the world. According to the European Wind Energy Association, there are currently 830 offshore wind turbines installed and grid connected in 9 European countries, totaling 2,063 MW in 39 wind farms. In 2010 a further 1,000 MW of offshore wind is expected to be installed. Currently there are 16 offshore wind farms under construction, totaling over 3,500 MW and a further 52 wind farms have been fully consented, totaling more than 16,000MW.
In terms of full load-hour potential, Ireland has one of the best wind energy climates in Europe. The potential offshore wind resource in Ireland is large scale and much greater than the capacity of our electricity system to absorb it all for domestic use.
The Government has announced plans (subject to state aid clearance) for a Renewable Energy Feed in Tariff (REFIT) of €140 per megawatt hour for electricity produced from offshore wind.
To date, foreshore leases have been granted for the operation of two sites - a 520 MW wind farm on the Arklow Bank and a 1,100 MW wind farm on the Codling Bank, both in the Irish Sea. Seven turbines totalling 25.2 MW have been installed on the Arklow Bank to date. The remainder of the two consented sites currently have no grid connection offer to the Irish grid.
Approximately 800MW of offshore wind projects in Gate 3 are due to receive an offer of a grid connection up to mid 2011. Offshore wind projects included in Gate 3 are the Dublin Array (off Bray Head, Co Wicklow – in the Irish Sea) (364MW); Oriel (Dundalk Bay, Co Louth – in the Irish Sea) (320MW) and Doolick (Outer Galway Bay, Atlantic coast) (100.8MW). These projects have applied for foreshore leases which are being processed by the Department of Environment, Heritage & Local Government. Under the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, these projects are to contribute to the achievement of Ireland’s 2020 renewable energy target.
Offshore Grid
Ireland is actively involved in developments on an offshore grid with regard to offshore wind, wave and tidal energy potential and is involved in a number of initiatives and developments in the EU context.
Apart from involvement in the Adamowitsch group examining offshore grid, Ireland also participates in the following:
North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative
Following a political declaration by the ministers concerned en marge of the December 2009 Energy Council in Brussels, the North Seas Offshore Grid initiative was established and Ireland is one of the participating countries (which consists of 9 EU Member States and Norway.)
The ministers concerned declared their interest in discussing the development of an offshore grid in a common and co-ordinated way, given that many of the issues to be tacked are common across several countries. The intention is that initial work under the initiative will proceed throughout 2010 culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the ministers involved in December 2010. The North Seas Offshore Grid Initiative adds a political dimension to other work being carried out in the EU on the development of offshore grids.
ISLES project
The Irish Scottish Links on Energy Study (ISLES) is a joint EU Interreg funded feasibility project between the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Ireland), the Scottish Government and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Northern Ireland.)
European Network of Transmission System Operators in Electricity
EirGrid, the Irish TSO, actively participates in the European Network of Transmission System Operators in Electricity, ENTSO-E, which is now fully established. For the purpose of system development ENTSO-E is organised in a number of regional groupings. EirGrid participates in the North Seas Regional Group, which will in due course be an important contributor to the development of proposals for an off-shore grid in this region.
Off-shore Grid Connection Study
The TSO, EirGrid, is involved in carrying out a preliminary study on how significant offshore wind resources (beyond the 800MW in Gate 3) off the east coast of Ireland could be integrated into the Irish transmission system, if developed. The research conducted to date has considered the implications and merits of how an off-shore and onshore grid would work together. Early indications from the study suggest that there are positive synergies between on and offshore systems. Of course, any decision regarding the development of an offshore grid is dependent on assumptions relating to cost and reliability performance of the off-shore assets.
British Irish Council
The British Irish Council was established under the Good Friday Agreement and has been given legal footing in Ireland by the 1999 British Irish Agreement Act. Membership of the British-Irish Council comprises representatives of the Irish and British Governments and of the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, together with representatives of the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey. Within the last 12 months, the British Irish Council commenced an energy work programme which is looking at the potential to develop grid interconnections between the member administrations and potentially between the member administrations and continental Europe.
Offshore export potential
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is examining Ireland’s potential to develop offshore renewable generation for export. The Authority intends to commission an economic study in this area.