No energy independence without a stronger grid warns wind industry

New action plan sets out how to accelerate delivery of clean, affordable, Irish energy

Wind Energy Ireland has described Ireland’s electricity grid capacity as the single biggest barrier to overcome to deliver Irish energy independence as it launched an Onshore Wind Action Plan this morning. The plan sets out recommendations to accelerate the delivery of Ireland’s most affordable electricity generation – onshore wind energy.

Irish onshore wind farms already provide more than a third of the country’s electricity every year, saving billions in fossil fuel energy imports and pushing down bills for Irish families and businesses. A stronger grid, able to accommodate more renewable power, would mean lower bills, lower carbon emissions and greater energy security.​‌

The new Action Plan, developed through workshops with 22 renewable energy companies, representing Ireland’s onshore wind development pipeline, sets out 15 practical actions to speed up delivery and build investor confidence. These include:

• Build public support and tackle disinformation designed to undermine Ireland’s energy revolution;
• Accelerate delivery of nationally significant transmission projects and publish a long-term strategic roadmap for Ireland’s electricity grid;
• Deliver a faster and more predictable grid connection process with greater transparency around connection requirements, costs and timelines;
• Allow batteries to share grid connections with wind farms and enable them to connect to each other to stop wasting renewable energy;
• The Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment should take responsibility for working with industry and EirGrid to deliver sustained reductions in lost renewable energy.
• Align planning policy at all levels of Government to reflect national renewable energy policy and current planning legislation alongside updated Wind Energy Development Guidelines.

Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe said that the feedback from their members consistently identifies grid-related issues are the single greatest barrier to delivering new projects.

Ireland now has just over 5,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity. A further 3,000 MW of approved projects are seeking to connect to the grid.

The Action Plan highlights the need to further strengthen the State’s capacity to consent, connect and operate new renewable generation at the pace required to deliver the strong pipeline of onshore wind projects.

Noel Cunniffe said: “Ireland has built one of Europe’s most successful onshore wind industries, but the system needed to connect the next generation of projects is not moving quickly enough.

“More than 3,000 MW of onshore wind farms already have planning permission. However, some of these projects are now being told they must wait five years and more for a grid connection. With projects ready to go, we must build a grid that can be the cornerstone of Irish energy independence.

“Every unit of wind power we cannot use means greater reliance on imported fossil fuels. It means higher costs for consumers, higher emissions and missed investment in rural communities.

“This Action Plan sets out practical steps to consent and connect projects faster, waste less renewable power and build an electricity system capable of supporting Irish homes, businesses and a growing economy.”

Government support

The Government has put a greater focus on the electricity grid in recent years, providing record levels of investment and recently designating three major grid projects as critical infrastructure under new legislation introduced by Minister Jack Chambers TD.

The Action Plan was welcomed by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD.

Minister Darragh O’Brien TD said: “I welcome Wind Energy Ireland’s Onshore Wind Action Plan and its practical recommendations to accelerate the delivery of affordable, home-grown renewable energy. Ireland is already an onshore wind success story and we have an opportunity to build on that success at pace.

“The Government is committed to creating the conditions for the next phase of growth – by strengthening our grid, speeding up project delivery, removing barriers and providing the certainty needed to unlock investment in renewable energy.

“More home-grown wind energy means a cleaner, more secure and more affordable electricity system. It will reduce our exposure to imported fossil fuels, strengthen Ireland’s competitiveness and energy security, and provide the power needed by our homes, businesses and economy.

“Delivering that opportunity will require continued cooperation across Government, industry, communities, regulators and State agencies.”

Grid a shared national priority

EirGrid and ESB Networks have the plans and the resources to succeed but industry believes what they need is full support, not just from Government and Opposition parties, but right across Irish society.

Noel Cunniffe continued: “We need to build new powerlines, new substations and strengthen the electricity grid. This will require sustained collaboration. That’s not just an engineering challenge, it will require significant investment in working with communities and providing clear, accessible, information to people in every walk of life.

“The prize is enormous; Irish energy independence, lower bills, a more secure supply of energy, a resilient and competitive economy, and leadership in the response to the climate emergency. Ireland has the wind, the projects and the people. This plan shows how to turn that potential into power.”