Power Production in Ireland

2249 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Catmalojin, Sep 27, 2010

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Discussion Starter · Sep 24, 2010

I don't suppose anyone knows at present what the split in power produced in Ireland is by different source (i.e. coal, gas, hydro etc.).

And has Ireland any targets for future electricity production particularly any plans for use of nuclear/other renewable sources of energy?

I could do this with information as I'm trying to estimate how much less carbon dioxide will be emiited by a rail route in Dublin that is being considered for electrification.

Finally, what government department is responsible for carbon emissions?

Thanks.

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odlum833

· #2 · Sep 24, 2010 (Edited)

Hi, Im not really familiar with this whole area of Government policy (im sure other forumers will give details though) but the relevant department is the Department of the Environment.

http://www.environ.ie/en/

Lot's of stuff in there and contact details if you need them of course. The Department is run by a Green minister incidentally so everything is geared toward the environment these days! EDIT: Of course also the Department of Energy!

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/

There are definately no official plans for nuclear but a conversation is under way about it in the public arena atm.

Just out of curiosity do you have a specific rail route in mind?

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hypnotoad24

· #3 · Sep 24, 2010

Both Ireland and Northern Ireland are committed to having 40% of total annual energy consumption being provided for by renewables by the year 2020. In fact, i think there is even talk in RoI about upping their target to 45%.

The present generation mix is massively dependant on traditional fossil fuels- particularly gas and coal. For RoI, you can find out the generation mix for now and the next 6 years (starting on page 31) here:

http://www.eirgrid.com/media/Generation Adequacy Report 2010-2016.pdf

Similarly, if you want the NI equivalent, it is (from page 37) here:

http://www.soni.ltd.uk/upload/Seven Year Generation Capacity Statement 2010-16.pdf

Nuclear is very unlikely to appear anywhere in Ireland for a long time, for various reasons. I would imagine there would be considerable public opposition to it. Also, the size of current nuclear generators (in excess of 1000MW) means they are too large for use on the Irish system- current rules state that over 81% of the largest generator's output must be carried as reserve by other machines- od if a nuclear generator was connected, over 800MW would have to be held in reserve on other machines. Considering the average demand on the island, and the fact that wind generation is being increasingly connected to the system, it would not be viable to have a nuclear generator.

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dronkula

· #4 · Sep 25, 2010

Aren't they also laying what is basically a huge great big extension cable from Dublin to North Wales though?

The idea being that if either nation has extra capacity up to 500mw, they can sell it to the other side?

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hypnotoad24

· #5 · Sep 25, 2010

dronkula said:
Aren't they also laying what is basically a huge great big extension cable from Dublin to North Wales though?

The idea being that if either nation has extra capacity up to 500mw, they can sell it to the other side?

Yep- there's info about it here

http://www.eirgridprojects.com/projects/east-westinterconnector/

It's similar to the interconnector that exists between NI and Scotland, though the new one will obviously be using better and more up to date technology.

At the end of the day, the price of electricity in both the Irish market and the British market will determine what quantity flows across it, and in what direction.

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Privattee

· #6 · Sep 25, 2010

I don't think Ireland is producing her own pwer..
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Privattee

· #7 · Sep 25, 2010

I don't think Ireland is producing her own pwer..
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belfastuniguy

· #8 · Sep 26, 2010

^^

That doesn't make any sense whatsoever and is clearly inaccurate. Unless you think the power stations on the entire island are just sitting there for architectural merit.

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hovis

· #9 · Sep 26, 2010

unless he means that we have to import the coal to fire our power sations and so we're not entirely self sufficient, but then if we are talking.h wind farms fir example, then id say we do produce our own, just not in vast amounts.

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hypnotoad24

· #10 · Sep 26, 2010

hovis said:
unless he means that we have to import the coal to fire our power sations and so we're not entirely self sufficient, but then if we are talking.h wind farms fir example, then id say we do produce our own, just not in vast amounts.

well if he meant that, then there are probably very few countries that produce their own power! lol.

But yes, the vast, vast majority of power in Ireland is produced by imported fossil fuels; that is changing though, with the amount of wind farms in planning alone. Certainly, the ambitious renewable targets here will mean that Ireland will be groundbreaking in the renewables field- when you consider the amount of renewable generation proposed, coupled with the fact the Irish system is a small, isolated system. The technical challanges of getting all this potential power connected are cutting edge. It's exciting times!

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Catmalojin

· #11 · Sep 27, 2010

Relevant:

Potential €2bn in energy exports
By Geoff Percival

Monday, September 27, 2010

IRELAND has the ability to benefit to the tune of around €2 billion per year, on the back of new EU penalties on member states not meeting their 2020 energy targets.

Speaking ahead of its autumn conference to be held in Galway on Thursday, Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) chief executive Dr Michael Walsh said that stringent EU penalties for nations that fail to deliver on their targets could turn into a €2bn energy export opportunity for Ireland.

"All European countries have a legally binding agreement with the EU to deliver a fixed share of their energy from renewable sources.

"Fortunately Ireland can meet our 16% renewable energy target very economically as we have the resources and know-how to produce over 40% of our electricity from renewable sources such as wind. However, it will be a major economic own-goal if we don’t go way beyond our own target and export the surplus to countries that do not have the ability to meet their targets," he said.

"We have the potential to export up to €2bn worth of wind energy from Ireland annually, but only once we have the framework and infrastructure in place. This prospect will be all the more real – post-2020 – when nations that have not reached EU targets face infringement proceedings," Dr Walsh said.

"Countries that don’t deliver will face significant penalties under infringement proceedings and this will deliver a significant opportunity for Ireland if we have the required infrastructure in place to become a renewable energy exporter by 2020. This is because nations with a renewable energy shortfall will, without doubt, import that energy from those countries with excess renewable energy so that they can avoid any EU penalties," he added.

The EU, however, still has to clarify the regulations surrounding the trading of renewable energy, as well as setting out to what level infringement penalties will rise.

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner; Monday, September 27, 2010.

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