Renewable Energy Magazine 2020 / 2021

Renewable energy magazine

Driving Ireland’s green recovery

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD discusses fresh carbon reduction targets

EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson on the energy system’s role in net zero carbon

CRU Commissioner Jim Gannon outlines the regulatory outlook for the transition

Offshore wind • Solar • Storage • Hydrogen • Onshore wind

Issue 10 • 2020-2021

SSE Renewable’s Paul Cooley

IRELAND’S RENEWABLE ENERGY MAGAZINE

Contents

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Foreword

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and Communications Eamon Ryan TD

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Heat and the city: Janette Webb

Cover story: SSE Renewables Director of

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NUI Galway’s Rory Monaghan discusses the

Renewable energy and the Programme for Government

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potential of renewable hydrogen

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MaREI Centre Director Brian Ó Gallachóir

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Northern Ireland Economy Minister

John FitzGerald: Implementation to match ambition

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Diane Dodds MLA

Ireland’s Renewable Energy Magazine directory

Delivering a National Marine Planning Framework

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Copenhagen: 100 per cent renewable gas by 2025

EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson outlines energy priorities

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Addressing ‘range anxiety’ through EV charging infrastructure

Minister for the Environment, Climate

Capital Projects Paul Cooley

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Back page: Paul MacArtain, Research Manager, Centre for Renewable Energy at

Incentivising solar PV microgeneration

Editorial Owen McQuade David Whelan Ciarán Galway Fiona McCarthy Odrán Waldron Design Gareth Duffy Paul Rooney

DkIT

Advertising/Commercial Sam Tobin sam.tobin@energyireland.ie Stephen McCoy stephen.mccoy@energyireland.ie

Publishers eolas magazine www.eolasmagazine.ie info@eolasmagazine.ie @eolasmagazine Dublin office: Clifton House Lower Fitzwilliam Street Dublin 2, D02 XT91 Tel: 01 661 3755

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Irish Renewable Energy Summit 2021 Thursday 25th February Online conference The 2021 Irish Renewable Energy Summit will provide a valuable opportunity to bring together the key stakeholders from across the energy sector, and those who interact with the sector to discuss how the contribution from renewable energy can be maximised and implemented most effectively.

Featured speakers:

Eamon Ryan, TD Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications

Catharina Sikow-Magny Acting Head of Renewables Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission

Jim Gannon Commissioner Commission for Regulation of Utilities

More info: T: +353 (0)1 661 3755 W: www.renewableenergysummit.energyireland.ie E: info@energyireland.ie

Geertje Schuitema

William Walsh

Associate Professor UCD

Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

CEO

Organised by

renewable energy magazine

A defining decade‌ This issue of the Energy Ireland Renewable Energy magazine comes at a pivotal time of developments in renewable energy, north and south.

2020 has been a remarkable year for the renewables sector. The new Programme for Government has delivered the opportunity for a significant step change in the development of renewables at a time when Ireland faces the stark challenge of delivering levels of decarbonisation over the next 10 years equal to what it has achieved in the last 30.

The Programme for Government, followed swiftly by the first RESS-1 auction, which heralded fresh opportunity in onshore wind and the maturing of the solar PV sector, presents opportunity. Simultaneously, the evolution of offshore wind potential and the ambitious target of 5GW by 2030 will provide the much sought-after confidence to generators and investors.

Ireland has an opportunity to be a global leader in the decarbonisation of its power system, benefitting from the export of excess generation and expertise, while also harvesting the social and health benefits of a greener climate. The Government’s ambitions indicate that it is ready to play its role in enabling this opportunity as it looks towards a green recovery.

To achieve this, policy frameworks will need to be renewed, reviewed and in the case of offshore wind, developed, if the Government is to reach its ambitious targets.

However, electricity is still only one-quarter of the challenge if Ireland is to have a carbon neutral economy by 2050. Prior to the pandemic, emissions in both heat and transport were increasing. The impact of lower cost fossil fuels has exacerbated the challenge in those already difficult to decarbonise sectors.

Technology solutions exist in these areas but there is a pressing need for these to be developed and then rolled out at scale if they are going to contribute to 2030 targets.

Choosing the correct pathways in these sectors and then accurately supporting this with policy will be crucial if Ireland is to move from a laggard to a leader in climate action.

In Northern Ireland, opportunity exists in the form of the development of an Energy Strategy due in 2021. However, if Northern Ireland is to achieve a carbon neutral economy by 2050, much more will need to be done in relation to electricity, heat and transport.

On the island of Ireland, the decarbonisation agenda offers an opportunity for sustainable economic recovery. Indeed, we are entering a crucial decade in which today’s decisions will define the viability of a carbon neutral economy by 2050.

David Whelan Deputy Editor 3

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Doubling carbon reduction ambitions Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, outlines progress on the Government’s plans to double its carbon emission reduction targets to 7 per cent over the next decade.

Setting the context for the “historic need for change” in Ireland, Minister Ryan says that as the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Accord approaches, it’s important to remember the provision within the accord for countries to “review progress, raise ambitions and outline an enhanced path to meet the objective of trying to keep global temperature increase below an average of 1.5oC”, within those five years.

“It’s a challenge beyond compare,” states the Minister, setting out that Ireland is committed to doing this as a country within the European Union and in co-operation with the wider world.

Outlining the context in which Ireland has set its ambitions, the Minister says that the recent decision by the Chinese Government to enhance its ambition

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does not just boost the likelihood of achieving the global temperature goal but also provides “real certainty” that this is where the modern global economy is heading and where competition is going to take place.

Additionally, Ryan says he has been encouraged by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to set an ambition of a 55 per cent reduction of emissions by 2030. “I hope under the German presidency we can commit to net zero carbon neutral by 2050, which is the very latest we need to do it if we are to meet those climate targets.

“I mention the wider context because it puts in frame what we’re doing or trying to do in Ireland,” states the Minister.

“We’re on a good path in terms of getting the governance right, starting

with the Citizens’ Assembly asking the right question: ‘How could we be leaders rather than laggards on climate?’

“I think we did better again when we set up the Joint Oireachtas Climate Committee in the last Dáil, which looked at the findings of the Citizens’ Assembly and assessed what these meant in practice and what we would need to do.

The then-Minister Richard Bruton did a really good job to turn that into a Climate Action Plan.

“Now, this government is saying we need to take that and do more. We need to double the level of ambition to go from not just a 3.5 per cent cut of emissions but to go for a 7 per cent cut on average over the next decade.”

Outlining the scale of this challenge, the Minister believes that it is one “far

greater” than that of the EU’s, as Ireland is starting from a lower base.

Credit: Houses of the Oireachtas.

“Another thing he said, which I believe to be critically true, is that there will be no transition unless it is a just transition.

We have to do this at speed, but we also have to bring our people with us.

To do that we have to ensure that we eradicate fuel poverty at the same time that we eradicate pollutions and emissions from our energy mix.”

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Recounting a recent meeting with the European Commission’s Vice President Frans Timmermans, Ryan says that he agreed with the Vice President’s assessment that the countries which are most ambitious in decarbonisation are the ones which will gain the most economic advantage and therefore lower the cost of the transition.

Progress Setting out the pathways to achieving this, the Minister says that governance is important for setting a stable planning environment. Additionally, a stable political and policy environment gives people in the industry certainty that this is the right investment to make.

“We’re introducing a new Climate Bill, amending the 2015 Act, which puts in place a stronger Climate Advisory Council and a stronger planning and policy process towards meeting this new target of net zero carbon,” explains Ryan.

“It will do so by setting three five-year plans, which the Climate Advisory Council will budget and present their outline. We the Government will work with the Joint Oireachtas Committee to assess those and I will be working with each of the sectoral ministers in each of the different areas to see how we do it and hopefully, out of that process, we agree these budgets and we set ourselves on the course.”

Ryan says that while the timeline is tight, he hopes the Bill will be legislated for by December, the five-year anniversary of the Paris Climate Accord.

He adds: “We’ll then have to enhance and give additional resources to the Climate Advisory Council and to my own department to do the modelling, planning and budgeting work to actually start drafting this plan.”

At the same time, the European Union

will be legislating for a similar target.

Having recently published its own impact statement on how it believes it will work on a Europe-wide basis. The EU says that it will work with individual countries as to how to do that at a local level.

“We’re starting on a good track,” states Ryan, pointing to political agreement across all parties of the need for 70 per cent renewable electricity on the system by 2030 to help meet the overall target.

“That’s a hugely challenging and demanding task and we will be testing the edge of the envelope of what’s possible, but we have real capability.

EirGrid and others have real skills. The developers in this country, in this area, know how to do it and by doing it, we will learn expertise that we can share and sell to the rest of the world.”

The Minister says that progress can be recognised in the success of September’s Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, where 82 renewable projects were successful, including almost 800MW of solar farms, which are being rolled out at scale for the first time.

“Critically, within that we started the auction for community energy projects, only seven of them, but I think that sets a course of where we need to go further in future. Future auctions will very much concentrate and try to support that

community ownership development because it’s vital that if we are to have this as a just transition that we’ve got public support for what we have to do.”

Turning to the range of work that needs to be done by his department to help make the job of meeting the target easier, Ryan says: “I want to see the wind energy guidelines agreed with my colleagues in government before the end of the year. We need that because what we are seeing is some of the ways we can bring down the costs in our system are offering greater certainty on the planning side.

“That will be good for local communities as well,” the Minister says, pointing to the potential detrimental impact of legal challenges. “It’s better for us to have the standards right, to have certainty and to then actually get on with the job. And, particularly working with local communities, to make sure they are a part of our overall approach.”

The Minister says that another key element which will also reduce costs is the development of the electricity grid.

“We’re starting to see already, even with the levels of renewables that we have now, that the levels of constraint and curtailment is making projects less economic and pushing up costs,” he

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explains.

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“Future auctions will very much concentrate and try to support that community ownership development because it’s vital that if we are to have this as a just transition that we’ve got public support for what we have to do.”

Distribution The Minister emphasises that as well as building out the grid, Ireland must continue to invest in enabling large infrastructure projects, such as the North South Interconnector, but also bring that investment back to a local level.

“We need to advance and invest in our distribution grid, as well as our transmission grid, so that we actually get good at the balancing of this renewable power supply to make this revolution work,” he explains.

“That’s the heart of the change happening. It’s the efficiency side, the demand management side, which is just as important as the generation side, particularly as we move to electrifying our transport and heating systems, as well as our industry systems.”

The Minister says advancement of the distribution grid will not be possible if there is no sophistication around the balancing of supply and demand. This, he adds, will offer the essential requirement to develop microgeneration.

“The old adage that microgeneration won’t be manageable on the distribution grid is no longer true,” he states.

“Microgeneration will actually help strengthen the grid by using power at a local level and by giving capability to send and export power two ways, so that it actually does balance together.”

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Retrofit and offshore wind Turning to two major projects which the Government is committed to progressing. Ryan points to the ambition to deep retrofit around 50,000 homes annually, which he says will deliver huge benefits in job creation and increased health and wellbeing.

Investment in retrofitting, announced in the Government’s July jobs stimulus will “get us away from the start stop nature of that industry in recent years”, he says. Additionally, Budget 2021 saw the launch of the national retrofit programme through SEAI with a significant scaling up and streamlining of retrofit programmes for homes and communities. The €221 million allocation for homes and community retrofits represented an 82 per cent increase on the 2020 Budget.

Ryan also points to plans to introduce a major retrofitting scheme by late 2020 early 2021 to set out how the government is going to work with local authorities to release funding to enable the retrofit of social homes.

Another project pointed to by Ryan which he believes is critical to the economic development of Ireland in the coming decades is the development of offshore wind. The Programme for Government has set a target of 5GW of wind power in the Irish Sea by 2030 and 30GW of floating offshore wind on the west, north west and south west of the

country in the subsequent decade and beyond.

Ryan believes that that those ambitions can be delivered in an even quicker time scale than set out in the Programme for Government. He plans to launch an auction system towards the end of 2021 on some of the offshore farm development plans within the Irish Sea. However, he admits that development of the west coast will require long-term planning but says that built up experience over the past decade is a solid basis for making it happen.

Ryan admits that for progress, much needs to be done in this area. “We need to develop port facilities to be able to service that,” he states, adding: “We will also need to continue to interconnect with our neighbours, both the UK and France and beyond, so that we’re part of a north west European electricity market for this to work. No matter what happens with Brexit, we will need cooperate with the UK. If they opt for an isolated energy system it would be incredibly expensive and not in their interest, not in our interest or in the interest of Europe.

“So, whatever happens in the Brexit talks, I’m committed to try to work to try and maintain that sort of cooperation in the coming years.”

Concluding, the Minister points back to the last time he held the energy portfolio, when scepticism existed around meeting the renewable electricity target of 40 per cent per annum and the economic damage striving for this might cause.

“The exact opposite was the case.

We’re meeting that target, we’re benefitting from that power and we have a comparative competitive advantage and skills in this green new economy.

“We’re going to meet the 70 per cent target and be really good, in particular, on the demand side, combining the digital revolution with the energy revolution that is taking place. This is an opportunity that is available to all of us and should be seized upon not just because it is economically good and good for jobs but because it is the key project to protect our planet and our people into the future.”

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offshore grid technology, helping to harness the power of offshore wind.

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More specifically, Grid Solutions is at the forefront of offshore grid technology, helping to harness the power of offshore wind. We work with leading utilities and independent power producers helping to

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Starting with the ability to generate electricity from the world’s most powerful and efficient ocean-based wind turbine, GE’s Haliade-X, GE’s Grid Solutions business works with leading industry partners to harness this power by building advanced offshore platforms.

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renewable energy magazine

GE’s Grid Solutions is at the forefront of

More recently, we announced our involvement in the 450MW offshore wind farm, Neart na Gaoithe, in Scotland.

Here we will design and build both the onshore and offshore substation equipment including four power transformers, four reactors, the static synchronous compensator, power quality components, and gas insulated switchgear, at 66kV, 220kV and 400kV, as well as protection and control, SCADA, and telecommunications systems. Neart na Gaoithe which translates to “Strength of the Wind” will play a major role in meeting the carbon emissions reduction targets of both the Scottish and UK Governments. Once operational, it will offset more than 400,000 tons of CO2 emissions each year and provide enough electricity to power more than 375,000 Scottish homes.* At Grid Solutions we are very proud of the important engineering contributions we are making across Europe to help companies and countries realise their environmental goals through the delivery of renewable energy and we look forward to continuing to contribute positively to the renewable energy industry in Ireland.

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* Based upon the average domestic electricity consumption per home of 3,889 kWh per the Energy Consumption in the UK (published July 2017) and Renewable-UK offshore wind average load factor at 37.2 per cent.

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renewable energy magazine

Driving Ireland’s green recovery Director of Capital Projects at SSE Renewables Paul Cooley discusses the opportunity presented for Ireland to build a green recovery through the renewable energy transition.

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Welcoming the enhanced ambitions for renewable energy generation contained within the recent Programme for Government (PfG), including an ambitious 5GW capacity from offshore wind by 2030, Paul Cooley stresses the importance of Ireland moving at pace in order to remain competitive in a global movement.

“At a time when there is a recognition of the need for significant investment to rebuild the Irish economy, we have an opportunity to enhance our economy and our environment through investment in low carbon infrastructure.”

SSE recently submitted to government its Greenprint plan containing five policy priorities which it believes can kickstart economic activity in the life of this government.

The five priorities are: 1. Contribute to the delivery of 1GW offshore wind by 2025.

2. Continue the onshore wind success story.

3. Support customers to make the low carbon transition.

4. Provide flexible thermal generation for a net zero world.

5. Electrify heat and transport.

The Programme for Government is the latest iteration of Ireland’s ambitious plans to decarbonise its economy by 2050, recognising the financial and societal benefits that this will bring.

Cooley highlights that this national journey somewhat mirrors the internal journey that has taken place within SSE. Although boasting a long history in renewable development and operation in the UK and Ireland, in recent years SSE has restructured its business to focus on decarbonisation and the three key areas of renewables and networks, separated into transmission and distribution.

Cooley’s own business SSE Renewables has an existing portfolio of some 4GW of combined onshore wind, offshore wind and hydro across Ireland

Park can deliver 1 per cent of Ireland’s promised 7 per cent annual CO2 reductions by 2025.” and the UK but as Cooley explains, also has its own ambition to treble its renewable energy output over the next decade to 2030.

Setting out how this can be achieved, Cooley points to a focus on wind, expanding onshore wind and developing offshore wind, which he describes as the “fastest, lowest cost and most efficient” forms on delivering growth in renewables.

Offshore wind Highlighting the inclusion of a fresh offshore target in the Programme for Government as offering confidence to the industry, Cooley points to SSE’s involvement in Phase 1 of the Arklow Bank Wind Park in 2003, the first and only operational offshore wind farm in Ireland, as being the last major development in this area.

now a global market and there is competition for everything from investment to vessel and turbine availability. On Dogger Bank Wind Farm (the world’s largest offshore wind farm currently being developed off the Yorkshire coast through a joint venture between SSE Renewables and Equinor), for example, we have vessels booked out to 2026.

“Offshore might look easy because a lot of places are doing it around the world, but I wouldn’t underestimate the need to ramp up both confidence and the delivery of projects to deliver on that in Ireland.”

SSE Renewables are confident that they can lead on offshore wind development in Ireland, making a significant contribution to the 1GW of offshore wind target by 2025 set out by the Climate Action Plan.

“The PfG has offered confidence that there are measures coming, particularly to kick off the offshore wind industry.

However, it’s very important that government follows up ambitious targets with measures to deliver on those.

Cooley outlines the belief that SSE Renewables can deliver Phase 2 of the Arklow Bank Wind Park, a 520MW project, by 2025. The project, when operational, will power around half a million homes and offset some half a million tonnes of carbon.

“The key to offshore wind success will be the speed of delivery. Ireland is at the beginning of its journey and the ambition for 5GW by 2030 must be viewed in the context that it took the UK, a market 10 times the size of Ireland’s, 15 years to get their first 5GW. So, Ireland has an awful lot to do and moving as aggressively as possible will be really important.”

“Arklow is one of the small number of projects that already has consent and we think it’s important that projects with planning get away over the next five years rather than the whole industry waiting on the slowest project to catch up.”

Describing the development of a Marine Planning and Development Management Bill (MPDM), a priority of government, as a positive step, he warns that the first projects through this process may not emerge until 2027-28 and stresses the need for some project delivery to commence as early as possible.

“The danger is that offshore wind is

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“The raised ambitions of the Programme for Government offer real confidence to the industry to invest and should be welcomed. However, it should also be recognised that the decarbonisation journey is one being undertaken globally and so Ireland must move at pace to deliver those pathways that will see us reach those 2030 and 2050 targets.

“The 520MW Arklow Bank Wind

Pointing to the UK’s possession of the largest offshore industry in the world, Cooley says that enabling projects delivering the first 5GW over 15 years were the major enablers of over four times that capacity being installed for the following decade.

“I believe that the RESS auction being put in place for 2021, with offshore development in mind, should focus on those trigger projects that can deliver before or around 2025,” he says. “The Government should prioritise routes to

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guidelines are finalised before the end of 2020, with industry concerns addressed.

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Cooley believes that the recent RESS auction was necessary to inject fresh confidence in onshore development. He recognises that challenges that exist in this regard, particularly around grid capacity but acknowledges the strategic planning being undertaken by EirGrid to address this.

market and the necessary grid connections policy to make this a reality.”

Cooley envisages, Ireland’s offshore journey on three horizons. The first horizon is delivering on Ireland’s east coast, where nearshore and shallow water deployment enables fast deployment. “I think the majority of our 5GW target can easily be delivered from the east coast if we can navigate some of the challenges around the likes of consenting,” he explains.

On the south coast, where water gets deeper quickly and deployment will require a mixture of fixed bed and some floating technology, Cooley envisages a focus to 2030, as technology matures.

The third horizon is Ireland’s west coast, recognised as the most challenging conditions for various reasons ranging from the absence of grid to wave height and access limitations. SSE have extensive experience in such conditions through their work on the west coast of Scotland. “We’d view the west coast as all post-2030. There are big strategic challenges in this area and other routes to market will likely have to be considered including offshore hydrogen and greater interconnection.”

Onshore wind Cooley is well aware that while a focus

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is required in deploying offshore electricity generation in Ireland, ambitions to decarbonise Ireland’s economy by 2050 will also require the continuation of Ireland’s success story in onshore wind. SSE Renewables has a number of projects in development to contribute to Ireland’s target of doubling onshore wind capacity by 2030 and recently their joint venture Lenalea Wind Farm (30.5MW in County Donegal) with Coillte Renewable Energy was successful in the first RESS auction.

In facilitating the expansion of onshore generation, Cooley welcomes the draft Wind Energy Guidelines for delivering a framework for developers but expresses concerns that “some proposals could unnecessarily restrict the development of onshore wind and Ireland’s ability to meet climate targets”.

In particular, Cooley says that noise restrictions, if implemented as they currently stand, will “harm the industry and development”. He notes that SSE Renewables believes the noise standards in particular require a very significant rewrite to be implementable and indeed, enforceable.

SSE Renewables have joined with others from the industry in submitting recommended changes through the consultation process and Cooley believes that it is important that the

Interestingly, SSE’s focus is not solely on new developments and Cooley highlights a focus on re-powering existing infrastructure for increased efficiency. Having built a lot of the original onshore wind farms in Ireland, particularly around County Donegal, Cooley highlights that some are starting to approach end of life: “We’re starting to look at those sites where the technology was probably second generation and turbines were around 11.5MW with the view to repowering with much more modern and effective generation. That will bring usual grid and planning challenges, but the redevelopment of existing sites can bring a lot of value.

“However, we think there needs to be a mechanism to contractually support repowering or allowing it to feature in RESS auctions.”

Community benefit A major focus of the decarbonisation transition has been on ensuring that communities buy in to the journey Ireland is on and benefit from it. Cooley sets out that the economic benefits aligned with a decarbonised economy include job creation, addressing regional imbalances, lower energy costs and an improved environment.

On wind farm development, he says: “We strongly believe in playing our part by contributing to the social, environmental and economic wellbeing of communities surrounding all of our wind farms. SSE Renewables has awarded an industry-leading over €10 million to communities across the island in the last decade, supporting more than 4,000 projects.

“We also support the offering to communities to invest in wind developments. The original RESS terms and conditions were problematic in that the eligibility criteria were broad and facilitated any Irish citizen to invest, even those living elsewhere in the EU.

We raised concerns that that scheme would not promote social acceptance in renewable energy and that it didn’t align with the just transition. We were pleased to see the Department take account of industry concerns and look forward to working with government on new proposals in this area.”

Northern Ireland

While Cooley welcomes the setting of ambitious objectives, they alone will not attract private investment. “Actions speak louder than words and we’ve seen multiple wind projects, including SSE Renewables’ own Doraville Wind Farm, refused planning permission recently, often after planning processes which have taken years.

“The recent signals from Northern Ireland are that they are not open to investment in onshore wind, which is a pity given our Doraville project would have represented the largest single investment in the area at £150 million, providing significant opportunities to business across the region and in the local area.”

On how the Executive can re-inspire confidence in the area, Cooley outlines that he believes the region should commit to a more ambitious target of 80 per cent, which will help drive a green recovery.

“In Northern Ireland, the demand is relatively small in terms of renewable resource to decarbonise electricity and so we think the ambition should be to get their quicker and then focus on the heat and transport sectors out to 2050.”

Quizzed on the barriers to progress of decarbonisation in Northern Ireland, Cooley points to the planning system and the absence of a support scheme.

“RESS in Ireland has been the trigger for confidence to invest again. Merchant investments could happen and we’ve been doing some this way, but they will not be the majority of investments. The

majority of renewables projects get delivered through fixed price contracts.

Northern Ireland needs an RESS-type structure.

“Additionally, we think there needs to be a step change in terms of delivering planning consents for renewables, as well as a vision for offshore. A small number of projects could be transformative for Northern Ireland given its size.

“So, some form of strategic planning is going to be needed around onshore wind and offshore wind, with a mechanism to pay for it all. Interestingly, the last few CFD auctions in the UK have shown a net benefit in those contracts. The concept of renewable electricity having a cost has been turned on its head in the last 24 months.”

Future Looking to the future, Cooley restates his

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Functioning across the UK and Ireland, SSE Renewables also has a stake in progress towards decarbonisation in Northern Ireland, including full engagement in the creation of a Northern Ireland Energy Strategy set to be finalised in 2021. Recently, the Department for the Economy Minister Diane Dodds stated her desire to see a 70 per cent target of electricity consumption from renewables set out for 2030.

“Offshore projects with planning should get away in the next five years rather than wait on the slowest projects to catch up.” understanding that the decarbonisation of the economy starts with the decarbonisation of electricity. “The most efficient way to do that is through onshore and offshore wind. Delivering early on offshore is critical and delivering projects before 2025 will put Ireland on the map of offshore wind development.

“In the medium-term, there is a need for mechanism to deliver further offshore wind development and providing routes to market. In this regard the, NMPF is really important.

“Beyond 2030, the decarbonisation of electricity will facilitate the decarbonisation of heat and transport and be transformative to people’s lives and livelihoods and the economy.

Ireland could be carbon negative with the natural resources we possess and that should be our ambition but in order to achieve that long-term transformation we must move quickly now.”

Paul Cooley Prior to being appointed Director of Capital Projects at SSE Renewables, Cooley held positions as Director of Generation Development and Director of Performance Improvement within SSE’s Wholesale business and was also General Manager for SSE/Airtricity in Ireland.

Before joining the energy industry he held senior positions within the chemicals and manufacturing industry in the UK, Ireland and overseas, including operational, regulatory and engineering management roles at DuPont, Koch Industries and the Quinn Group. He has an Honours degree in Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University Belfast and lives in Troon, Scotland with his wife and three children.

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Efficiency, renewables and interconnection The Programme for Government signalled a move away from ambition to action as Ireland seeks to move from laggard to leader in the renewable transition, writes David Whelan.

In June 2019, the European Commission, in assessing the draft integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of Ireland out to 2030, made a number of recommendations, which essentially boiled down to a need for greater development in efficiency, renewables and interconnection.

Not surprising then, was a core focus on these areas as the newly formed government delivered its climatefocused Programme for Government (PfG), almost exactly one year later.

The Programme for Government has evolved in the context of Ireland not making enough progress on climate in action recent years. In energy, the challenges of overreliance on imported fossil fuels and a weakly interconnected electricity system have not been helped by the absence of a robust policy framework and, until recently, enough political will.

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In April 2020, the SEAI, the national energy authority, highlighted that not only was Ireland not on track to reach its 2020 targets but that it had the second lowest progress to meeting the overall Renewable Energy Supply (RES) target of all EU member states.

Although some progress has been made on the data collected from 2018, including the publication of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, SEAI highlighted a 5 per cent gap to the 16 per cent of gross final consumption of renewable energy target.

The Climate Action Plan, looking out to 2030 and beyond to 2050, was a direct response to these failings. However, while the plan delivered the required signals around injecting fresh emphasis into the renewable transition, the delivery of a cross-departmental enabling plan has proven more difficult than was perhaps initially estimated.

The Programme for Government has

sent a strong message that Ireland is refusing to continue being a laggard on climate action. In establishing a pathway to net zero by 2050, the importance of the decarbonisation of energy is recognised through significant pledges.

Emission and energy targets Probably the most significant undertaking that government will push ahead with the 70 per cent renewable electricity target by 2030, set out in the Climate Action Plan, while also producing a ‘whole-of-government’ plan setting out how it will deliver on this.

Importantly, this will look at not just the methods of renewable generation but also development of things like a skills base, supply chains and legislation. The decarbonisation of energy coincides with an enhanced target of a 7 per cent reduction in overall greenhouse gas

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spain

austria

united kingdom

italy

latvia

lithuania

finland

croatia

germany

denmark

luxembourg

netherlands

France

Portugal

Sweden

Where do EU countries stand on addressing climate change?

renewable energy magazine

77% 66% 65% 58% 56% 49% 45% 43% 42% 42% 41% 41% 37% 37% 35% 35% 34% 34% 33% 33% 32% 32% 30% 30% 26% 24% 21% 16%

Very good

Good

Moderate

Poor

Very poor

-5-

Source: Climate Action Network Europe. June 2018.

emissions annually out to 2030, a 51 per cent reduction over the decade.

Interestingly, some have suggested that this enhanced target could have gone further when factoring in the implications of the fall in economic output brought about by Covid-19.

The ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with heightened ambitions from the European Commission in its Green Deal, will be included in law in the form of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2020, which will define how new five-year carbon budgets will be set. Alongside this will be a newly established Climate Change Advisory Council, with a strengthened role to advise and propose carbon budgets to government.

The Programme for Government also set the timeframe for the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), providing a route to market for the first new onshore windfarms of the 2020s, solar projects at scale and a small number of community projects.

Auctions are now set to be held annually, with a dedicated offshore auction planned for 2021.

Carbon tax The Climate Change Advisory Council recommended a €35 per tonne tax for

“In energy, the challenges of overreliance on imported fossil fuels and a weakly interconnected electricity system have not been helped by the absence of a robust policy framework and, until recently, enough political will.”

Budget 2021 from €26. Instead, the Government opted for a €33.50 per tonne price but outlined a desire to see it rise to €100 by 2030. The Programme for Government has enshrined this rise by outlining a need for a €7.50 rise per annum until 2029 and a €6.50 rise in 2030.

Whether the carbon tax increase will be enough remains to be seen. The rise to €100 by 2030 was seen as a way of incentivising the use of renewable fuels and reducing fossil fuel usage in an affordable manner, however, the pandemic’s impact on lowering the cost of fossil fuels may lessen the competitiveness of greener alternatives.

This may also have an impact on the projected revenue the carbon price increases are set to generate. €9.5 billion is estimated to be generated over the next decade, with plans to use €3 billion to mitigate fuel poverty and €5

billion to part fund a national retrofitting programme, with particular focus on the midlands region and on social and lowincome tenancies.

Energy efficiency Decarbonisation will not be achieved by renewable generation alone. Even reaching the ambitious target of 70 by 30 will mean a 30 per cent dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Government recognises that in order to meet net zero by 2050, the transition to renewables must be done in parallel with a reduction of energy consumption.

To this end, an envisaged National Energy Efficiency Plan is seen as the missing piece of the jigsaw in the Government’s transition ambitions, setting higher targets for all sectors.

A major focus for energy efficiency is in the are of heat and in particular, on domestic heating. Amidst a broad portfolio, Minister Eamon Ryan has 4

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renewable energy magazine

privately indicated to the energy sector that his two major project priorities are offshore wind and retrofitting. This will be aided by a pledged National Retrofitting Plan, part of the National Economic Plan, which will target 500,000 homes by 2030 through a new area-based approach. Additionally, the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme is to be amended to increase the obligation target on delivering parties, boosting the supply of retrofits.

to the industry in Ireland.

In targeting heat, the Government says that it is to launch a scaled-up programme for district heating and more importantly, as far as the consumer is concerned, develop a suitable regulatory environment. However, firm commitments in this area are scarce, with the PfG saying that a feasibility study will be carried out on the need for “a district heating authority and setting new targets for district heating as part of a new strategy”.

Interconnection

Energy efficiency in domestic homes is also the main target of a move away from all mechanical electricity metres to smart metres by 2024. Outside of the domestic market, greater efficiency is also set to be met by the introduction of an at least 50 per cent decarbonisation target for the public sector and the Government is set to install efficiency standards that will seek to address the growing use of power in growth areas, particularly, data centres.

Offshore energy Developments in the ambitions for offshore have been the defining feature of the Programme for Government, evidencing a switch from ambition to action. As well as a pledge to host a dedicated offshore RESS auction in 2021, a raised target of 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 is a major boost to market confidence and will serve as a kickstart

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Development of offshore wind generation is complicated and in establishing an enabling environment for progress, the Government has stated its desire to give priority to a Marine Planning and Development Bill and Ireland’s first ever marine spatial planning policy and framework, comprised in ‘Project Ireland Marine 2040’.

Although it is an existing commitment, the PfG has restated the Government’s intention to support the Celtic Interconnector, linking Ireland to Europe’s energy grid. This interconnection is a seen as vital if Ireland is to take full advantage of its ambition to be a leader in renewable energy by allowing the export of excess renewables. The value of this is recognised in that the Government is to commence planning for future interconnection.

As new technologies develop to scale, accompanied by envisaged greater levels of microgeneration, how power is managed will become increasingly important. Storage at scale has long been identified as necessary if the maximum value is to be attained from generators. The PfG has promised to strengthen the policy framework to incentivise both electricity storage and interconnection. The incentivisation of storage will complement a major increase in large scale solar projects coming online in the next few years. As well as the success of over 60 solar projects in Ireland’s first RESS-1 Auction, the Government is to develop a solar energy strategy for rooftop and ground-based photovoltaics to ensure solar plays an even greater role in the energy mix.

Onshore wind will continue to be the main source of renewable electricity on the grid out to 2050 and beyond. In recognising the need for a greater energy mix if Ireland is to decarbonise, the Government is to finalise the Wind Energy Guidelines. Progress in this area has been slow given the significant opposition from generators around the restrictiveness of the proposals. The Wind Energy Development Guidelines (WEDGs) were issued for public consultation in December 2019 and the new proposed guidelines were met with much opposition. Central to this opposition was a blanket approach to noise limits, which generators say will not only severely hamper any potential future builds but also restrict the repowering of existing sights, putting Ireland’s ambition for increased renewable electricity generation in doubt. Undoubtedly, the Government’s draft guidelines will require amendment prior to publication.

While solar and wind are seen as the main vehicles to achieve 2030 targets, the future potential of bioenergy and green hydrogen to become market competitive have also been acknowledged. The PfG pledges to “rapidly evaluate” the potential role of sustainable bioenergy and invest in research and development in green hydrogen, as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport. The Government is to conduct a feasibility study into establishing a green energy hub in the midlands, utilising the existing infrastructure currently supporting peat.

Conclusion The Government, through its climatebased Programme for Government has signalled its intention to rapidly accelerate the development of renewable energy. In the context of failing to achieve its 2020 ambitions in this regard, an effort to shift Ireland from laggard to leader in less than a decade is a significant ask. While the Programme for Government has acted as a signal of intent and serve to drive confidence in the energy sector, of greater significance are the frameworks and policies developed to support these ambitions. The Government has grasped the opportunity that lies in getting out in front, in terms of the race to carbon neutral by 2050 occurring across Europe but must act to enable the transition.

The role of innovation in the energy transition control to enable a >75 per cent renewable energy share (against annual consumption), without significantly increasing grid demand, construction or community energy costs [CE-SEA project at Ulster University];

Innovation will be central to ambitions to decarbonise the economy states Sam McCloskey, Director, Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE).

There is no doubt that the energy system in Northern Ireland of 10 years ago is significantly different from the one that is achieving 47 per cent renewable electricity penetration today. Moving from three traditional, fossil fuel-burning power generators at Kilroot, Ballylumford and Coolkeeragh 20 years ago to 26,000 generators contributing power to the grid, demonstrates the innovation capability in Northern Ireland.

Whilst much work has been done to decarbonise the electricity system to date, the next challenge is to achieve 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 and substantive progress in the decarbonisation of heat and transport.

One of the biggest opportunities is in biogas. At the end of December 2018 there were 105 biogas sites in Northern Ireland with a generating capacity around 56MW, but much more is possible. A 2019 DAERA report stated that “Northern Ireland could produce 130-580 million m3 of bio-methane to generate up to 2,000 GWh of power or heat annually”. Other changes will be: • creation of a route to market for the injection of biomethane or hydrogen into the gas grid; • heat network development;

• electrification of heat; and • normalisation of solar panels, for example embedding solar PV into building facades.

A complete transformation of the transport sector will be required. It is likely that electric vehicles (EVs) will take over the small vehicle market in the near future, with hydrogen and other bio-fuels in the large vehicle sector. UKRI (Faraday Battery challenge) predict that the UK will be producing between 1.1 and 2 million EVs by 2040.

So where does innovation have a role to play? The Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy funds innovative and collaborative projects for the benefit of the Northern Ireland economy. CASE is funded by Invest NI through the competence centre programme.

Other examples of emerging technology that are being developed at CASE include:

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• the development of cost effective and more robust mooring systems for floating solar technology, including the incorporation of thermal panels on to PV platforms. The prototype will be tested at a Northern Ireland Water treatment plant adjacent to a new novel hydrogen production system [Floating Solar project at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB)]; • an evaluation of the potential for biomass production from agricultural waste in Northern Ireland including the production of a combined multilayered map of the landscape potential for decarbonisation [Decarbonisation of Heat project at QUB]; • testing of novel vertical axis tidal turbine technology in Strangford Lough will be incorporated with a battery storage device [VATTS project at QUB]; and • the development of a modular redox flow battery using novel, low cost electrolytes. This new redox flow technology aims to maintain the long life time >30 years whilst at the same time reducing the need for the nonabundant vanadium [AESIR project at QUB].

Northern Ireland is home to some wonderful entrepreneurs in industry and academia who have an enormous capacity to meet the challenges faced in order to achieve the complete decarbonisation of power, heat and transport required by 2050.

Sam McCloskey, Director, Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) E: s.mccloskey@qub.ac.uk W: www.case-research.net

• the design and use of building façade envelopes as cost effective community heat and power resources. A pre-fabricated modular multi-function building envelope includes thermal insulation, renewable energy and daylight

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Credit: Olga Makina

renewable energy magazine

Energy priorities of the European Commission Kadri Simson, EU Commissioner for Energy outlines the role of member states and the energy system in achieving the EU’s raised ambitions on tackling climate change.

The 2019 European Green Deal recognised the need to fundamentally transform the EU’s energy system, states Simson, highlighting that 75 per cent of all the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the energy sector and that this is a priority area if Europe is to be carbon neutral by 2050.

In September, the European Commission stepped up its ambitions by proposing the new 2030 Climate Target Plan which saw an increase in ambition for the greenhouse gas reduction to 2030 of at least 55 per cent, which Simson believes has added “further urgency to the green energy transition”.

Setting out the significance of the ambitious shift, Simson explains: “It also means that by 2030 electrification needs to reach 40 per cent and the rate of building renovation has to double.

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Additionally, 24 per cent of transport will have to be powered by renewable fuels.

Oil consumption must be reduced by almost one third and natural gas consumption must be reduced by one quarter.

“We know reaching a 55 per cent reduction is doable but it will require massive changes and actions in all sectors. We will not only need to change but we will need to change fast,” states the Commissioner.

Highlighting that, to date, the power sector has led the way in decarbonisation, making it the most decarbonised system in the world, Simson says that the level of ambition will require action on other fronts as well.

In June, the European Commission presented the strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen, the

first of which sets out the main characteristics of the energy system of the future and the other which looks at the role of renewable hydrogen in that system. Simson highlights that these strategies also provide solutions to how other sectors can follow the lead of the energy generation sector.

On 14 October 2020, the Commission published its Renovation Wave Strategy, which aims to double renovation rates over the next decade, making sure that renovations lead to higher energy and resources efficiency. It is estimated that by 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated in Europe, with an additional 160,000 green jobs created in the construction sector.

In November 2020, the EU launched its strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy, aimed at giving a strategic direction for the ambitious development and

integration of this type of energy by 2030 and 2050. The Commissioner recently presented the strategy to the annual conference of the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA), where she described Ireland as one of the “global champions” of wind energy. The Commissioner outlines that the strategy will not just cover offshore wind farms but tidal and wave energy also.

reduction is doable but it will require massive changes and actions in all sectors. We will not

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Tying these various channels together, the Commissioner explains that it is the Commission’s intention to propose an updated framework for Europe’s energy infrastructure policy before the end of 2020, which she says, “will help us to make our future investments climate proof”.

“We know reaching a 55 per cent

only need to change but we will need to change fast.”

Finance Simson highlights that as well as establishing long-term plans for the future, the Commission must also react to the challenges of the present. To this end she says that while political buy-in and momentum exists, financial investment and public support are crucial.

In July 2020, EU leaders supported the Commission’s proposal to create a €750 billion recovery plan for Europe, named Next Generation EU. Speaking on the unprecedented levels of finance being made available, Simson says: “We will need to be smart when deciding where to invest this money. Our analysis shows that investment in clean energy technologies generates more value added than investment in fossil fuel sectors, both in relation to profit and in terms of job creation.

“This means that we need to seize the moment and make sure we are accelerating our investments in the clean energy transition. This brings duel benefits of supporting recovery and increasing job creation in the short-term and in the long-term, helping us achieve our climate goals.”

renew our energy system. We can no longer act in silos and we must look at the energy system as a whole, creating synergies and looking for cost-effective solutions for our households and business.”

Target Plan, we commit to reviewing the

Simson explains that the recently adopted EU-wide assessment on the national energy climate plans brings together the efforts of member states in stepping up their ambitions.

Simson states that a change of this

“Each member state now has a forwardlooking blue print for clean energy targets in terms of transformation and investment. Combining the 27 plans, predictions are that we will surpass our 2030 target for greenhouse gas reduction of 40 per cent.”

announced recovery package, the

The Commissioner highlights that the picture is especially encouraging when looking at renewable energy, where Europe is a global technology leader and has recognised a steady fall in prices. The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) Assessment outlines that Europe is on track to produce more than 33 per cent of its energy from renewables, an overachievement on its original target of 32 per cent.

Renewable Energy and the Energy Efficiency Directives, including those targets, and we will make a proposal in June 2021.”

magnitude will require “serious investment”. The Commission estimates the need for €350 billion per year.

Explaining the significance of the EU’s Commissioner says: “The Green New Deal was always meant to be a growth strategy and even the health crisis has shown that this is not simply a slogan.

“In July [2020] the EU leaders agreed on the unprecedented recovery package of €1.8 trillion, which sets sustainability at its core. The package brings together a reinforced EU budget for the next seven years, complimented by €750 billion from a stimulus plan. This is the Next Generation EU and the package gives us a unique opportunity to reboot the economy and accelerate the clean energy transition, which was already underway, and build a more sustainable

Explaining the significance of shifting Europe away from being one of the world’s largest natural gas and oil importers, she adds: “The energy transition is also an investment in our resilience and independence because going climate neutral reduces our import dependency and our spending on fossil fuel imports.

“To ensure we achieve the expected transformation we must rethink and

However, recognising that the national plans were prepared with the current 2030 targets in mind, Simson says that more must be done to reach the 55 per cent reduction of greenhouse gases goal by 2050.

“The impact assessment foresees the need for a 38-40 per cent share of renewables in our energy mix by 2030 and 36-39 per cent improvement in our energy efficiency. With the Climate

and competitive economic future.

“I believe that the economic recovery and sustainability need to go hand in hand and respond to the needs of our people and our businesses and we need to invest in tomorrow’s technologies, not yesterday’s.

“Change is necessary but managing this change will be for the benefit of all.”

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Regulation supporting transition “The typical consultation process that would have been traditionally engaged in was supplemented by a range of workshops and interactions with representative groups. This allowed the team identify both opportunities and risks earlier in the policy development process, and also to set expectation within industry as to the general direction being taken on key aspects of the policy. In the consultation responses that we ultimately received back, it was clear that the level of challenge and request for change was lower, perhaps, than would have been the case had that level of dialogue not been engaged in,” he explains.

Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) Commissioner Jim Gannon discusses the regulatory outlook for the renewable transition.

Having joined the Commission in October 2019, Gannon describes an early observation of the “ambition” within the staff at the regulator to facilitate catalyse our transition to a secure, low carbon future.

Given the pace of change required over the coming decade a further area of focus, he states, is an ongoing movement within the regulator towards greater openness and dialogue with stakeholder, during the development of regulatory policies which he notes is exemplified in some ongoing and recent projects.

“If you consider the approach taken to the roll-out of smart metering and smart services, the level of collaboration with industry, including the network operator, suppliers and other stakeholder bodies, 18

has been significant, unprecedented and has delivered enormous value to the process,” he states. “The early identification of new value that can be unlocked by smart meters for the energy market, networks and consumers, alongside an open dialogue relating to the risks that challenge roll-out and adoption of smart services has highlighted the benefit of collective effort between both the Regulator and key stakeholders.”

This increased level of dialogue, Gannon explains, has also been a critical factor in the development of the Enduring Connection Policy – Stage 2 (ECP-2) Decision (CRU/20/060), informed by a much higher degree of consultation with industry.

“This type of engagement is going to become even more critical as we look to some of the changes that are likely to take place in the coming years.”

Addressing some of those recognisable changes, the Commissioner describes an “inevitability” regarding the transition, which he highlights is now benefitting from a much clearer ambition being set by both European and national policy, which is now being matched by the private sector who will invest in, and deliver, the required infrastructure. He also states that the narrative is now changing within Ireland where renewable energy is no longer being seen as a necessity which will enable us to meet targets imposed, but is now being recognized as an abundant natural resource which can deliver national wealth.

On large scale infrastructure he points to cost curves which have changed significantly in the past decade in offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and battery storage. He also notes the importance of further developments in interconnection technologies and hybrid (offshore wind/interconnection) projects given the scale of the Irish market and the types and scale of resources that we are seeking to harness in the coming decades. Alongside investment in

rather than profit. A priority for the

As our generation portfolio evolves in the coming years, the traditional value chain of generation, supply and demand will change dramatically. The way that the market and market participants (generation, supply and consumers) place a value the energy service being provided, and how this is charged for, will need to keep pace with these developments. Early and open dialogue on some of these questions will ensure that appropriate signals are set for the investment we need.

that aggregators exist currently in the

Commission, Gannon states is also the assessment of the future role of aggregators of demand and generation throughout the transition. Acknowledging Irish market, he adds: “What interests me is how the role of aggregators can evolve, and what level of service they can provide to active consumers, the network, and the stability of our system.

We are also following with interested the propagation of aggregators and are keen to observe whether there will be a high or low concentration of aggregator businesses and what that means for the market.”

Gannon is clear that the focus must not be on new low carbon solutions alone, however, outlining a clear necessity for Ireland to maintain a prudent level of gas-fired generation during our transition, in order to ensure that we have a secure transition and to ensure that the Irish consumer and economy are not exposed to supply risks, during transition period.

He also noted that Ireland’s existing gas infrastructure is a “national asset” and one from which significant value may be driven. “A discussion on the future role of gas would be more beneficial if we discuss the future role of gases,” he states. There may be pathways whereby Ireland can use the existing gas

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generation, we need to ensure that that power generated finds a market, and that the Irish consumer, market and grid are protected from undue cost or risk as we reach our ambitions.

“What interests me is how the role of aggregators can evolve, and what level of service they can provide to active consumers, the network, and the stability of our system.”

Small-scale Technology, Consumers and Communities

Infrastructure Development and Security of Supply

infrastructure, or elements thereof, in order to both support and play an enduring part in our low carbon future.”

On small scale technology, Gannon

In June 2020, the CRU published the Enduring Connection Policy – Stage 2 (ECP-2) Decision (CRU/20/060), providing for three batches of new generation connection offers to access the electricity network. The move represented an increase in ambition from ECP-1, which saw around 120 projects with a variety of generation types coming through the system.

Concluding, Gannon says: “The fundamental policy drivers at European and national level are aligning and supporting a rapid transition, and are matched by private sector appetite for green investment. Through strong communication, and a fair allocation of opportunity, value and risk, there is no reason we should not be able to bring the Irish consumer on this journey as an active and ambitious partner. As a result, we need agile and responsive regulation for a secure and economic low carbon transition. The CRU is committed to facilitating this change and we will continue to engage with industry and all stakeholders as we plot our pathways over the coming decade.”

believes that this is a key pillar to unlocking consumer support for larger scale investment, while also providing value to the market. Facilitated by smart metering and smart services, the types of business models emerging in the market, and the value those businesses are seeking to capture, are likely to differ significantly to what existed five years ago. They will also allow the consumer to participate in a variety of ways including through microgeneration; the provision of flexibility through the use of small-scale batteries or EV batteries; or

Gannon notes that a move towards more frequent but smaller batches aims to provide greater delivery than ECP-1 over a given time period and provide opportunity and confidence for those bringing projects forward.

simply providing the consumer with the market signals that allow them to shift their consumption to times of lower cost, with little or no investment required.

On citizen energy communities, Gannon highlights that the Clean Energy Package is open to the definition of membership and activities of communities but notes the Directive’s statement that the primary purpose must be to provide social, economic or environmental benefit to the community,

“To our mind, the quality of projects that enter the process is likely to be better if there isn’t a rush towards what it perceived to be their ‘only chance’.

“In parallel to our grid connection process, we are also working with our peer Regulators and developers on a number of interconnector projects.

Interconnection will be a key contributor to our future security of supply, and will also contribute to optimizing the value of our renewable energy generation.”

Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) T: 1890 404 404 E: customercare@cru.ie The Grain House The Exchange Belgard Square North Tallaght D24 PXW0

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Pathways to the 2030 renewable electricity target Fully engaging citizens while also seeking to rapidly increase the levels of renewable electricity generation out to 2030 presents the greatest challenge to ambitions, believes Director of the national SFI MaREI Centre, Brian Ó Gallachóir.

Highlighting renewable electricity as a success story for Ireland and an area primed for continued growth and development, Ó Gallachóir is quick to point out that while this is necessary it is not sufficient to deliver the overall goal of decarbonisation of energy use.

synchronous AC power system, but unless we address the areas of heat and transport, we will remain a laggard in emissions reduction and in renewable energy achievement overall because electricity represents just 20 per cent of our energy use,” he says.

“Energy efficiency and electrification

Currently, while one-third of our electricity is from renewable sources, only 11 per cent of overall energy use is from renewables, meaning that some 90 per cent still originates from fossil fuels.

Ó Gallachóir highlights that while Ireland is well on course to meet its 40 per cent renewable electricity target, this will represent just 8 per cent of overall energy use coming from renewable electricity and recommends a shift in policy focus to see the renewable energy level increased.

Turning to the Government’s ambition

“We are world-leading in terms of what EirGrid is doing in integrating the levels of variable renewable electricity into a

20

(EVs and heat pumps) will help but I think the focus in the heat and transport sectors has to move beyond efficiency and electrification and into renewable fuels,” he states.

for Ireland to meet a target of at least 70 per cent electricity supply from renewables by 2030, Ó Gallachóir points to three key questions for consideration: How much? How fast?

And how difficult?

Installed wind capacity 2005-2030 12 10 8

GW

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4 2 0 2005

2010 MaREI NZE

2015 EirGrid DT

2020

2025

2030

EirGrid CE / DCCAE-NACP

Source: MaREI

How much?

On how much, Ó Gallachóir points out that while the 70 per cent target is set and clear, the amount of renewable electricity needed to reach 70 per cent is less clear, because the volume of electricity that will be used in 2030 is uncertain.

Highlighting the possible variations of electricity use by 2030, the academic points to EirGrid’s Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios report, which offers three different scenarios of electricity use in 2030. Interestingly, all three scenarios reflect a significant uplift from the 2020 figure of 30 TWh to an estimated low of 37 TWh, medium of 41 TWh and a high of 45 TWh. The highest of these reflects a potential 50 per cent increase in electricity consumption over the next decade.

MaREI’s own research on the Net Zero CO2 emissions pathways to 2050 also points to a significant increase in demand in electricity by 2030 of 42 TWh and an even more significant jump to 75 TWh by 2050.

“What these projections highlight is that the amounts are not certain by any means. These step changes in electricity demand are very significant but in order to understand what 70 per cent RES-E means, we need to understand what it will be 70 per cent of,” he explains.

“These step changes in electricity demand are very significant but in order to understand what 70 per cent RES-E means, we need to understand what it will be 70 per cent of.”

Taking MaREI’s analysis of demand at 42 TWh by 2030, this particular scenario suggests a requirement of 8.5GW from offshore and onshore wind combined and a growth of solar from a low base to 1.2GW. “Whether the 11.7GW of renewable electricity will translate into 70 per cent RES-E by 2030 depends on the amount of electricity required by 2030,” explains Ó Gallachóir.

How fast? Ó Gallachóir highlights a significant recent growth in the average additional installed capacity. The 371MW per year on average of additional installed wind capacity over the past five years is significantly above the 211MW per year recorded between 2010 to 2015 and effectively representing a doubling of the levels added in the period from 2005 to 2010.

However, despite this growth, driven by onshore wind, the Climate Action Plan’s projection of 732MW per annum by 2030 will require an even greater level of growth than has already been realised.

Breaking it down further into onshore and offshore wind, Ó Gallachóir suggests that the jump in onshore capacity required from 370MW per year to 414MW is not a huge increase.

However, the main challenge will lie in increasing the installed capacity of offshore wind energy from its much lower staring point of 25MW currently.

How difficult? Ó Gallachóir categorises the challenges in meeting the 2030 target into three specific areas: technical; financial; and ownership.

On the technical challenges, he points

4 21

Wind Installed Capacity 2005-2019

renewable energy magazine

Wind installed capacity MW

4,000

371 MW / year 525

3,000

211 MW / year

2,500

320 275

2,000 1,500 315

1,000

170

305

177 MW / year

500

284 355

3,500

185

120

2011

2012

130

200 180

60

2006

2007

223

0 2005

2008

2009

2010

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Source: MaREI

to EirGrid’s ambition to reach a system non-synchronous penetration (SNSP) level of 75 per cent by Q4 2019, which would be a further world-leading feat.

The academic explains that to achieve 70 per cent RES-E on average would require the accommodation of 95 per cent variable RES-E at any one time, something which hasn’t been done before.

“There was a suggestion that an allisland grid study be repeated in this new context. I believe that is a good idea because we are again going into unchartered territory. We have the ambition and we’re moving towards it but we don’t know what the answers are,” he states.

Regarding financial challenges, Ó Gallachóir is of the opinion that restrictions in this area may be less significant than in others. While many have voiced concerns around the potential cost associated with reaching the 2030 target, the academic sees signs that Ireland could position itself well to raise funds. It’s estimated that an increase of some 11-12GW would require €15 to €20 billion of investment.

“The discussions seem to suggest that Ireland is viewed as an okay place to invest and that with renewable growth represents investment opportunities,” he adds.

However, the largest challenge Ó Gallachóir identifies is that around community acceptance, participation and in particular the challenges associated with the pace of change

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“It’s a very necessary and evolutionary process but that time challenge appears juxtaposed with the urgency to accelerate generation development.” required. One of the Department’s policy responses has been a move to engage citizens and communities in different ways than before, including through the likes of energy communities and citizen investment opportunities.

“On citizen engagement, the one thing that is very clear is that it takes time,” explains Ó Gallachóir. “It’s a very necessary and evolutionary process but that time challenge appears juxtaposed with the urgency to accelerate generation development. It’s citizens who are campaigning for climate action, who are sometimes protesting against infrastructure and who are forming energy communities and I don’t think there is enough focus or understanding of these dynamics.”

The Government’s RESS support scheme, which delivers as enabling framework for community participation through the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate

in renewable energy projects is a “positive step” from a policy perspective, he says. Similarly, the Community Benefit Fund, which must mandatorily be provided by all projects successful in a RESS auction is another policy response to engage citizens but, as Ó Gallachóir points out: “Getting the correct levels of citizen engagement and participation is going to be very challenging. It’s certainly very challenging to the industry in the context of time urgency.”

Concluding, Ó Gallachóir says that while the technical elements of delivering on the 2030 target are very challenging, expertise in the area stands to benefit Ireland. The financial challenges, he believes, are not insurmountable but adds: “I think the ownership piece and the engagement with citizens has been given the least attention compared to the others and I think it is where most attention is required.”

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Renewables a ‘safe haven’ amidst market uncertainty of the most resilient asset classes as investors are attracted by stable, contracted cash flows with prospects of long-term cash yield. With general market liquidity remaining strong, and poor returns from more traditional asset classes, renewables have been viewed as somewhat of a safe haven.

Why Ireland is an attractive market for renewable investors

James Delahunt.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disruptive impact on virtually every sector and business during 2020, and this certainly extended to the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) markets both in Ireland and throughout the world.

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The increased level of uncertainty, disruption to existing business models, additional and new demands for liquidity, and restrictions on international and domestic travel presented significant challenges for buyers and sellers, limiting both their appetite and capacity to carry out M&A in recent months.

degree than the likes of healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

These reduced activity levels have not, however, been felt equally across all sectors, with the likes of the consumer, retail, aviation and real estate sectors being impacted to a much greater

Whilst renewables have had to deal with the twin challenges of falling long-term energy prices and the economic and operational challenges presented by the pandemic itself, it has proved to be one

One of the sectors that has proved most resilient to M&A activity throughout the pandemic has been the energy and utilities sector, and specifically the renewables category.

For investors in renewables, the Irish market stands out as one of the most attractive in Europe due to a combination of factors, principally its ambitious renewable energy targets backed by strong policy support including the series of Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions which commenced in August 2020. This presents significant investment opportunities across a range of technologies over the next 10 years.

The pipeline of future RESS auctions presents a pathway for future supported projects, meaning many international investors are attracted into the market to build a portfolio of assets in the country.

This is evident by the varied profile of buyers such as international utilities and corporates we see exploring the Irish market for the first time in recent months.

Indeed this year we have seen new market entrants across the technology spectrum including significant offshore wind transactions such as the French utility EDF’s acquisition of a stake in the Codling wind farm project, solar transactions such as the Paris-based infrastructure and private equity fund Omnes’ investment in Power Capital, as well as new entrants to the onshore wind space such as London-based asset manager Arjun Infrastructure Partners’ acquisition of a 46MW onshore wind portfolio from Brookfield Renewables.

Within the Climate Action Plan, Ireland has set a target of generating 70 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, of which 15 per cent is to be provided by way of corporate power purchase agreements (CPPA).

Russell Smyth.

What is driving asset value?

Renewable asset pricing remains remarkably strong, driven principally by increased demand and competition for quality assets. While overall financial liquidity has played its part, the emergence of the domestic and international utilities as renewable investors has had a particularly significant impact. The M&A market was historically dominated by independent developers and financial investment funds, the utilities have now accepted that national net zero ambitions mean renewables will be a dominant component of their generation mix going forward, leading to almost insatiable demand growth.

From a valuation perspective, cost of capital was historically the major differentiating factor between buyers, and this resulted in many utilities, who often have higher capital costs, being less competitive in M&A processes.

This however has now changed, with cost of capital no longer the key value differentiator. Negative interest rates across Europe, increased competition and proven technology means returns have moderated for most buyers.

Instead, renewable assets are now won and lost on asset assumptions. Be it asset life, project yield, constraints and curtailment, project rates or views on generation and captured long term energy prices, investors’ outlook on these key project assumptions are what really drive value in a transaction.

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This ambitious target, along with an ever-growing demand for green power from major technology, pharmaceutical and food business in Ireland, makes CPPAs a viable alternative route to market for projects, which we now consider proven and bankable. Whilst CPPAs were typically seen as short-term contracts, there is increasing interest for offtakes of up to 20-year inflation linked contracts. To date, the type of corporates contracting CPPAs have been higher profile large energy users such as Amazon, Facebook and Microsoft. As the market develops and likely policy supports emerge, we expect a portion of the 15 per cent target to be taken up by smaller indigenous firms.

“One of the sectors that has proved most resilient to M&A activity throughout the pandemic has been the energy and utilities sector, and specifically the renewables category.”

What is next?

We expect the renewable M&A markets to remain very active over the coming years as existing operational assets reach the end of their REFIT period and new projects are energised under RESS or CPPA. Trends we expect to see include: •

increased activity in the sale of older onshore wind operational assets to buyers who have appetite for merchant risk, or who have a strategy to optimise assets through repowering or alternative routes to market;

•

emergence of a greater volume of transactions in technologies such as solar in the near term as the volume of successful RESS-1 projects become operational, and offshore wind in the medium term as policy around offshore wind development advances; and

•

development assets at all stages of the asset lifecycle will remain active as investors seek greater returns through acquiring projects earlier in the development cycle.

Given the level of compelling market forces, it remains a strong sellers’ market for assets at all stages of the project lifecycle and across all technologies. The outlook for M&A in the renewables sector, despite the pandemic, remains strong.

Russell Smyth, Partner in KPMG Sustainable Futures Russell.smyth@kpmg.ie James Delahunt, Associate Director in KPMG Sustainable Futures James.delahunt@kpmg.ie

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renewable energy magazine

My vision for the renewable electricity sector Economy Minister for Northern Ireland Diane Dodds MLA sets out her ambitions for renewable energy ahead of the delivery of a new Energy Strategy.

In June 2020, I published the roadmap for rebuilding a stronger economy. In it, I highlighted that clean energy was one of four sectors which could make a real difference to economic recovery and where we should focus our efforts for

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future investment. Renewable electricity is a key part of this sector, and I want to set out my ambitions in advance of a new Energy Strategy.

renewable electricity investments.

Northern Ireland has been hugely successful at bringing forward

region from indigenous renewable

Northern Ireland continues to be a market leader, achieving almost 48 per cent of electricity consumed in the sources, largely onshore wind.

As we seek to tackle climate change and meet the legislative requirement for net zero emissions by 2050, we need to build on this success and further decarbonise our power sector, including bringing forward significant investments in renewable electricity.

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With our outstanding natural resources, we have a healthy pipeline of projects coming through the planning system and ready to be deployed in the region.

The forthcoming consultation on a new Energy Strategy, due in March 2021, will set out key policy options for the future of the power sector. However, I have said that we will not wait for the Energy Strategy to progress issues which need moved forward urgently.

I recognise that a supportive policy environment needs to be in place to deliver these investments. This starts with an ambitious and achievable renewable electricity target which can be delivered in a cost-effective way for consumers. Whilst work is ongoing to gather the evidence needed to set a new target for Northern Ireland, I firmly believe that this target should not be below 70 per cent. This outlines how ambitious I want the strategy to be, and I want stakeholders and investors to be aware of this.

I recognise that delivering a target of this level will require a range of organisations and government departments to work together. This is why the Power Working Group, which was set up as part of developing the Energy Strategy, consists of representatives from across government and industry. This will help to ensure joined-up policy and delivery in the future on key issues such as planning and grid development.

I also acknowledge the desire for a government-backed route to market for renewables investors. I have to be clear that policy decisions must be delivered in a cost effective way, and I will not simply agree to a scheme at any cost.

But I also want to make clear my commitment to putting in place the conditions to bring forward investments, and fully explore a range of potential support schemes to give the certainty to investors. Northern Ireland consulted on potentially joining the Contracts for Difference scheme a number of years ago, and as a first step I have instructed

SSE’s Slieve Kirk Wind Park, overlooking Derry City.

“Whilst work is ongoing to gather the evidence needed to set a new target for Northern Ireland, I firmly believe that this target should not be below 70 per cent.” my officials to follow up with BEIS on this previous engagement to consider how Northern Ireland could benefit from the scheme.

Finally, I see great potential for offshore wind and marine renewables. Not just in bringing forward projects that deliver renewable generation for Northern Ireland, but in local supply chain opportunities for projects that will be delivered in UK and Irish waters.

We are working closely with a range of partners across government to ensure Northern Ireland is represented in all offshore wind and marine renewable developments. This includes engaging with The Crown Estate (TCE) to address

barriers and ensure that Northern Ireland has the potential to benefit from future seabed leasing rounds.

In the interim, I want to see developers seize the chance for demonstration and testing of new technologies up to 100MW for Northern Ireland that is afforded by TCE’s Offshore Wind Innovation and Demonstration Programme.

My ambition is clear for renewable electricity, and urgent work is ongoing on the issues I have outlined. I want everyone to know that renewable electricity in Northern Ireland is open for business.

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renewable energy magazine

Where is the renewable energy NPHET? the need to decarbonise our energy system, our economy and, ultimately, our way of life?

Programme for Government The Programme for Government says that “The transformation to a low carbon, digital economy requires the concerted mobilisation of every element of Irish society”.

It goes on to highlight the importance of political leadership, sustained engagement with citizens, support for those at risk from the move to a lowcarbon economy, as well as protection for the families and communities least equipped for the coming transformation.

If Ireland can step up when we are called upon to do so to deal with a dangerous pandemic, can we not find a way to do so when we confront the existential challenge of our time, asks David Connolly.

Over the last 10 months, and counting, we have seen a mobilisation of people at every level of Irish society that is utterly without precedent.

Schools and workplaces have shut down. We have put on our masks and kept our distance. We have kept apart from loved ones, supported frontline healthcare workers and lived quietly anxious lives as we worried about our friends, family and livelihoods.

No one would claim that the response from the Government has been perfect.

Fair-minded people can disagree about the efficacy of one decision or the other, whether a certain change was made too late or too early.

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But through it all there has been a sense of a collective endeavour, of individuals, communities and a society uniting behind a shared goal to flatten the curve, to stay safe.

As I write, there is growing optimism about vaccines that could be rolled out as early as next year and, as tragic and horrendous as the Covid-19 crisis has been, it has also given me a reason for optimism.

For if Ireland can step up when we are called upon to do so to deal with a dangerous pandemic, can we not find a way to do so when we confront the existential challenge of our time,

This level of mobilisation will not happen by itself. It will require a public information campaign of a scale, an intensity and a duration that will completely overshadow the response to the Covid crisis. It cannot be the responsibility of any one government, let alone any single department.

In the same way as the National Public Health Emergency Team pooled information, identified problems and proposed solutions to the pandemic, we need something similar to provide the expert direction and leadership required to drive the transformation of Ireland’s energy system.

Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis the NPHET has met at least weekly. The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 also meets regularly.

Yet since it was established in July 2019 the Climate Action Delivery Board, responsible for delivering the Climate Action Plan, has met three times as of October of this year.

Some of this can be explained by the Covid crisis itself. It has, rightly, taken precedence but as, hopefully, it begins to recede we need to see whether the

urgency and shared sense of determination can be translated to the bigger fight.

In October 2018 the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) told us we had 12 years to keep global heating to a maximum of 1.5°C. Beyond that, the lives of hundreds of millions of people will be vulnerable to drought, floods and extreme heat. Many will be forced to leave their homes as refugees.

Two years have passed since then and the world’s climate and biodiversity crisis has only worsened while in Ireland more extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common.

Cabinet committees and climate action delivery boards are simply not enough.

We must find a new way to inspire and lead a generation of Irish people to embrace the fight against climate change as something that is a personal fight for each of us, but also part of a shared collective responsibility.

We need to empower people, as individuals and families, to act, to make their own contribution whether that is by reducing their energy use, switching to zero or low-carbon heating or transport options or even developing and producing their own renewable energy.

But we also need to mobilise their support for the challenge of building the infrastructure we will need to decarbonise our energy supply and support the electrification of heat and transport.

Over the last year IWEA has developed what we refer to as the 70by30 Implementation Plan – a set of four reports that set out in exact detail how we can build the onshore and offshore wind farms we will need by 2030, what needs to be done to strengthen the grid to accommodate this renewable energy and how it can be done in the most costeffective way possible.

In the next 10 years our members need to build twice as much onshore renewable capacity as they did in the preceding 20. And, while doing that, many of them are also going to be leading the development of an entirely new Irish industry in the form of offshore wind.

We will be working alongside our colleagues in the solar and battery energy storage industries who have their own significant parts to play.

And that is just electricity, the ‘easy one’.

We need to decarbonise heat by retrofitting hundreds of thousands of buildings, installing heat pumps in rural homes and rolling out district heating to our cities. We must decarbonise transport by encouraging people to use public transport, to walk or cycle instead or, if they must use vehicles, to use ones powered by electricity or hydrogen.

Over the next 10 years we need not only this Government but the whole political system, from TDs and senators in Leinster House to officials in Government Buildings, to be brought together behind a single vision for a zero-carbon Ireland.

The business as usual approach to policy development in Ireland is a recipe for stagnation, disappointment and failure.

Need to come together We need to come together now to identify the barriers to the development of renewable energy, to empowering the community energy sector, to finding new ways to heat our homes and to get to work, and we need to eliminate those barriers quickly and efficiently.

We know we can do this. We have no shortage of expertise in Ireland. We have a thriving renewable energy industry, world leaders in renewable integration in EirGrid and ESB Networks, extensive academic knowledge and

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Crisis worsening

“This level of mobilisation will…require a public information campaign of a scale, an intensity and a duration that will completely overshadow the response to the Covid crisis.” expert advice in organisations like the SEAI, EPA and MaREI. Throughout government we have dedicated and energetic civil servants who want to resolve these issues and in every political party in Leinster House there are those who are prepared to champion climate action.

What is missing is a vehicle to bring them together, to harness the energy and the experience, to drive the changes and the reforms, to bring the same level of urgency to reducing our carbon emissions as we did to flattening the curve.

Without it, I fear we will spend the next 10 years simply stumbling along, missing deadlines and missing targets, as the crisis gets worse and worse, as climate change affects more and more lives, here and abroad.

But with the right people in the room to work together and to bring every citizen of this country along the journey of understanding what it is we must do, what we will do, I have no shortage of optimism that we can, and will, rise to the challenge.

Dr David Connolly is CEO of the Irish Wind Energy Association.

T: +353 45 899341 E: office@iwea.com W: www.iwea.com

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Offshore: Delivering a National Marine Planning Framework renewable energy magazine

into the future and the NMPF aims to provide sector focussed policies on a strategic and specific level.

Principal Officer in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Conor McCabe, outlines the delivery of a National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) in the context of ambitions to enhance offshore wind generation in Ireland.

“The launch of the National Marine Planning Framework marks an important step in the proper management of our seas,” says McCabe. “There is a pressing need for a coordinated and coherent approach to decision-making and governance of the key human and sectoral activities within our area.”

Highlighting a greater recognition of the significance of Ireland’s maritime area, McCabe says: “Human activities are putting pressure on the marine and coastal areas. We have had a coherent system of planning for land use for decades but marine planning is a relatively new concept in this country.”

Outlining the progress of marine spatial planning in Ireland from its earliest stage, McCabe points to the EU Maritime Spatial Planning Directive which requires all member states to implement marine spatial plans by March 2021. Ireland’s marine spatial plan is called the National Marine Planning Framework and endeavours to set out how our seas will be managed through to 2040.

The Framework, which has been legislated for under Part 5 of the Planning and Development

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(Amendment) Act 2018, means that all maritime plans and policies must meet the objectives of the Framework when launched later this year and sets out a long-term planning framework for how Ireland uses and protects its seas out to 2040.

“Marine spatial planning is a process that brings together the multiple users of our seas to make an informed and coordinated decision about how we use resources,” says McCabe, outlining that the marine spatial plan allows the Irish Government to set a clear direction of how it is going to manage its seas and also to clarify the vision, objectives and priorities, as well as offering direction on a more efficient and strategic use of marine resources.

“The Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2019, which consolidates and updates the State’s maritime jurisdiction law and was recently approved by Government, will offer coherence to this,” offers McCabe.

Delivering policy In 2019, the Department released a Marine Planning Policy Statement, setting out the vision for marine planning

McCabe is also responsible for developing and delivery of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, one of the Government’s priority pieces of legislation. Offering an update on the Bill’s progress, McCabe says: “The MPDM Bill is being led out by my Department but we work closely with other departments with responsibility for marine activities. We received government approval of draft legal text in July 2019, published a General Scheme in January 2020 and recently received approval from government for further policy changes to the Bill.

“We’re currently going through an intensive work programme between our Department, DECC and the Attorney General’s Office. As seen in the Programme for Government, a nine month end date has been attached to this Bill, so that intensity of effort will need to be sustained over the next few months to meet that challenging deadline. Our next milestone will be in November when the Bill undergoes PreLegislative Scrutiny by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage and once that is complete and we take a breath, that is really when the rubber hits the road in terms of my Minister introducing the Bill to the Dáil and Seanad and steering it through the legislative process. When we emerge from both Houses of the Oireachtas and the President signs the Bill, I am hopeful and determined, to have an Act that will serve the State by introducing a robust, fair and transparent marine planning system. That system will facilitate us on so many levels, none more important than addressing the climate challenge of decarbonisation and protection of our environment.”

NMPF In trying to create a marine planning system, McCabe highlights the three key pillars of Ireland’s land planning system of forward planning,

development management and enforcement.

“We’re starting off from a point of defragmentation within the marine planning system and we’re trying to overhaul it and introduce consistencies and efficiencies through a governing framework,” he states.

Highlighting the range of stakeholders involved in delivering the NMPF he says that as well as the marine planning team, his team coordinate the multisectoral advisory group chaired by the Minister with responsibility for marine planning and a cross-departmental marine legislation steering group chaired by the Department of Taoiseach.

Additionally, the draft Framework has been supported technically and scientifically by the Marine Institute and RPS have conducted a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and an appropriate assessment (AA) of the NMPF, which was included in the public consultation on the Framework.

Turning to the structure, McCabe outlines that the Framework has been split into two distinct policy areas.

Overarching planning policies covers sustainable development pillars in the form of social, environmental and economic and apply to all marine plans.

Additionally, there are 16 more specific sectoral activities, ranging from aquaculture to telecommunications and offshore renewable energy.

“The sectoral ones are more detailed.

They set out the vision and the objectives that government wants to see within these activity areas and we have constructed forms of words in terms of the directions and planning policies which fall from those in order to guide and direct decision-makers in meeting the vision and objectives government has set out.”

Offshore The planning objectives of the draft NMPF in relation to offshore renewable energy sets out a vision to support the establishment of Ireland as a world leader in offshore renewable energy deployment. Additionally, it seeks to support Ireland’s decarbonisation journey through increased offshore renewable energy, provide enhanced security of supply in the short and medium term and ensure good regulatory practices in offshore renewable energy installation and generation.

Highlighting some of the key elements of 11 objectives related to offshore renewable energy contained in the draft Framework, McCabe points to: •

•

“proposals that assist the State in meeting the Government’s target of generating at least 5GW (from the PfG) of offshore renewable electricity by 2030 and proposals that maximise the long-term shift from use of fossil fuels to renewable electricity, in line with decarbonisation targets should be supported”; and

“Currently there are 19 objectives (some multi-pointed) and 96 policies (36 overarching, 60 sectoral) in the draft NMPF,” states McCabe.

“decisions on ORE developments should be informed by consideration of space required for other activities of national importance described in the NMPF”.

“On the overarching policies, plans must demonstrate that they have considered how to optimise the use of space,

McCabe explains that each of the policies are accompanied by supporting material including a background to the

policy (local, national, European and global context), existing policy crossreference, spatial information maps, interpretation notes for terms, information signposts and interest suggestions.

Drawing attention to a number of interesting inclusions on offshore renewable energy in the Programme for Government, McCabe says that as it strives to deliver the Marine National Planning Framework by March 2021, the PfG has an ambitious timeline for the the Marine and Planning and Development Management Bill within nine months. It sets out the creation of Project Ireland Marine 2040, including a marine oversight delivery board to be established. Additionally, there is an ambition to develop a new integrated marine sustainable development plan, as a successor to Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth, with a greater focus on sustainability and stakeholder engagement and centrally coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach to be implemented over the lifetime of the Government.

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Highlighting how the new marine system will link in with the land planning system and “speak the same language”, McCabe sets out how last year’s Marine Planning Policy Statement parallels with the 2014 Planning Policy Statement which set out a vision for how the planning system on land would work.

Similarly, the NMPF will be seen as a ‘sister document’ to the National Planning Framework (NPF), contained in Project Ireland 2040. Much like the regional spatial and economic strategies, local and development plans and local area plans being borne out of the NPF, the NMPF will see regional maritime plans, as well as coastal partnerships and bay area plans.

including through consideration of opportunities for co-existence and cooperation with other activities, enhancing other activities where appropriate. If proposals cannot avoid significant adverse impacts of their activity (including displacement) on other activities they must minimise significant adverse impacts, mitigate significant adverse impacts or if it is not possible to mitigate significant adverse impacts, proposals should state the reason for proceeding.

On how the Department will be bringing forward support programmes in achieving the ambitions, McCabe says: “We will be developing broad statutory marine planning guidelines but also guidelines specific to the offshore renewable energy sector. Additionally, we will be rolling out marine planning through local authorities, which will see local authorities given an enhanced role in consenting in terms of harbours and jetties etcetera.

“We are also creating a digital tool to support developers and decisionmakers which we have imaginatively named Marine Plan and this will create a one-stop-shop for data in the marine sector and make that publicly accessible and we’re rolling out an education programme for local authority planners and also to enhance the knowledge of our citizens about our maritime area and maritime planning and their role in this.”

In conclusion, McCabe sets out that the Department are determined to meet the EU Commission’s NMPF submission date by March 2021. Prior to conclusion, the Framework will pass through both houses of the Oireachtas for scrutiny, likely in first quarter of 2021 and then will be submitted to the European Commission, ready for implementation.

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A new Energy Strategy: Delivering policy options Thomas Byrne, Director of Energy Strategy in the Department for the Economy (DfE) talks to David Whelan about the progress on delivering a long-term Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland to meet a target of net zero carbon by 2050.

Recognised as crucial to delivering the decarbonisation of Northern Ireland’s energy system, work to produce a forward-looking policy pathway for energy has been being progressed, even during the absence of the Executive, up until January.

Urgency in this regard has been driven by the scale of change that has occurred since the publication of the existing energy policy in the form of the 2010 Strategic Energy Framework, not least the Paris Agreement and by the governments in both Westminster and Dublin declaring climate emergencies.

While many might see the task of creating a framework for delivering a zero carbon economy in Northern Ireland by 2050 daunting, Byrne instead views the job in front of him as “exciting”.

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“We have a great opportunity, not just to help guide the future decarbonisation of the energy sector to meet net zero by 2050 but also to try and grow the economy using the energy sector through a green recovery,” says Byrne.

Byrne has highlighted March 2021 as a key month for the Department, when it aims to publish an options consultation setting out what it believes are the viable routes to meeting some of the objectives set to be included in a future Energy Strategy.

The foundation for the creation of the future strategy was a call for evidence issued by the Department in December 2019, which Byrne suggests was met with a high number of responses but also a range of responses that extended outside of the energy industry.

The Department published a detailed summary report on the call for evidence in June and Byrne outlines that the focus has now turned to delivering policy options.

“Using the information we received through the call for evidence, alongside the knowledge and expertise that we have in Northern Ireland and the additional research that we are currently gathering, we aim to arrive at robust scenarios and a roadmap for the future of energy,” he explains.

Explaining the importance of these future options being sculpted by continued stakeholder input and not by department officials alone, Byrne outlines the creation of five working groups, each focussed on the specific topics of: heat, power, transport, consumers and energy efficiency. Over

70 stakeholders are represented across the five groups, representing some 30 organisations.

“This continues to be about evidence and analysing that evidence to deliver viable policy options,” Byrne explains.

“The range of issues to be considered is huge and so what we have done, through the five working groups, is identify four or five key priorities where options have been identified and we’re now developing the evidence behind those options, to shape policy that can be utilised by the strategy.”

Byrne has moved to ensure that the development of the strategy remains transparent and accessible on a wider basis, not just to those stakeholders involved in the working group. The Department is publishing a monthly e-bulletin, focusing on the five workstreams identified for those groups.

“That’s our way of keeping in touch with the outside world, not disappearing for nine months and coming up with a strategy. Being open, transparent and visible in how we are shaping policy options is very important and we’ll continue to do this up until the options consultation, while also publishing additional research we are taking forward,” he states.

Byrne identifies the scale of the change needed as the biggest challenge facing the delivery of an Energy Strategy by the end of 2021. “These are big objectives. Big changes will be needed to meet a net zero target, including the growth of a green economy which will require changing the nature of our current economy and how it works. It’s important to stress that this is not the energy industry’s strategy but will be for the whole of Northern Ireland.”

The Energy Strategy Director outlines that given the scale of change needed, mechanisms have been devised to ensure that the strategy, when completed, does not become inflexible.

“We have to consider the impact of these decisions on consumers, on citizens and the behavioural changes

that we need to bring forward. However, we also recognise that in bringing forward this scale of policy work in such a short period of time, we can ensure that we don’t just write a strategy and that’s it. It needs to be a living document, set up with five-year checkpoints. We are creating a roadmap to 2050, which will set out those priority actions that need to be taken forward in the next five to 10 years, however, it doesn’t stop here, it will keep being evaluated and updated.”

Power Northern Ireland’s success in decarbonisation to date has largely occurred in relation to power. Recent statistics show that 47 per cent of electricity consumption is coming from renewables, the vast majority of which is from onshore wind. Some concerns have been raised that future decarbonisation in relation to power will be much more difficult than progress already made and has been suggested that the areas of heat and transport could provide bigger wins. However, Byrne is of the opinion that progress to date puts the power sector “in a good place to drive the future of decarbonisation as well”.

“That can probably happen at a quicker pace than other sectors, where more heavy lifting will be needed in the early stages,” he explains. “Fifteen years ago, we had 3 per cent of our electricity consumption from renewables and it’s remarkable that we’ve moved to 47 per cent in such a short space of time.

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“The call for evidence delivered a lot of information and we recognise that the decisions we are taking are big decisions across 30 years. So, it’s really important that we get them right. There are some decisions that we can’t take today about the future but we can create pathways to move forward.

“The state of the technologies and the costs associated with them are different now. We’ve seen the cost of renewable technologies come down to where they are competitive with fossil fuels and we’ve seen renewables in the market be able to set effectively zero prices.

“It’s a really strong place for the future decarbonisation and the challenge for us is to get the policy environment right to make sure that happens.”

Recognisably, a driving force behind the increase in renewable generation from onshore wind was the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO), the main support scheme for encouraging increased renewable electricity generation, which closed in 2017.

Asked whether similar schemes will be the basis for ensuring the uptake of new renewable technologies, Byrne says: “One of the five workstreams identified is on routes to market but it’s not just about a support scheme. It’s the entire policy environment that we put in place, whether that’s around the grid or planning etcetera. The first step that is needed is the policy ambition, so, certainly support schemes will be something looked at through the working group but it won’t be the only thing because there is an awful lot more to it.”

Another barrier to decarbonisation is the cost associated with rolling out new technologies and suitable infrastructure to move away from the use of fossil fuels. Given the likelihood of restricted 4 budgets following the economic impact

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of the pandemic, ensuring that the Energy Strategy is prudent to the economic climate is crucial.

Byrne agrees that the strategy needs to have a focus on costs but makes the point that increasing levels of renewables shouldn’t be always regarded as the most expensive option.

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“Staying with power as an example, the investments that we have made in renewables have lowered the costs of established technologies to where they are now as competitive, if not cheaper than fossil fuels. It isn’t necessarily true that in every area bringing forward renewables or taking different approaches will be more costly,” he says.

“However, a number of areas are going to require major investment but I think climate change is recognised as a priority across the Executive.

“The Energy Strategy needs to take a close look at costs and we’re not looking at policies just in terms of their ambition and what they can deliver but also the potential implications for consumers and for taxpayers. That’s why the focus remains on evidence and ensuring that the options are effective.”

The Energy Strategy Director is aware that investments will not take a ‘one size fits all’ approach and will require a variety of solutions.

“There won’t be one answer. For example, when we look at heat, the right solution for decarbonisation will be different depending on a range of factors such as grid access and building type. It’s about ensuring we get the right policy options for different scenarios and that these are cost effective.”

renewables. But, that wouldn’t be the only solution as not everyone has gas and that wouldn’t decarbonise heat for us. What we are looking at are complimentary approaches to tackle heat decarbonisation.”

Byrne emphasises that the long-term nature of the strategy will require constant monitoring and foresight beyond the established technologies such as onshore wind and solar.

Byrne is quick to stress that the focus of policy options will extend beyond the three main energy sectors of heat, transport and power, highlighting that the EU’s Clean Energy Package’s ambition to see the citizen put at the heart of the future of energy will be crucial to an effective energy transition.

“We need to be looking to the future at those new potential sources that are emerging. Things like hydrogen, biomethane and various technologies are entering the mix. Those technologies are maybe not ‘market ready’ currently but could be in the position of offshore wind 10 to 15 years ago and will in the future drive decarbonisation in a cost-effective way.

So, it’s not about picking winners but putting in place a policy environment to bring forward a range of technologies that are right, depending on what the problem is that we need to solve,” he adds.

“A good example is the modern gas infrastructure which is currently being extended across Northern Ireland. One of the key themes of the working group looking at heat is looking at what goes into that gas infrastructure and how the network would be developed to use

Consumers

“People and how they interact with the energy system, how they themselves can participate and how they can be protected is a critical factor in the transition,” he sates. “It will not be delivered by energy companies making decision for consumers and we recognise that consumers need to be informed and empowered.

“Our dedicated theme on consumers has facilitated good engagement thus far and we will be taking forward a work programme to engage further with consumers and to test some of our policy issues and install confidence.

“This isn’t just about the technologies but about behaviours and how you change those. That’s going to be a key element of the Energy Strategy.”

Energy Strategy Timeline CALL FOR EVIDENCE PUBLISHED

e-Bulle n: Power theme Future of renewables Expert panel introduc on CALL FOR EVIDENCE CLOSED

December 2019

JanuaryMarch 2020

April 2020

Stakeholder engagement & workshops

June 2020

July 2020

August 2020

September 2020

e-Bulle n: Energy efficiency theme Future of energy efficiency

October 2020

ENERGY STRATEGY OPTIONS CONSULTATION Review of energy strategies & sustainable energy authori es FINAL ENERGY STRATEGY

e-Bulle n: Hydrogen Carbon capture

e-Bulle n: Heat theme Energy governance

CALL FOR EVIDENCE SUMMARY REPORT Workshop Summary Report Individual Responses published e-Bulle n: Overview of Call for Evidence & Next Steps

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e-Bulle n: Consumer theme Demand-side flexibility

November 2020

December 2020

January 2021

e-Bulle n: Clean growth Just transi on Business & industrial energy

e-Bulle n: Transport theme Energy modelling

February 2021

March 2021

April-June 2021

November 2021

Consulta on period

e-Bulle n: Energy innova on Energy research base Financing the transi on

Renewable generation: Power to deliver on economy and decarbonisation

Neasa Quigley, Senior Partner, Carson McDowell, looks ahead to the future of renewable energy in Northern Ireland.

In the last month, the role of renewable energy as a key enabler to both economic growth and decarbonisation of the energy sector economy has been endorsed by the Northern Ireland and UK Governments, with our local Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, both singing from the same hymn sheet with their future ambitions.

The Prime Minister has turned his attention to offshore wind farms, which he says will generate enough electricity to power every home in the UK within a decade. He has unveiled a £160 million plan to upgrade ports and factories for building turbines to help the country “build back greener”, with aims to create 2,000 jobs in construction and support 60,000 more.

Renewable electricity in Northern Ireland is primarily generated through onshore wind turbines and the industry supports an estimated 5,400 jobs. It was interesting to hear the Economy Minister include offshore wind as holding potential for Northern Ireland via the

deployment of floating foundations (as fixed foundation development has already been ruled out). However, given that demand for electricity peaks at about 1,800MW, we are unlikely to see more than one large offshore plant being developed.

Minister Dodds has already committed to a target of at least 70 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, notwithstanding that the draft Energy Strategy is not due for consultation until March 2021. While this firm commitment to renewables has been welcomed, the renewables sector is calling for an even more ambitious target of 80 per cent by 2030. The impact of closing the previous support scheme in 2016-2017 with no follow-up solution is clearly evidenced by the total absence of new large-scale renewable projects becoming operational in 2019.

renewable energy magazine

Power generation tends to get most attention in the decarbonisation conversation but heat and transport are major contributors to carbon emissions.

The new Energy Strategy will need to address heat and transport as part of the decarbonisation mix. It’s unsurprising that green hydrogen has become a hot topic in Northern Ireland, particularly given the prevalence of wind farms here.

Indeed it is Minister Dodds’ vision, that hydrogen will play a dual role in both contributing to decarbonisation of the sector and to the economic revival postCovid, with Northern Ireland becoming a world leading manufacturing base for electrolyers, which are an essential component of green hydrogen.

The energy sector is multifaceted comprising grid, planning, infrastructure interconnection, gas, renewables, investors, consumers, suppliers, regulators, policy, markets, consultants, industry bodies and so on. The establishment of the Power Working Group recognises the importance of joined up policy for delivering on key elements like grid and planning. The impact on society as a whole of the next Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland should not be underestimated and we look forward to a collaborative and ambitious vision.

I enjoyed the IWEA and Renewable NI’s joint all-island conference on 26 and 27 November 2020, where we heard from speakers who are driving innovation in achieving the UK’s net zero requirement and turning these ambitions into a reality.

Neasa Quigley T: +44 (0) 28 9034 8918 E: neasa.quigley@carsonmcdowell.com W: www.carson-mcdowell.com

The success of the new 70-80 per cent target will depend on a number of factors, the key one being the introduction of an appropriate new support scheme as early as possible.

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renewable energy magazine

Putting solar PV in the mix Incentivising the microgeneration of energy through solar PV could be the key to diversifying Ireland’s energy mix.

The potential future role of solar energy in Ireland’s move to be carbon neutral in 2050 was indicated by the volume of solar projects successful in Ireland’s first RESS-1 project. However, probably more indicative of the future role of solar PV is that five of the seven landmark community projects to be successful in the auction were solar projects.

With Minister Eamon Ryan indicating a desire to see even greater levels of community project success in future auctions, community microgeneration looks set to avail of long-term government support.

“We have exceeded our target for community projects participation. Seven communities are being supported to produce their own power and share in the ownership of Ireland’s energy revolution, while inspiring others to follow. We expect that our next auction will have a higher share of communitybased renewables,” the Minister stated, following the RESS-1 auction.

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A total of 63 solar projects totalling over 1,000 MW (767.3 GWh) were awarded contracts in the RESS-1 auction, marking the first major move of solar farms into Ireland’s renewable energy mix.

The successful solar PV projects range in size from 0.5MW to 119MW with the most common project size of 4MW making up around half of the successful projects.

The potential of solar has been underpinned by dramatic improvements in costs. Between 2010 and 2019, the average cost of a solar panel fell by some 86 per cent, however, despite this, solar plays a minimal role in Ireland’s current energy mix. Solar PV makes up just 0.1 per cent of Ireland’s total renewable electricity, according to SEAI’s 2020 Renewable Energy in Ireland update, compared to other technologies which are considered more immature such as hydro (2.2 per cent) and bioenergy (1.7 per cent). Solar

PV also has a role in heat in Ireland, but again this is minimal. SEAI estimates that 14 ktoe of thermal energy from solar thermal panels was produced in Ireland in 2018, all in the residential sector. This made up just 4 per cent of all renewable heat energy.

Ambitions to develop the solar energy sector in Ireland predate the new Government. Ireland’s 2017 National Mitigation Plan outlined a pathway towards decarbonisation for the first time in the country’s history and highlighted a sharp decline in costs of solar photovoltaic globally, with increased levels of solar and microgeneration technologies offering further contributions to Ireland’s renewable energy portfolio.

The 2019 Climate Action Plan pledged €3.7 million to supporting the installation of solar panels in homes, aiming to further cultivate a commitment to domestic solar power.

Projected support rates (excluding support for electricity exports) for new rooftop solar PV installations 140 120

€/MWh

100 80 60

renewable energy magazine

40 20 0 2017

2023

Large-scale ground mount

2030 Domestic rooftop

Commercial rooftop Source: KPMG

This ambition is set to be underpinned by the country’s first Solar Energy Strategy for rooftop and ground-based photovoltaics, which the government says will “ensure that a greater share of our electricity needs are met through solar power”.

Ireland had an installed solar PV capacity of 29MW in 2018 but it is estimated that 1,500MW is achievable by 2022. The ISEA estimates that 2GW of solar power could create over 7,000 jobs whilst meeting 7 per cent of the country’s electricity demand.

Solar PV’s position as a renewable technology that can be integrated into the built environment makes it an ideal contender for urban-based energy projects. Conversely, the non-intrusive nature of the technology also presents itself as suitable for deployment in large projects in rural areas.

The Government’s decision to kickstart the solar industry will also have been

RESS-1: Offer Quantity Provisionally Successful and Unsuccessful by Eligible Technology 1400

1200 Offer Quantity (MW)

While the recent RESS-1 auction signalled the first government-backed deployment at scale of solar, probably more important is its desire to advance a policy framework to advance solar PV. The Programme for Government included an ambition of “expansion and incentivising of microgeneration including rooftop solar energy” and pledged to conclude its review into the current planning exemptions relating to solar panels.

1000 800 600 400 200 0

Solar Onshore Wind

Offer Quan ty Successful

Offer Quan ty Not Successful

796.3

262.4

479.236

21

Onshore Wind

Solar

“While the recent RESS-1 auction signalled the first government-backed deployment at scale of solar, probably more important is its desire to advance a policy framework to advance solar PV.” shaped by happenings in a more global context. In 2016, the global solar PV market grew by 50 per cent meaning that solar surpassed wind in terms of annual installations for the first time.

Solar PV deployment has also been recognised for its job creation potential.

As Ireland seeks to embark on a green recovery as it emerges from the Covid-

19 pandemic, the fact that a move by the US to double its annual PV installation in 2016 led to one in every 50 new jobs being created in the solar sector is not insignificant.

Likewise, confidence in the technology can be gained through global comparisons. China, the world’s largest 4

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renewable energy magazine

Renewable energy use by source

Renewable energy use by source

2000 (ktoe)

1800 (ktoe)

bioenergy solar

bioenergy solar

hydro wind ambient

hydro wind ambient

Source: SEAI

manufacturer of solar panel technology, has more installed solar energy capacity than any other country in the world, at 130GW.

RESS-1 Provisionally successful solar projects >5MW offer Solar project

Applicant

MW offer

Dennistown Solar

Harmony Solar Dennistown Ltd

26

Roscrea Solar Farm Limited

20

Sunrise Energy Supply Limited

15

jbm Solar Developments Limited

119

Garravagh Solar Farm Limited

10

Dullarbtons Limited

95

Hilltown PV

Bnrgn Hilltown Limited

10

Hortland PV

Bnrgn Hortland Limited

14

Sunrise Energy Supply Limited

10

Macallian Solar

Macallian Solar Limited

9

Millvale North PV

Bnrgn Millvale Ltd

8

Monroe East Solar Farm

Franklink Limited

8

Painestown Hill Solar Designated Activity Company

7.14

Elipsgeen Limited

95

Sunrise Energy Supply Limited

12

Solas Eireann 2 Ltd

15

Sunrise Energy Supply Limited

8

Solas Eireann 6 Ltd

6

Grian Pv Limited

8

Solas Eireann 4 Ltd

12

Doonane Solar Drumroe East Solar Farm Gallanstown Solar Garravagh 1 Solar Park Gillinstown Solar

Kilcummer Upper Solar Farm

Painestown Hill Solar Farm

Rosspile Solar Farm St Johns Sweetfarm Tomnalosset Threecastles Solar Farm Tomfarney North Solar Farm Towerhill Solar Farm Horsepasture Solar Farm Ballyedock Solar Farm

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Of course, Ireland’s ambition to see solar PV’s contribution to the energy mix does face challenges, especially where microgeneration is concerned. In order for Ireland’s transition to be a just one, generators must recognise benefits not only environmentally but also economically. While a greater renewable mix on the electricity system will drive down electricity costs for consumers, a desire to see consumers actively engage with the system, is viewed as another tool to ensure public support for the transition. Being able to connect renewable technology to the grid and sell excess generation will play a big part in the viability of solar PV in domestic settings. However, enhancing the volume of connections and managing a more intermittent supply of energy will also pose a massive technical challenge to EirGrid, the system operator.

Additionally, solar as a technology, like most other renewables will not avoid the challenge of falling fossil fuel prices. The global economic slowdown has seen fossil fuel prices fall dramatically, making the competitiveness of renewables more challenging. However, with most countries looking to the longterm, electricity generation from solar is set to continue. The pace of recovery of the sector will be dependent on the pace of economic recovery and the supporting government policies.

Solar shines bright in 2020

renewable energy magazine

The Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) aims to build on a successful year for the Irish solar industry and maximise its contribution to a clean and resilient economy.

2020 has been a year of immense success and progress for the Irish solar industry. The first auction of the longawaited Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) took place in July.

Close to 800MW across 63 solar projects, including community-owned, were awarded contracts. We expect installation of these projects to begin next year. Delivery timeframes will largely be dictated by grid lead times.

ISEA and its members look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of these projects.

Ireland has now missed 2020 energy targets; however, the next 10 years present a great opportunity for the Irish renewable industry to achieve 2030 targets. Ireland can accelerate progress by taking learnings from other EU nations and their journey towards net zero. Solar holds a unique advantage as it is the fastest deployable renewable technology in the world bar none. It will play a vital role in achieving energy targets and the industry is prepared to make a substantial contribution to them.

2020 has been a tumultuous year with every industry adapting to the conditions brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite some negative impacts, 2020 has been a successful year for the renewable industry. The UK

saw record-breaking solar output in April, meeting almost 30 per cent of the UK’s total demand. In Ireland wind energy produced more electricity than gas for the first time ever in the year’s first quarter. As we look towards a post-Covid environment, the government must invest in a clean economy. A green recovery will provide employment opportunities and make our economy more resilient to climate change.

economy. We will engage with

A diverse and secure energy mix is critical to achieving a clean Irish electricity network. Wind and solar, with their complementary profiles, will be cornerstones to this transition, alongside batteries. RESS-1 results demonstrate that solar is now cost-competitive with onshore wind. The technology is forecasted to continue to reduce in cost while at the same time improving. This means that solar can achieve increasingly competitive pricing in subsequent RESS auctions and deliver superior returns on investment.

school, business, and farm can receive

ISEA is ready to build on the success achieved by the solar industry this year.

Progress will be spearheaded by our new CEO who will be appointed in January 2021. Our work will be focused on representing our members through our engagement with policymakers to maximise the contribution of the solar industry to a clean and resilient

W: www.irishsolarenergy.org

government to secure a roadmap for subsequent auctions and to ensure the design of the second auction delivers the greatest value to the consumer.

The industry also awaits the outline of a microgeneration scheme to incentivise the installation of rooftop and smallscale solar projects across Ireland. With this scheme in place, every home, support for their decarbonisation efforts.

This scheme will also empower the energy citizen to take part in the clean energy revolution already underway across the country.

To learn more about ISEA’s work or enquire about membership, get in touch with our team today.

T: +353 46 977 3434 E: info@irishsolarenergy.org

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Marine Planning Legislation: Bill to be published in the New Year The pre-legislative scrutiny process for the proposed Marine Planning and Development Management Bill commenced at the end of November 2020, at the same time that a revised FAQ document (version 2) was published by the Department. The publication of the Bill itself is not expected until January or February 2021. The FAQ document flags a few key changes to the General Scheme approved by Government in December 2019.

Firstly, the Bill is expected to focus on offshore renewable energy projects, energy interconnectors, cables and pipelines, and subsea telecommunications cables. Other sectors and activities are expected to be incorporated at a later stage.

Secondly, it is anticipated that a more streamlined approach will be taken, with a two-stage as opposed to the threestage process identified in the General Scheme. Prospective developers will apply for a planning interest in the marine area and a draft marine area consent (equivalent, in some ways, to a foreshore lease or foreshore licence).

The prospective developer would then apply for development consent. It is only on the grant of a development consent that a marine area consent would be executed as between the developer and the State. Important details, such as assessment criteria and conditions, are intended to be set out in schedules to the Act. Thirdly, a body with powers to ensure compliance with development and marine area consents must be established, with the power to initiate enforcement action if necessary.

The current goal is that the new MPDM legislation will be enacted by March 2021. This is an ambitious target for new legislation required to deliver complex projects against a backdrop of new planning and environmental judgments delivered by the Irish and European Courts with increasing frequency and complexity. It is hoped that the prelegislative scrutiny and subsequent legislative processes on the Bill will

facilitate engagement by those with specialist engineering, legal, environmental, and commercial knowledge of what is required for a robust consenting regime.

importance of consultation with

The General Scheme anticipated a single development consent application procedure, to avoid unnecessary duplication of decision-making procedures that exists today. This makes great sense in relation to relatively homogenous project types, such as interconnectors, cables, and pipelines.

Offshore renewable energy projects involve very different infrastructural elements in the marine and terrestrial environments, with connection to the grid solutions not always clarified until a late stage in the project development.

The MPDM Bill needs to facilitate both a single application approach and a phased application approach, subject to ensuring holistic over-arching environmental impact and appropriate assessment under EU Directives.

and unambiguous powers. The Courts

The General Scheme anticipated the extension of the consenting area to include the entire Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which extends out to the 200nm limits in certain locations. The scope of the Foreshore Acts currently only covers the area out to the 12nm limit. The legislative scheme needs to facilitate investigation of and applications for suitable areas beyond the 12nm limit, in order to encourage a pipeline of potential projects to meet Ireland’s potential in the medium to longer term.

appropriate development guidelines, de

The General Scheme needs to facilitate a streamlined development consent process which recognises also the

E: awhittaker@philiplee.ie

interested parties, including the environmental NGO sector and the public concerned. The legislation needs to give the decision-maker clear, robust, have increasingly signalled a willingness to engage in detail in the substance of decision-making, highlighting in numerous cases the difficulties that are created when legislation fails to clearly articulate what is required of the decision-maker, the applicant, and the public concerned.

We have a unique opportunity to put in place a marine planning regime which learns from the experience of other countries with more mature sectoral experience and a robust approach to environmental conservation and sustainable development. This is particularly true when considering minimis criteria for non-invasive site investigation, transparency and certainty around fees, and for ensuring that National Parks and Wildlife Service as well as the decision-making bodies are suitably resourced at appropriate levels.

For more information in relation to this article please contact Alice Whittaker: T: + 353 1 237 3700 W: www.philiplee.ie

Offshore Grid Development: Who will lead the way?

Offshore wind will play a crucial role in Ireland meeting its climate targets and reaching 70 per cent renewable electricity by 2030. There are currently several challenges to be tackled to ensure the timely development of Irish offshore wind projects, one such challenge being the establishment of a policy framework for the delivery of offshore grid in line with the National Marine Planning Framework, writes Partner and Head of Energy, SiobhĂĄn McCabe.

To assist in determining the suitable grid delivery model to be adopted to facilitate the build-out of offshore wind in Ireland, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (DCCAE) published a Consultation to Inform a Grid Development Policy for Offshore Wind in Ireland in June 2020.

The consultation paper, and the accompanying report prepared by Navigant, outlined four example grid delivery models, spanning from a fully developer-led (centralised) model to a fully plan-led (decentralised) model.

connection points. The developer remains responsible for site selection and pre-development, and the consenting and construction of the offshore wind farm and transmission assets.

These models drew on grid development approaches adopted in other jurisdictions but were tailored to the Irish context. The ultimate grid delivery model selected in Ireland may not necessarily be one of these models, but rather may comprise of elements of these models.

In the third model, the developer wins an auction for a pre-developed site and is then responsible for the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of both the wind farm and the offshore transmission assets.

Under the first option, the fully developer-led grid delivery model which is applied in Britain, the developer is responsible for the prerequisites to the development: consents, site selection and pre-development of the wind farm site, and upon the project’s success in the auction, the construction of the wind farm and the offshore wind farm transmission assets. Any onshore grid reinforcements are undertaken by EirGrid and ESB Networks in a reactive manner to the auction results.

The second option considers an approach whereby the State defines the minimum distance to shore for the wind farm. EirGrid proactively plans and coordinates the onshore grid reinforcements and for each RESS auction, identifies the locations, capacities and timelines for the onshore

The last two options shift responsibilities from the developer to a state body such as, or in conjunction with, EirGrid or ESB Networks. A single state body for offshore renewable energy (ORE) developments will manage the planning and the site pre-development processes.

questions in relation to the options and the seven key drivers identified as impacting on the choice of model. These drivers were not weighted but many in the industry believe that the most important driver is facilitating the timely development of offshore wind capacity to achieve the 2030 targets. They argue that this will only be possible if a developer-led model is adopted, being more compatible with existing legislative and policy framework.

Others believe that in the long-term, the plan-led model will facilitate more onshore-offshore transmission coordination with the potential result of less infrastructure being required. These

The fourth model adopts a fully plan-led approach, an approach which has been adopted in the Netherlands, with more responsibility being placed on EirGrid and ESB Networks. In addition to site pre-development, the construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of the offshore wind transmission assets are centrally planned by EirGrid and ESB Networks. Unlike the other three options where the offshore wind transmission assets are owned and operated by the developer who manages and bears the risk of outages, under this option, the developer bears the responsibility and risk of outage for a defined period, although the transmission assets are owned by ESB Networks and are operated by EirGrid.

The consultation paper summarised the analysis previously carried out on the advantages and disadvantages of each model and sought responses to specific

responses will hopefully assist and inform the Government in its selection of a robust offshore grid development policy which will ultimately contribute to Ireland becoming a powerhouse for offshore wind farm development.

For more information in relation to this article please contact SiobhĂĄn McCabe: T: + 353 1 237 3700 E: smccabe@philiplee.ie W: www.philiplee.ie

Offshore wind viability renewable energy magazine

The MaREI Centre’s Fiona Devoy McAuliffe outlines the findings of an industry-led analysis of offshore wind development in the context of the Government commitment to 5GW by 2030. reduction solutions, providing an advanced approach to planning future development sites.

The EirWind project sought to provide a roadmap for the sustainability development of Ireland’s marine resources, using offshore wind as the catalyst for innovation and impact, explains McAuliffe, who sets out that the work reviewed current opportunities and challenges to deploying offshore wind with consideration to policy, supply-chain and technology and logistical issues.

Additionally, the research identified cost-

Case study

42

Setting the context for offshore wind farm development, McAuliffe says: “The future development for offshore wind is dependent on the prevailing water depth and seabed conditions on our east, south and west coasts.”

The types of technologies required for Ireland’s east and south coast are fairly mature, explains the academic, pointing to the likes of monopiles and jackets, but deeper waters in the south and west coasts will require floating technology

innovation. These technologies, while not as mature as those fixed solutions, are rapidly progressing for example, the Hywind spar buoy and WindFloat steel semisubmersible.

Taking three theoretical, but representative, sites to assess their respective potential and identify cost reductions, McAuliffe outlines that the project ran modelling that incorporated installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of a wind farm over an hourly time series of Metocean data.

The three base cases that were established were:

Farm capacity

Wind turbine

Water depth

Substructure

1. East coast

492MW

12MW

40m

XL monopile

2. South coast

996MW

12MW

80m

Semi-submersible platform

3. West coast

994MW

14MW

120m

Semi-submersible platform

Using the base cases to determine the various production costs while modelling the delays in current movement in differing weather conditions, the project team could establish key financial indicators including the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE).

The results were:

vehicle to turbine, something that will often be constricted by weather conditions.

“Based on our feedback from industry we pushed the wave height out from 1.8 metres to 2 metres. We also looked at improving the technology reliability, reducing the number of failures that

Start

Discount rate

LCoE estimate

1. East coast

2025

5%

€65/MWh

2. South coast

2035

6.5%

€74/MWh

3. West coast

2035

6.5%

€108/MWh

renewable energy magazine

Case study

as a large number of cheaper vessels were ultimately required to achieve the same operations, resulting in the same or higher vessel costs. Additionally, it was recognised that jackets did not provide savings at 40 metre depth but could in deeper waters where increased steel for monopiles outweighs the simple and cost-effective fabrication process.

The application of larger service operations vessels (SOVs), in place of a crew transfer vessels for operation and maintenance allowed for increased accessibility of around 3 to 4 metre wave height. However, the additional gains from increased accessibility did not offset the increased vessel cost, largely due to the benign conditions on the east coast.

“Floating wind on the south coast shows considerable potential but requires cost reductions to make this site cost competitive or to reach industry targets.”

East coast Taking each base case individually and attempting to apply optimisations, McAuliffe outlines that the LCoE for the east coast fell within expectations and that fixed offshore wind was clearly the most cost effective of the three scenarios, pointing out that fixed sites on the east coast have already been prioritised for offshore wind development.

Following consultation with their industry partners, the MaREI Centre’s team sought to identify where optimisations could happen in the near future, as well as further down the line.

Explaining, McAuliffe says: “What they wanted to look most closely at was different installation strategies that would reduce the use of heavy lift vessels, which are expensive and in quite short supply. With the growing turbine size requiring larger vessels, there are also logistical issues with these vessels coming into Irish ports.”

The research also looked at vessel capabilities and accessibility to farms, recognising that the most sensitive operation of an offshore wind farm was the transferring of technicians from

would occur and alternative substructures. In this case, we examined a jacket because, although it has a more complex fabrication process than monopiles, it reduces the amount of expensive steel used for deeper waters,” says McAuliffe.

The result was that the research returned an optimised scenario of €0.058/kWh, a 10 per cent LCoE reduction, which is achievable by 2025 if a clear consenting process is in place.

“Assuming that we’re looking at a wholesale electricity price of about €50/MWh, the site is close to subsidy free and further optimisations could bring it close to the record low UK Contracts For Difference (CFD) bid price of €45.65/MWh for projects starting 2024/2025,” she adds.

The academic explains that the key savings came in the form of increasing CTV crew transfer restrictions to 2 metres and improving turbine reliability to reduce the need for onsite maintenance and associated costs, while increasing turbine availability and production.

No significant impact was realised with the move away from heavy lift vehicles,

South and west coasts Turning to the floating scenarios on the south coast, the modelling found that while the LCoE of €74/MWh was in line with expectations, it is still significantly above the ambitious industry targets of €40-60/MWh by 2030.

“Floating wind on the south coast shows considerable potential but requires cost reductions to make this site cost competitive or to reach industry targets,” states McAuliffe.

However, a similar outlook is not evident for the west coast site, which the research identifies as “extremely challenging” for offshore wind development due to the harsh metocean conditions in the Atlantic Ocean.

Unsurprisingly, the cost analysis estimated the south coast site as significantly more expensive that the other two sites at €108/MWh, meaning considerable savings would be required.

Offering a context for how challenging this might be, McAuliffe points to additional research, which shows year round accessibility of only around 40–50 per cent at a 2.5 metre wave height.

Like on the east coast, the research

4 43

Farm capacity

Wind turbine

East coast

492MW

South coast

West coast

renewable energy magazine

Case study

Substructure

Start

Discount rate

LCoE estimate

Savings

12MW

XL monopile

2025

5%

€0.058/kWh

-9.7%

996MW

12MW

Semi-submersible platform

2035

6.5%

€0.070/kWh

-4.7%

994MW

14MW

Semi-submersible platform

2035

6.5%

€0.084/kWh

-22%

applied optimisations to the south and west coast sites including improving technology reliability, improved vessel capabilities and accessibility, alternative substructure technology and factored in expected improvements in installation and operations and maintenance procedures based on increased experience in this field.

The results are shown in the table above.

Key savings on the south and west coasts were identified again through the increasing of CTV crew transfer restrictions from a significant wave heights of 1.8 to 2 metres on the south coast and improving turbine reliability to reduce the need for onsite maintenance and associated costs, while increasing turbine availability and production.

McAuliffe also points to additional potential future savings from using an SOV with accessibility up to 4 metres on the west coast and a reduction in platform costs through improved design to reduce size while maintaining stability and material changes, for example.

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Setting out the findings. McAuliffe says that in the near-term, fixed offshore wind in the Irish Sea is the most cost-effective and so, given the industry focus on this area, 2025 deployment should be expected. However, to facilitate this, the industry still require, a clear consenting process but also optimisation to achieve the lowest cost of energy, port investment, creating a pipeline of projects to encourage investors and an increase in the Irish share of the supply chain to not only reduce costs and risks but also aid job creation.

“However, needed to facilitate this is the ramping up of smaller projects in the interim period. Again, a lot of that will have dependency on the consenting process. There is a need to start that ramping up now if we are to get to a 1GW wind farm later in order to increase the supply chain and our local expertise.

Also, smaller interim projects will allow the industry to converge on which technologies are the most cost-effective, as well as logistically practical when considering weather conditions and in order to optimise our operations and costs to get the lowest LCoE possible.”

For the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, floating offshore wind projects are most suitable. McAuliffe states that while both have considerable resource potential, challenges remain, particularly around access on the west coast.

Fiona Devoy McAuliffe is a research fellowbased in the MaREI Centre, University College Cork. Her primary expertise is in financial assessment and optimisation of offshore renewable energy research projects and she has contributed to various European and Irish projects including MARINA platform; LEANWIND; OPERA and EirWind. The EirWind project was funded by 10 industry partners, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) under Grant No 12/RC/2302, and University College Cork, Ireland.

“Further cost reductions are required but there are a number of potential areas for this. Additionally, technology in this area is advancing very quickly and so we would expect floating wind projects up to 1GW being possible and commercially viable by 2035.

renewable energy magazine

Infrastructure: Enabling transport decarbonisation Lisa Ryan and Sarah La Monaca of the UCD Energy Institute discuss whether Ireland has enough EV chargering infrastructure to address ‘range anxiety’, a recognised barrier to EV adoption. mobility can also help to alleviate urban air quality hazards, which are increasingly driving state and local policy action (BNEF, 2018).

Lisa Ryan.

Decarbonisation of transportation is a critical component of governments’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of climate mitigation goals. Electrification of vehicle fleets, particularly in countries with ambitions to increase shares of renewable electricity supply, such as Ireland, represents a key pathway toward low-carbon mobility. Electric

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Policies aligned with these environmental objectives, as well as rapidly dropping technology costs, have led national governments and automakers to make considerable commitments to future electric vehicle (EV) deployment in recent years. Uptake has increased around the world: according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global EV Outlook for 2019, there were more than 7.2 million electric vehicles worldwide in 2019, increasing by 2.1 million on the previous

year. Based on existing commitments and announced new targets, the IEA forecasts continued growth in EV market share, with a global stock of total exceeding 130 million by 2030 (IEA, 2019).

While predictions for future EV adoption point to ambitious growth, a successful transition will need to be supported by robust vehicle charging infrastructure.

EV ownership requires that drivers have access to both public and home charging infrastructure so that they can feel confident in transitioning to EV ownership without fear that their driving behaviour will be curtailed due to refuelling limitations.

8

Other PHEV

7

Other BEV

6

US PHEV

5

US BEV

4

Europe PHEV

3

Europe BEV

2

China PHEV

1 0

renewable energy magazine

Electric car stock (millions)

Electric car stock

China BEV 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

World BEV

Source: IEA 2020

Some studies, such as Sierzchula et al (2014), show that countries with higher per capita public charging infrastructure are more likely to have higher shares of EVs in the national passenger car market. They show that adding an extra charging station per 100,000 residents resulted in approximately double the EV market share compared with providing an additional $1,000 in consumer financial incentives.

revised to 50,000 EVs due to slow uptake (DCCAE, 2017a). The 2017 National Development Plan (NDP) renewed Ireland’s future EV deployment ambitions by setting a target of 500,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2030, with supporting charging infrastructure to follow. The 2019 CAP increased the level of ambition again to over 800,000 EVs on the road by 2030 (DCCAE, 2019).

Here we look at the situation regarding EV charging infrastructure and whether sufficient development of charging infrastructure is underway that will reassure and encourage citizens to buy EVs.

In recent years, sales of EVs in Ireland have dramatically increased from approximately 20 vehicles only 10 years ago. This had grown in 2019 to a total of 8,473 battery electric vehicles and an additional 6,305 plug-in hybrids on the road in Ireland (DTTAS, 2020). Data available from the Society of the Irish Motoring Industry shows that 3,613 battery electric passenger cars were newly registered in Ireland in 2020 up to the end of September; plug-in hybrid electric vehicles represented an additional 2,342 passenger cars (SIMI, 2020). These numbers signify an increase of 41 per cent over the same period in 2019, which is quite remarkable given the challenging circumstances in the economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There are now 24 different vehicle models of battery electric vehicles and 36 plug-in hybrid models available in the Irish market (SIMI, 2020). So, while the numbers of EVs are growing significantly, huge effort is needed to reach the target of 840,000 EVs by 2030, this represents an average

Ireland Successive carbon mitigation plans from Irish governments have identified the electrification of transport, and specifically EVs, as a key measure to reduce carbon emissions. Most recently, the 2019 Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Ireland proposes several actions to support deployment of electric vehicles, including maintenance and review of existing grant programmes and investment in infrastructure and behavioural change interventions.

In 2009, Ireland set a national target of transitioning approximately 10 per cent of its passenger and light commercial vehicle stock to electric vehicles by 2020, a figure which was subsequently

annual growth rate of nearly 50 per cent over the 10 years to come.

Current incentives aimed at stimulating demand for EVs take the form of cash grants to defray purchase costs, and favourable treatment on vehicle registration and road tax which improves long-term ownership costs. Consumers who purchase an EV in Ireland have been eligible for a grant of up to €5,000 since 2011; by the end of 2019, just over 17,000 vehicles had been supported by the grant (SEAI, 2020).

Budget 2021 The 2021 Budget package extended some existing supports, including the Vehicle Road Tax Relief and upfront purchase grant (worth up to €5,000 each), and a €600 grant to support the installation of a home charger.

Businesses can receive a grant of up to €3,800 for electric commercial vehicles and many EVs and charging equipment are eligible for accelerated capital allowances for depreciating vehicle purchases (DCCAE, 2020). It remains to be seen whether the array of available incentives will be sufficient to achieve the huge growth in sales required.

A key factor in EV decision-making among consumers is the availability of charging options, both public and private charging stations. Quantifying prospective future EV uptake also provides some indication of what will be

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required from EV charging infrastructure under different adoption scenarios. The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive (AFID) recommends that member states ensure one publicly available charger for every 10 electric vehicles. By way of comparison, Norway had approximately 9,000 public charging stations for 176,000 electric vehicles in 2017, for a ratio of approximately one charger for every 19.5 vehicles (IEA, 2018b). In fact, historically Ireland had a ratio of 1:5 of public chargers to EVs, although this was partly due to the very low number of EVs in the vehicle fleet.

To comply with the AFID recommendation, Ireland would need 84,000 public chargers for 840,000 EVs on the road.

In practice, the Department of Transport stated in its 2017 Alternative Fuels Framework that the 1:10 ratio of chargers laid out in the AFID would likely never be necessary to support widescale EV deployment in Ireland.

Furthermore, as higher capacity fast charging technology becomes the norm, public chargers will likely be able to adequately service a higher number of EVs, meaning charger ratios could be lower. In any case, it is important that Ireland set specific targets for charger buildouts which are aligned with overall EV deployment. These targets can be modified and refined as best practices for charging location, speed, and mode become better developed.

Charging network Until 2017, the primary programme for installation of EV charging stations in Ireland was the ESB Networks’ electric vehicle pilot programme. Under the initiative, the Irish DSO, ESB Networks, was directed to spend €25 million from ratepayer network user fees to build a public charging network and deliver value through research and grid impact assessments (CRU, 2017). Execution of the programme was managed by a separate commercial entity within the ESB Group, ESB eCars. Under this programme ESB eCars installed approximately 1,100 public charging stations in Ireland, including 300 in Northern Ireland. The majority of the public charging stations are rated at 22 kW. The programme also supported 70 fast chargers in Ireland, as well as an additional 15 fast chargers in Northern Ireland (ESB, 2017b). In 2019, the Government that €20 million would be invested in fast chargers, co-funded by the Climate Action Fund and ESBN. Few private charging companies

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operated in Ireland in the past and while this is starting to grow, it is difficult to estimate the number of privately owned and operated charging stations and whether they represent a comprehensive network. The dearth of commercial providers is likely not helped by the small size of the Irish market and its low EV penetration, which limit appeal to potential market entrants.

The potential for home charging may be very high in Ireland, given the various housing characteristics at large.

Proximity to parking options is not currently reported under the Irish census, however the National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport notes that rates of private home ownership and private parking access in Ireland are higher than other European countries, reducing the need for public charging infrastructure. In fact, this does not reflect localised conditions. Indeed, in 2016 apartments represented the most common housing type in Dublin for the first time, with 204,145 people or 35 per cent of residents living in multi-unit dwellings (CSO, 2017a). In advance of potential EU requirements for EV charging in apartment buildings, Ireland is also considering introducing guidelines that require developers to ensure new apartment buildings are EVready, as in the city of Westminster in London, which has implemented a requirement that all new builds and retrofits must be socket-ready to

accommodate EV uptake (ICF, 2016).

In most of Ireland, people live in houses and outside urban areas the vast majority have driveways and are suitable for individual home charging facilities.

For the purpose of assessing public charging infrastructure needs in Ireland, a 2016 analysis of recorded charging events at existing charging stations found that Irish EV users charged at home with the highest frequency, compared with public standard and fastcharging options (Morrisey et al, 2016).

Range and driving distances Other geographic and demographic characteristics of Irish residents would seem to suggest suitable conditions for deployment of an efficient EV charging network. According the Central Statistics Office (CSO, 2017b), the average Irish commute is under 15km, with Dublin city (including south Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown), Cork city, and Galway city commuters living within 10km of their workplace. These CSO data for the cities represent over one half of workers who commute by car and more than one third of total Irish commuters. Residents in Laois experience the longest commuting distances, at just over 25km. As a point of comparison, this is similar to the average urban commute in New Zealand (22km), where the Government has determined typical commuting distance

Public perception Despite the high number of residents with relatively short commutes, a substantial proportion of Irish drivers feel unprepared to own an EV due to a perceived lack of availability of charging: a 2017 AA Car Insurance survey found that approximately 30 per cent of respondents would be “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to purchase an electric vehicle for their next car, however, 54 per cent of those unlikely to purchase an electric vehicle attributed their hesitation to a lack of charging infrastructure (Aldworth, 2017). Future policy should accommodate the considerable variation in charging needs for urban drivers compared with rural ones. For example, a 2016 simulation of localities across the US found that available, affordable BEV technology was suitable to replace 87 per cent of vehicle-days (i.e. driving needs on a given day) without recharging. However, the vehicle-days for which BEVs fell short occurred more commonly for residents of urban areas (Needell et al, 2016). Similar determinations of range and charging requirements should be explored in Ireland.

Given the relatively high ratio of chargers available for EVs in Ireland, it seems that at least some of the concern over charging access could be alleviated by awareness or marketing campaigns.

As the first iteration of Ireland’s charging network was executed on the basis of ensuring nation-wide infrastructure, the next wave of installation should be better aligned with observed and likely driver profiles and network utilisation data to ensure assets are strategically sited.

This may include fast-charging along major intercity corridors, as well as onstreet residential charging in denselypopulated cities and towns, multi-modal

Key points from UCD Energy Institute’s ‘The State of Play in Electric Vehicle Charging Services: Global Trends with Insight for Ireland’ report •

Ireland’s EV charging infrastructure has primarily been developed by a single semi-state network operator. Few additional actors have participated in this space or are active in the Irish market at all, and as a result, the competitive marketplace for charging services is underdeveloped. Future policy design should note that companies offering charging in Ireland will incur some cost for new market entry.

•

Despite a strong early start to national charging infrastructure deployment, the future of charging development is unclear as public charging incentives are still under development and commercial charging remains is only slowly becoming competitive.

•

Additional investment in and expansion of public charging networks is necessary and is essential to ensuring user confidence in a high-EV future.

•

The average commute for Irish drivers (less than 15 km one way) indicates that most Irish drivers’ daily needs are well within the current vehicle range.

However, despite short commuting distances, a majority of people surveyed indicated that their concern over lack of charging infrastructure is a barrier to purchasing an EV.

•

Given Ireland’s high ratio of chargers to EVs (approximately 1:5 in Ireland compared to 1:19.5 in market leader Norway), concerns over charging access may be due to a lack of awareness about the existing network. Improved marketing and standardised road signage could direct drivers to existing chargers, or make prospective EV drivers more secure in the availability of charging resources.

locations (e.g. at commuter rail stations), and car parks and retail. Specific analysis is required: Morrisey et al (2016) note that fast charging in Irish car parks received higher daily utilisation than other location and mode combinations (e.g. Level 2 charging in car parks and petrol stations, and fastcharging in car parks).

With respect to support or scepticism on behalf of the public, the IEA (2017) notes that air quality issues are a prominent issue for cities interested in EV uptake.

According to the EPA data, as reported

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as a factor that renders it well-placed for EV uptake (Ministry of Transport, 2017).

Ultimately, these indicators point to a relatively high number of private car commuters in Ireland whose daily round trip car travel is well within the bounds of a typical EV battery range. Indeed, new EV models have a range of at least 400km although this degrades to approximately half this after a few years.

This makes infrequent long-distance trips more difficult, as they require refuelling mid-journey. While more data is needed to better understand driver behaviour and attitudes, these longer trips appear to be more salient to prospective EV buyers compared to their typical daily driving distance.

by the World Health Organisation (WHO), urban areas in Ireland that fail to meet safe levels of particulates include Galway, Dublin, Longford town, Armagh, Bray, Belfast, and Derry. The EPA notes that this is due to use of coal and peat for home heating, and to vehicle traffic (WHO, 2016; EPA, 2016). Providing support for local authorities in areas particularly affected by vehicle emissions could prove important in facilitating the rollout of EVs and corresponding infrastructure.

Dr Lisa Ryan is a lecturer in energy economics in the UCD School of Economics. She is an active member of the UCD Energy Institute where she co-leads the interdisciplinary EMPowER project relating to the decarbonisation of electricity and consumer technologies in climate change mitigation policy.

Sarah La Monaca is a former Senior Research Fellow, Energy Economics and Policy UCD Energy Institute and Senior Associate, Global Climate Finance at Rocky Mountain Institute.

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Our Zero e-Mission Future

Energy Ireland brought together Dr Paul Deane and Laura Mehigan from MaREI and Dara Lynott CEO of the Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI) to discuss the findings of a ground breaking study that examines what the electricity system will look like in 2030.

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government sets out the ambition of producing 70 per cent of the electricity system from renewable sources by 2030. Northern Ireland has a similar ambition of achieving at least 70 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by that date.

Dara Lynott puts the study in context: “The electricity sector is committed to a decarbonised future and supports the Government’s ambition for a carbon neutral economy. To achieve the most cost efficient transformation to a decarbonised electricity sector we need a clear idea of what the power system will look like in 2030. We approached MaREI to undertake such a study, using existing European and government policy as a framework and to take into consideration the constraints of the power system.”

Lynott highlights two important aspects of the report: “This report is a postcard from the future and sets out the challenge we face of swapping the petrol in our cars and the kerosene in our boilers for plugs. But also to coordinate policy, planning and investment to facilitate the increasing levels of electricity generated renewably.”

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Paul Deane, Research Fellow, and Laura Mehigan, PhD Researcher, from MaREI undertook the study. Deane outlines the approach taken: “We wanted to put a mirror up to the current policy landscape. A lot of the input data for the study came from the Climate Action Plan (CAP) and other policy documents. It was important for the credibility of the study those inputs set the narratives for the study. For example, if we have one million electric vehicles as envisaged in the CAP, what does that mean for decarbonisation? The study really brought those policy numbers down to earth and looked at what they mean for the electricity system.”

2030 power system portfolio To understand the future 2030 all-Island power system, MAREI has developed an extensive Pan-EU power market model covering EU 27, United Kingdom and Norway for the purpose of this study.

The model uses the PLEXOS Integrated Energy Software that is widely used in the power and utilities industry for market price projections asset dispatch modelling, and other purposes.

The model takes key inputs and scenario

assumptions such as hourly demand profile, fuel prices, generation portfolios and hourly wind and solar profiles, and has representations of generator technical parameters and interconnection between countries. The model undertakes a least cost optimisation to produce hourly dispatch for the generators and hourly prices for the markets taking full consideration of the operational constraints (ramp rates, start time, availability etc.).

“We set out to see what the power system looks like when decarbonised and how it can be reliable and secure.

We sought to see what we need to do to meet the commitments in the Paris Climate Agreement and also to keep the lights on,” explains Deane.

When asked, what does the system look like in 2030? Laura Mehigan replies: “It is a system with a lot of batteries and much more demand side involvement. In terms of energy, it is a dual fuel system; intermittent renewables and gas.

“One notable element was the amount of gas-fired generation capacity that will be needed in 2030; a similar amount that is on the system today,” adds Deane.

Core scenarios and narratives

EAI

The study looked at four core scenarios including a 2030 base case.

2030 base: This is the core scenario which assumes the all-Island system meets a 72 per cent renewable electricity ambition. It assumes Northern Ireland hits a 73 per cent RES-E target and the Republic of Ireland meets its 70 per cent RES-E target. In developing renewable portfolios, we add variable renewable capacity such as wind and solar to the system until the level of ambition is reached and then iteratively adjust battery storage capacity to limit the overall level of variable renewable curtailment to approximately 7 per cent.

The values used are indicative only and the exact level of offshore wind, onshore wind, solar and other renewable technology will be determined by competitive auctions and technology development. The renewable portfolios are ‘frozen’ for all scenarios unless specifically stated. All scenarios assume 750MW of demand side response units.

AI system in 2030 base scenarion Batteries

1,100 455

Biomass & Other RES Distillate Oil

272

Hydro & PS

528 198

Other Non RES

3,317

Other Non RES

11,634

Wind 0K

AI Demand 53.7

Lower Electrification: In this scenario, the relationship between the electricity system and wider energy system decarbonisation are explored and in particular a 20 per cent reduction in the uptake of electric vehicles and heat pumps is modelled. The targets set out in the Climate Action Plan are used in the base case. The reduction was chosen at 20 per cent as the objective was to explore if the climate ambitions could be feasibly met. “We chose a slightly less ambitious target in order to stretch the model and to test if the model is giving use meaningful results,” explains Deane.

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5,204

Gas

Lower Flexibility: This scenario explores the importance of flexibility in the system and the study deliberately models a system non-synchronous penetration (SNSP) limit of 75 per cent within a system that is inherently less flexible than the 2030 Base Scenario.

The generation portfolio is the same as the 2030 Base Scenario.

2K

4K

1,000,000 EVs

6K

750,000 ASHP

8K

10K

12K

Smart moveable load 20%

Min Inertia level None

Min no of synchronous generators (Min units) 4

SNSP limit 95%

AI RES Target 72%

No local constraints

VRE curtailment ~7%

Differences between Lower Flexibility Scenario and 2030 Base Scenario

Weather Years Scenario: This scenario undertakes a ‘Dunkelflaute’ analysis (cold and calm snap) which simulates a large number of historic weather years to understand how the electricity system operates in long periods of cold and calm weather.

The model not only modelled the allisland electricity system but looked at the system on a pan-European basis.

“Laura, who has had experience previously working in the EirGrid control room, pushed 250,000 hours of weather

ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

Min inertia level

Min no of synchronous generators (Min units)

SNSP

2030 Base

None

4

95%

Lower Flexibility

17,500 MWs

6

75%

Differences between Lower Electrification Scenario and 2030 Base Scenario 2030 base

1,000,000 EVs

750,000 ASHP

Lower Electrification

800,000 EVs

600,000 ASHP

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“The time to invest in our all-island electricity system is now and is a no-regrets decision that future generations will benefit from.”

Dara Lynott

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inputs through the model. You can see the days when the system becomes really stressed,” says Deane.

Laura Mehigan goes on to explain: “We can have a period with lots of wind from the west. On other days our weather can come from the east, being cold and not much wind. The model showed how flexible the system will have to be in 2030 with these variations in weather demand. That is the big issue. How will the system in 2030 cope with changes in the weather? We could have a two week period of strong winds followed by a cold period with little wind. The system will have to flip and that is where interconnection becomes important.”

The study included the interconnector capacity that looks probable and assumes that the capacity of the existing interconnectors is available in 2030.

Study findings and issues highlighted Both authors emphasise that clear climate policy provides clarity on the pace of emission reductions required and reduces the risk of carbon lock in for new investments. They also point out that a greater effort in decarbonisation today will reduce the burden of effort post 2030 and this report also reviews

options for different technologies that could further assist decarbonisation in the future. While these options all have implicit uncertainty, they share a requirement for significant capital commitment, long lead times for construction, decades-long operational lifetime and a need for investment decisions to be made well in advance of 2030. A dialogue on the future pathways for the power system is required to ensure the correct policy signals are provided to stakeholders that best position the sector to meet our decarbonisation obligations in the longterm.

However, this progress cannot be taken for granted and in particular the study highlights the following key findings: • Achieving a high renewable ambition across the all-Island power system requires the system nonsynchronous penetration (SNSP) level to increase to over 85 per cent, grid constraints removed and continued investment in flexibility and grid infrastructure. Without this, emissions will increase, and a lower ambition will be realised; • Electrification of new loads in heat and transport plays an important role in wider system decarbonisation. To

“This study looks at the drivers and options for guiding us to a low carbon future. The time line of 2030 means that we need to start right now.”

Paul Deane

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maximise the benefit of renewable generation for emissions reduction, the rate of electrification of new loads, particularly in switching from high-carbon fossil fuel, must keep pace. Slower uptake on technologies such as heat pumps and electric vehicles has a net increase on wider energy system emissions; • While wind energy will be the main driver of decarbonisation, the reliable delivery of electricity requires conventional generation to play a necessary role providing energy, system services and flexibility. The required gas fired capacity in 2030 is similar to today, but gas fired generation will operate less [approximately 20 per cent less energy compared to 2019 (or approximately 4 TWh less)]. Options to decarbonize conventional generation beyond 2030 need to be examined now to ensure investment and action in a timely manner; • All-Island power system emissions should not be greater than 6.2 million tonnes in 2030 to be in line with obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement. The modelled all-island 2030 system is just on the outer envelope of this range [approximately 6.3 million tonnes].

Efforts to reduce emissions should be pursued to bring the system in line with expectations and reduce the burden of decarbonisation post 2030; • Significant investment must be made across both the power system and wider energy system to achieve ambitious levels of emissions reduction on the all-island system.

Based on public data, the study estimates an ‘overnight’ cumulative investment of approximately €32 billion for the all-island power system with 90 per cent of costs on physical infrastructure such as wind turbines and grid delivery and 10 per cent on system services to facilitate the operation of the power system with high levels of renewables. This level of investment requires strong and stable policy signals to deliver on climate ambition;

• As policy across the UK, Ireland and Europe shifts from a renewables target focus to an emissions reduction focus there is a need to promote decarbonisation across the full system including supply, grid and demand side measures. Policy coordination in the all-island system and cooperation mechanisms across the UK and Europe will help maximize the benefit of decarbonisation across the full energy system.

EAI

ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

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Sensitivities In addition to the four core scenarios, the study looked at a number of sensitivities: 1) An increase in wind capacity; 2) Removal of Min Units constraint on all-island system; 3) Increased levels of ‘smartness’ (i.e. flexibility) in EV and heating loads; 4) The impact of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant on all-island emissions; and 5) The impact of varying generation portfolios in France and the UK. Mehigan reflects that it was useful to run a number of sensitivities on the base case scenario: “All the sensitivities are very challenging, including the additional wind capacity and the use of CCS [carbon capture and storage]. CCS was included as it features in most European policy documents for 2030.”

it will be this renewable electricity that will be relied upon to fuel the back- up Zero e-Mission generation of the Future.

The time to invest in our all-island electricity system is now and is a noregrets decision that future generations will benefit from”.

This study details what the 2030 allisland power system will look like within the current policy parameters as set out in the Climate Action Plan and energy policy, North and South.

“The system we have today on the island was planned in 2008 with the allisland grid study. That study was incredibly influential in shaping the all-

The study looks at potential pathways to post-2030. It includes the 5GW of additional wind energy to the CAP that is in the Programme for Government. It assumes that this will be able to be dispatched, with much of it exported, and that ‘dispatch down’ will be in single figures. The results show that all-island power system emissions should not be greater than 6.2 Mt in 2030. The report highlights the need for increased interconnection post-2030 and also looks to understand the potential resource available from curtailed renewables for hydrogen production.

Lynott highlights the fact that “ultimately

Mehigan sounds a cautionary note: “Looking to the 2030 market we don’t need investors putting all the eggs in one technology basket. Investment should be spread across a mix of technologies.”

“The model showed how flexible the system will have to be in 2030 with these variations in weather demand.

That is the big issue.”

Post 2030 and pathways to net-zero In the Republic of Ireland, the support of a Net Zero economy by 2050 has been reaffirmed in the Programme for Government published in June 2020. In Northern Ireland, the Department for the Economy began the process of developing a new energy strategy to identify potential pathways to reach a Net Zero 2050 target for the energy sector.

island market we have today. This study looks at the drivers and options for guiding us to a low carbon future. The time line of 2030 means that we need to start right now. The difference with this study compared to the previous study is that we now need to fundamentally change how we operate the grid,” says Deane.

Laura Mehigan

MaREI is the world-leading Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, coordinated by the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) at University College Cork. MaREI has over 200 researchers across 13 partner institutes in Ireland working with 75 industry partners focusing on the energy transition, climate action and the blue economy. MaREI delivers excellent research with societal impact by supporting industry, informing policy and empowering society.

The Electricity Association of Ireland (EAI) believes in a decarbonised future powered by electricity and is the all-island representative body for the electricity industry and gas retail sector. EAI represents the entire value-chain for the sector from electricity generation and distribution through to retail. Its members range in size from single plant operators and independent suppliers to international power utilities and represent over 90 per cent of the market.

EAI

ELECTRICITY ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

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Heat and the city Janette Webb, Co-Director of UK Energy Research Centre and Professor of Sociology of Organisations, Edinburgh University discusses the lack of progress on the decarbonisation of heat in Great Britain and its impact on net zero carbon ambitions.

The UK Government has set a net zero carbon target for 2050 and more ambitiously, the Scottish Government aims to reach the same goal by 2045.

However, as Webb explains “minimal progress” on the decarbonisation of heat raises serious questions around how realistic these ambitions are with major social and political questions yet to be answered.

Webb, whose research has informed both the UK and Scottish Government policy on heat, highlights that Ireland’s position as a laggard on heat in relation to other EU countries is not unique when compared to its neighbouring countries of England, Scotland and Wales.

“Many around these parts are doing much the same and performing rather poorly on that conversion of high

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carbon heat into lower carbon or renewable heating systems,” she states.

“We know this is something that is essential to meeting greenhouse gas targets but it is an area where we are making very little progress and where there aren’t straightforward answers.”

In its 2019 report the UK Committee on Climate Change commented that: “Over 10 years after the Climate Change Act was passed, there is still no serious plan for decarbonising UK heating systems and no large-scale trials have begun for either heat pumps or hydrogen.”

The scale of the challenge has been acknowledged by the UK Government.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) stated in 2018 in relation to the decarbonisation of heat: “Change of this scale and breadth will require a level of

coordination beyond most public policy change programmes.”

However, Webb believes that even this might be an understatement. In 2017, the European Union had a 19.5 per cent of renewable heat share in gross final energy consumption compared to 7.4 per cent for the UK and 5.9 per cent for Scotland.

Webb outlines a “cluttered landscape” in respect to heat policy across Britain including ambitious declarations by local authorities and city regional authorities, although these bodies have few powers and resources at their command to enable them to act “in a concerted and systematic fashion on the climate emergency”.

Part of Webb’s work of late has been trying to establish the role of local and

Trend of renewable heat share on gross final energy consumption 2009-2017

5.9%

Scotland

1% 7.4%

UK

2.3%

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19.2%

European Union

15.2% 0%

5%

10% 2017

15%

20%

25%

2009 Source: Eurostat, BEIS

regional governments in the decarbonisation of heat, recognising that a number of authorities have ambitious plans to be carbon neutral or carbon negative, yet continue to be heavily dependent on burning fossil fuel for heat.

Webb has drawn comparisons between England/UK Government policy and Scottish policy in terms of progressing decarbonisation of heat. Heat policy is devolved in Scotland, but in practice the devolution arrangement is complicated, with some levers such as building regulations being fully devolved, and others such as fuel standards and specifications, and energy market regulation, being fully reserved.

Webb outlines that current policies mainly overlap more than they diverge.

However, in recent years the Scottish Government, while advocating for greater devolution of powers, has been active in developing not just heat policy but system-wide policies, including around local energy planning and zoning for different heat solutions.

However, the elephant in the room in relation to policy for decarbonising heat is the current gas infrastructure. Most of the heat in buildings and for industrial use across Britain comes from the highly developed gas grid that was built under public ownership and then privatised in the 1990s.

“Over a lot of the cluttered policy picture lies that question about what is the future of the gas grid and that is a question that really only can be

answered by the UK Government because it is a reserved matter. Of course, underlying a lot of this is to what extent are we going to decarbonise the current gas grid?”

Addressing costs and how those costs will be shared is not one that ministers are keen to face up to, says Webb.

Turning back to policy comparison, Webb says that in England, the UK Government’s Clean Growth Strategy has tried to use liberalised market competition and market instruments to meet carbon reduction, and climate protection, targets. This includes feed in tariffs and subsidy schemes of various forms, often with limited life spans. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which ends next year and for which no equivalent replacement has been identified, is really the only scheme now supporting the market in renewable heat.

“The idea there was that the solutions would be led by the market. That the Government and the public would allow the market to discover the most cost effective solutions, but really there is still no clarity on the extent to which localised or regionalised market led solutions are emerging and emerging at the pace needed.

“What we have on the English side is a number of initiatives that are running without an obvious future route to a comprehensive solution or framework.

So, we have initiatives such as the five local energy hubs which aim to develop project pipelines attractive to investors

for a more decentralised system, where you could have different decisions about clean heat solutions in different places. The Hubs however work across very large areas and have very limited resources.”

Webb points to a possible exception to market-led thinking in the 2016 announcement by Treasury to invest £320 million in heat network development. This was renamed the Green Heat Networks Fund in the spring 2020 budget. The scheme remains the largest capital sum ever to be considered for heat network investments by the UK Government and applies only to England and Wales.

“Of all of those policies around marketled solutions for the future of heat, there is that one exception where there is recognition that there is scope to address a significant part of the problem through the development of new heat network infrastructure. However, it’s very hard to do that when you have a highly dominant and cost-effective gas industry meeting the majority of heating and hot water demand.”

In Scotland, however, the direction of travel has been towards a more managed market and a more partnership-thinking approach. In Scottish policy, terms such as planning, community and social inclusion are frequently used alongside the likes of market and competition.

“Some of the major issues on the Scottish side, apart from questions around social justice, concern the future

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“In Britain, people are very wedded to their gas heating systems so there has to be in place very clear quality assurance advisory, public standards, security/safety and open access evaluation of some of those bigger demonstrators that are beginning to come around in order to get the societal momentum that we need behind it.” of the oil and gas sector, which remains a massive contributor to the economy and employment, and what might take its place in a just transition. Also though, is the question around how to use less energy, because part of the thinking always has been that these solutions around heat, and I think this is true across the UK, is not to have any waste.”

In Scotland, a push towards a zero waste heat solution saw government identify buildings as a national infrastructure priority. In 2015, the Scottish Government opted to plan in various ways, primarily through cross sector partnerships, to retrofit the entire building stock to a much higher energy performance standard by 2040.

The Energy Efficient Scotland programme saw a series of pilot projects led by local authorities and gave prominence to planning at local and regional scale for a future net zero carbon building stock. The first phase of the scheme called for area-based initiatives to retrofit buildings, while the second phase did this again, but focusing on home owners and on detailed local heat and energy efficiency strategies (LHEES), which have become one of the key policy instruments in Scotland for decarbonising heat and improving the energy performance of building stock.

“It’s been really interesting evaluating those projects to see how difficult it is to organise the societal co-ordination, collaboration and consent around this kind of programme and I don’t think

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we’ve got very far yet,” says Webb.

“However, in that Energy Efficient Scotland programme, which is core to the net zero carbon heat target, is a national policy framework which envisages a more planned solution. This would mean local governments managing area-based advice and delivery services with business and third sector partners, supported by a national system to coordinate specialist legal, technical and procurement services, and funding, and to review progress.”

Webb explains that this localised approach is also being utilised to address the Scottish framework’s goal of resolving fuel poverty and ensuring that any transition does not exacerbate existing vulnerability problems.

A localised heat and energy efficiency solution aims to do this through costed and comprehensive area-based plans for decarbonising heating, including through the likes of zoning areas where district heat would be cost effective and identifying other areas where standalone heat pumps might be best. The ambition is for such schemes, in part, to be self-funded, however, as Webb explains, a viable route from what exists currently to full decarbonisation of heat is not clear.

Outlining a to-do list for the UK and Scottish governments, Webb states: “I think it’s fair to say that right across Britain, a net zero carbon future for heating systems is just about on the policy horizon. There is a mix of ideas and debate on the extent to which markets can solve this without very

significant public intervention and planning.

“I believe there are four interconnected themes from a social science perspective on how to solve that question. The first is the need for a working consensus on ‘what and how’.

We’ve seen in our research the difficulties of getting the necessary cross-sector collaboration and coordination when regulation does not mandate it. Steps have been taken in England, Scotland and Wales to develop a cross-sector collaborative system on a voluntary basis, but where is that working? It’s not working anywhere terribly well, I would suggest.

“Secondly, there is a need for clarity over who owns what problems and of course, the big question of who will pay.

To what extent should infrastructure costs be socialised, given differential rates and forms of benefit in different places?

“Thirdly, some of the key starting points are around building stock renovation and retrofit based on clear policy targets all over Britain, but there has been rather slow progress. There has been progress towards better energy efficiency standards but we don’t have good subsidy schemes in place at present. We have loan schemes, but there is no requirement on most property owners to make use of those loans schemes and we’ve seen a big reduction in public finance for energy efficiency retrofit in England.

“Fourthly, we need to build public trust.

To do this, we need some large-scale whole system demonstrators. We need to be able to view projects in a public setting, with open access evaluation.

Additionally, we need to see how well hydrogen conversion of the gas grid can work and how the costs and benefits would be distributed between different groups.

“In Britain, people are very wedded to their gas heating systems so there has to be in place very clear quality assurance advisory, public standards, security/safety and open access evaluation of some of those bigger demonstrators that are beginning to come around in order to get the societal momentum that we need behind it.”

RenewableNI: Growing ambition With the production of a new Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland underway, the region must be enabled for a new wave of renewables, says

Agnew has recently led the rebrand of RenewableNI (formerly NIRIG) in a move which he believes reflects the group’s growing ambitions.

currently the only part of these islands that doesn’t have a market mechanism to guarantee a price and give confidence to investors.

The growing trade association represents over 40 businesses across the sector and serves as the voice of the renewable electricity industry in Northern Ireland, with ambitions to strengthen their position at the heart of decisionmaking within energy policy.

“Recent analysis suggests that the CFD model in Great Britain will actually result in a net contribution from generator to consumer and Northern Ireland needs that form of price guarantee to de-risk investment in renewable technologies.”

“Our new concise and fresh branding is reflective of these ambitions and brings us closer in line with that of our partner associations, RenewableUK and IWEA. As part of the rebranding activity, we are also updating our website which will host facts and statistics about renewable energy as well as the latest research and reports,” Agnew states.

Agnew believes that the role of RenewableNI has never been more important as Northern Ireland plots its course towards net zero carbon by 2050 through the new Energy Strategy being developed by the Department for the Economy (DfE).

Outlining that it is “essential” that the November 2021 timeframe for the new strategy’s delivery is met, Agnew welcomes a commitment by the DfE Minister Diane Dodds to a not less than 70 per cent renewable electricity target for 2030.

However, Agnew also believes that scope exists for an even greater stretch target of 80 per cent, highlighting the existing success of Northern Ireland surpassing its 40 per cent by 2020 target, with almost half of all electricity now coming from renewables.

Outlining three core issues he believes must be addressed if Northern Ireland is to achieve these ambitions, he says: “We need a market mechanism similar to CFD in Great Britain or RESS in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is

A further enabler highlighted by Agnew is investment in the electricity grid.

Currently Northern Ireland’s electricity system can host 65 per cent of renewables on the system any given time. SONI have outlined ambitions to have 75 per cent by 2021 and 95 per cent by 2030, however, significant investment will be needed to reach these targets.

Agnew adds: “To complement grid investment we need a facilitative planning regime. Currently we’re developing an Energy Strategy that is predicted to incentivise greater renewable penetration but we’ve also got a planning system that is resisting new build out. We need joined-up government across all levels and policy alignment if we are to realise our ambitions.”

Discussing the importance of increased renewable penetration on the electricity system as an enabler of decarbonisation of the whole economy, Agnew states: “The decarbonisation of electricity is a great success story in Northern Ireland but we’re still struggling to turn the curve in relation to heat and transport. It now appears likely that the greatest progress in these areas will be made through electrification in the forms of EVs, heat pumps and hydrogen production through electrolysis. In all scenarios looking forward to 2030, power is going to play an increasingly important part and most analysis suggests that if we are to decarbonise fully by 2050 then we need

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RenewableNI Head Steven Agnew.

to have a net zero power sector by 2040 at the latest.”

Agnew is aware that the energy transition will not be done by the industry alone, stating: “It’s important that the transition to a low carbon economy is a just transition. As an industry we must look at how we can better engage with communities and ensure that not only are there benefits but that those benefits are perceived. Renewables in Northern Ireland generate approximately £2 million a year to local communities and pay around £10 million in rates per year, however, as an industry we need to tell our story better to help bring communities along with us.”

Concluding, Agnew says: “As an organisation we realise that Northern Ireland is on the cusp of the next wave of renewables and this will only increase as we move towards 2030. We anticipate a growth of our membership and resources as a result, ensuring that we can influence the policy agenda and that we are at the heart of decisionmaking when it comes to energy policy.”

Steven Agnew T: +44 (0) 28 9044 6240 E: steven.agnew@RenewableNI.com W: www.renewableni.com

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From brown to green

John Reilly, Head of Powergen Development at Bord na Móna, outlines the company’s transition under its strategy of ‘Brown to Green’. The implementation of the strategy will see the company move from its traditional peat-based activities towards a green low carbon climate solutions company that will play a leadership role in delivering Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions.

Bord na Móna has played a central role in securing Ireland’s energy supply since the founding of the State. As the company winds down its peat operations, it is fast developing a pipeline of renewable energy projects that will not only help secure future energy supplies but will help address Ireland’s climate action ambitions. The 58

pleased with the pricing secured in the competitive auction. Our big challenge as a semi-state company is to become more competitive and our land bank, which allows the development of renewable energy projects at scale, is the key to our competitive advantage,” says Reilly.

strategy, that was drawn up in 2018, will build on the company’s existing 300MW of onshore wind assets which currently produce 10 per cent of the renewable electricity generated in the Irish market.

The semi-state company plans to develop an additional 1GW of renewable energy assets to add to its existing portfolio by 2030 and the primary focus of this investment will be in onshore wind and solar PV As part of this €1.6 billion investment programme the company also intends to add flexible capacity via battery energy storage and peaking capacity.

In addition to participating in future auctions, Bord na Móna is also interested in developing alternative routes to market via corporate power purchase agreements for example, power purchase agreements (PPAs).

“The price discovery in the RESS auction probably puts the PPA model under some pressure for now, but strategically we are very interested in PPAs. We don’t see all of our projects being delivered through RESS or with any form of support. We believe some of our projects will be delivered through other routes such as PPAs or even some form of quasi-merchant basis as wind energy is becoming increasingly competitive from a cost perspective.”

RESS-1 auction

Future development

Bord na Móna was the big winner in the RESS-1 auction with 170MW of capacity in two wind farms, one of which is being developed on a joint venture basis with ESB. “Scale and capacity factors mean that these two projects represent around 25 per cent of the total volume procured in the RESS-1 auction and we were very

Outlining the advantages of Bord na Móna’s existing land bank in developing its onshore wind portfolio, Reilly says: “We have 80,000 hectares of former cutaway peat land much of which is suitable for renewable energy projects.

This land bank affords us a significant strategic advantage, particularly in a

world of competitive auctions where achieving the lowest levelised cost of energy production is paramount. Scale is the key factor as well as cost effective grid connection solutions as connection costs for 100MW of capacity is not significantly different to that for 50MW. The form and nature of our land allows us to develop projects with turbine tip height of over 200m and blade lengths of up to 75m, significantly enhancing energy production levels.”

Complimenting their wind and solar generating capacity, Bord na Móna have a strong interest in battery storage and recently secured grid connection capacity for their first co-located wind farm with battery storage in Derryadd, County Longford, which Reilly explains will provide a blueprint for future deployment on all renewable projects enhancing system flexibility, thereby contributing to the facilitation of intermittent renewables onto the grid.

Electricity market design On flexibility, Reilly explains that Bord na Móna is looking beyond battery storage to peaking capacity. “We already have peaking capacity in our portfolio and are interested in developing more,” he states.

“We also have planning permission to build a CCGT [combined cycle gas turbine] in the midlands. Unfortunately, the current design of the wholesale market is not delivering the investment signal required for this type of capacity.

Any new plant will have a 10-15 year life and it may not be rewarded in a decarbonised world and yet the power system needs such capacity.”

The lack of market reward for future CCGTs is a problem that Reilly sees as a wider pan-European issue: “When you have a commodity in scare supply and the market is not bringing in new entrants there is a problem. The problem arises due to policy at the European level. The latest European energy package recognises that the market design needs to change to facilitate decarbonisation but that will

Operational Bellacorrick Wind Farm (operational 1992) 6.4MW Mountlucas Wind Farm 84MW Bruckana Wind Farm 42MW Drehid Landfill Gas 5.6MW Sliabh Bawn (JV) Wind Farm 64MW Oweninny (JV) Wind Farm Phase I 93MW Edenderry Power Biomass (50MW)

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Bord na Móna is also developing 500MW of solar on a joint venture basis with ESB. The first solar project will be ready to bid into the second RESS auction. Again, the company is only interested in projects at scale and any solar additions to its portfolio will be at utility-scale. The Timahoe North solar farm in Kildare was granted planning permission early in 2020 and the JV company has already secured a grid connection for the 70MW solar project.

Bord na Móna’s renewable energy portfolio

In construction Cloncreen Wind Farm 75MW Oweninny (JV) Wind Farm Phase II 99MW Pre-construction Derryadd Wind Farm 90MW Timahoe Solar Farm (JV) 70MW Planning applications in process Derrinlough Wind Farm 85MW Pre-planning Ballivor Wind Farm (90MW) Oweninny Wind Farm Phase III (80MW) Ballydermott Wind Farm (250MW)

take time and Ireland is facing a potential capacity crunch in the near term with demand rising rapidly so this represents a real challenge for us now.

“We now have a system increasingly dominated by intermittent renewables, that are becoming very cost effective.

Ireland, with its wind resources, has an incredible opportunity to drive electricity prices down to very low levels, where the production of green hydrogen at scale would afford the country an opportunity of energy independence as we move towards Net Zero. However, to do that we need back-up capacity on the system. This capacity needs to be paid for not in MWhs produced but for the back-up reserve it delivers. It brings us back to the original design of the SEM with its capacity market, which would provide an ample investment signal for the provision of flexible reserve. DS3 service payments are necessary but if you do not have longer term contracts, who will build the back up capacity?”

Reilly envisages a capacity crunch emerging as the current market design is leading to closure of old plant but is not delivering the required investment signals for sufficient new flexible capacity, a problem which he believes is

being intensified by demand growth being driven by data centres. “A vibrant tech sector is important to the Irish economy and we need to be in a position to meet the power needs of the data centres.”

Grid investment Grid capacity is the single biggest challenge in meeting the 70 per cent RES-E target and Reilly highlights that CRU and policy makers need to provide EirGrid with the necessary funding for the delivery of the required physical grid infrastructure. “We really need a 2030 grid plan to underpin the move to 70 per cent renewables. We need investment in vital backbone network not just to accommodate the growth in onshore wind and solar but also the vitally important off-shore wind capacity needed to drive the decarbonisation of the electric power system,” he concludes.

Contact information T: +353 4543 9000 W: www.bordnamona.ie

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Can renewable hydrogen be key to unlocking a decarbonised energy system for Ireland?

NUI Galway’s Rory Monaghan outlines some of the potential roles for renewable hydrogen in Ireland’s efforts to decarbonise the energy sector.

Interest in hydrogen has historically come in waves, suggests Monaghan, who has specialised in hydrogen for almost 20 years. The academic, posing the question as to why it has become a hot topic once more, believes that the major changes have been the recognition of the potential of electrolysis, and the growth of costeffective renewable electricity, especially wind and solar.

Offering a brief overview of hydrogen, Monaghan outlines its status as the lightest and most abundant element in the universe. The challenge, however, is that hydrogen, much like electricity, is not easily extracted from nature, and so

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is known as an energy vector or energy carrier, as opposed to an energy source.

The production of renewable hydrogen therefore is more energy intensive than many other forms of renewable fuel, but the payoff is its high energy content per kilo, which is three to four times greater than fossil fuels. “Hydrogen is what took people to the moon both in terms of propulsion and electric generation on board those spacecraft,” explains the academic.

Back on Earth, emphasising that hydrogen and its handling are not new to industry, Monaghan points to the production of 70 million tonnes of hydrogen annually. “The issue is that it

is used almost exclusively within an industrial setting, where it is generated and consumed on the same site, mostly for oil refining and to make ammonia for fertilisers. We do not yet have the integrated supply chains common in the energy system,” he states.

Dedicated hydrogen production consumes around 275 Mtoe of energy and emits 830 MtCO2eq annually. For comparison, Ireland requires 15 Mtoe of energy and emits 61 MtCO2eq per year.

As Monaghan explains, only a tiny fraction of the world’s hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, with the majority coming from the cracking of natural gas via steam methane

reforming (SMR), which releases CO2.

When electrolysis is powered by renewable electricity, we call it green or renewable hydrogen.

Energy system integration facilitates renewable production to use hydrogen as a buffer for supply/demand to increase system resilience, and decarbonise heavy-duty transport, industrial heat, some elements of building heat, and serving as a renewable chemical feedstock. “It is not a question of hydrogen versus electricity or hydrogen versus batteries. They are all required. Many applications are not suited to direct electrification. Hydrogen enables indirect electrification of the hard-to-decarbonise sectors,” says Monaghan.

Mobility and transport Looking specifically at the attributes and short comings of hydrogen use within key sectors, Monaghan points to heavyduty transportation, where hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are starting to emerge as a mainstream technology at the brink of mass production. The benefits of hydrogen versus battery electric in the light duty sector are not completely clear. It is only when we get to heavyduty or long-distance applications that superior energy density and faster refuelling times mark hydrogen as a uniquely viable option.

The obvious disadvantage is what Monaghan describes as a “chicken and egg situation” where supply chains are not being built without demand and also that very few potential users will commit to hydrogen unless there are costeffective supply chain. This leaves delivered costs of hydrogen high in the short term. “We need policy intervention to prime the pump for cost-effective hydrogen roll-out,” says Monaghan,

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Energy system integration and the potential this offers is driving an interest in renewable hydrogen, explains Monaghan. “When we have this variable supply of wind and solar, we get issues of over-capacity and then curtailment,” he explains. “If we had electrolysis set up, we could be producing hydrogen.

But curtailment is just the beginning; it is a small and low-hanging fruit in terms of hydrogen production. Dedicated hydrogen production from wind and solar is likely to have lower production costs and higher volumes.”

“Many applications are not suited to direct electrification. Hydrogen enables indirect electrification of the hard-to-decarbonise sectors.” “the upcoming national hydrogen strategy is going to be key in this regard.”

On rail, the academic points to demonstrations that already exist in the UK, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. “Most railway lines on the European continent are already electrified but for some regional lines it would be prohibitively expensive to electrify them, so the options begin to focus on battery-powered trains or potentially, hydrogen-powered trains,” says Monaghan.

On maritime and aviation, Monaghan says: “These are areas where energy density really come in to focus and there is a need to look more closely at how much energy can be packed into a tonne of fuel. So far, it’s been very difficult to look beyond liquid fuels. The chemical energy bound up in liquid fuel is so dense that it is going to be quite a while before electric fuels can get there.

When we store hydrogen as a liquid or use it as a building block of liquid fuels, we can start to see a route towards

decarbonised planes and ships.”

Heat for buildings and industry In relation to hydrogen use for heat, interest in the potential of natural gas blending has increased in recent years, recognising a major advantage in little requirement to change the current gas infrastructure to accommodate 5 to 20 per cent hydrogen blending. Full changeover of key parts of the European the gas grid to hydrogen “a hydrogen back-bone” has been proposed as part of the European Hydrogen Strategy. While expensive, the gas grid in Ireland is modern and annually moves about twice as much energy as the electricity grid, so this proposition could bolster the country’s ability to move green energy around the island.

Electricity “Hydrogen can provide flexibility for power generation as many modern gas

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Renewable hydrogen developments GenComm The project, of which Monaghan is a part, involves 10 partners across five countries building three renewable hydrogen pilot plants.

The largest of the plants will be in County Antrim, in what will be Ireland’s first green hydrogen supply chain. A 500kW electrolyser will be installed at Energia’s 27MW Long Mountain windfarm. The project will utilise wind

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output in times of low consumer demand to produce hydrogen, which will be trucked to Belfast for use in three fuel cell double-decker buses operated by Translink.

In Scotland, GenComm has the Outer Hebrides Local Energy Hub producing hydrogen on the Isle of Lewis. A waste management facility features an anaerobic digester (AD), combined heat and power plant (CHP), electric boiler and thermal store, a wind turbine and a hydrogen system comprising electrolyser, storage and refuelling station. The

Renewable hydrogen is being tested for its capacity to act as back-up and offgrid power, where hydrogen is essentially used as a battery. “The issue is its low efficiency and its high capital expenditure but there is a robustness and a reliability. With hydrogen there is a lack of self-discharge meaning that we can store energy over long periods of time in a way that we can’t with batteries.”

hydrogen is used to power dual-fuel rubbish trucks, and oxygen fed back

Deployment in Ireland

into a nearby salmon hatchery to improve productivity.

Monaghan outlines: “We have a unique opportunity in Ireland to exploit our enormous onshore and offshore wind resources and hydrogen can help make that happen through large-scale, longterm energy storage, supplementing and supporting the power transmission system with hydrogen pipelines and hydrogen-burning power plants, enabling energy system integration with transport, heating and chemicals.

The final pilot plant is in western Germany. The electricity generated by rooftop solar PV arrays in the city of Saarbrucken will be used to produce hydrogen for a filling station for fuel cell cars.

HyDeploy The three-stage project to inject hydrogen into the gas grid in the UK has entered its first stage with renewable hydrogen, generated from a 500kW electrolyser, being injected for use in the gas grid at Keele University at a volume content of 20 per cent. The direct injection is being used to heat 100 homes and 30 university buildings. Learnings from the impact on the grid of high hydrogen concentrations will be used to inform roll-out of larger injection projects for industry in the north west and north east of England.

North Netherlands Hydrogen Valley The North Netherlands Hydrogen Valley project, which began in January 2020, aims to develop a fully functioning green hydrogen chain on the northern Netherlands and represents a €90 million transition from gas to hydrogen. The region hosts the largest onshore natural gas industry in Europe but a decision was taken to shut it down when tremors induced by gas extraction became more frequent. The HEAVENN project is unique in that it covers and connects the entire hydrogen chain within a geographical region. HEAVENN consists of 31 public and private parties from six European countries. It will demonstrate the use of offshore wind electricity for electrolysis, transmission of pure hydrogen in the gas grid, operation of filling stations for light- and heavy-duty transport and the use of hydrogen in industrial and domestic heating.

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turbines are capable of burning up to 50 per cent hydrogen blends. So, we can use existing power generation infrastructure to support variable renewables but, while the turbines themselves can support that 50 per cent, not all parts of the supply chain along the way necessarily can,” explains Monaghan.

“We can even look further ahead at the opportunities hydrogen presents for renewable energy export. As part of team including hydrogen experts from Dublin City University and HyEnergy Consulting, I am helping to inform thinking on hydrogen within the Northern Ireland Government. As the Irish Government develops and launches its own hydrogen strategy in the near future, it is vital that industry, academia, policymakers and regulators work together to ensure we maximise the potential opportunity. Since hydrogen can potentially facilitate decarbonisation across many sectors of the energy system, a coordinated approach will maximise the benefits and minimise risk.”

Dr Rory Monaghan is the Director of the Energy Systems Engineering Programme at NUI Galway, Energy Research Centre Lead in the NUI Galway Ryan Institute, and a Funded Investigator in MaREI, the SFI Research Centre for Energy Climate and Marine.

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Copenhagen: 100 per cent renewable gas by 2025 The city of Copenhagen has set an ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2025. Executive Director of Denmark’s State of Green, Finn Mortensen, outlines the role of renewable gas in reaching this target.

In order to fully understand the progress which is set to see the level of biogas in Copenhagen’s gas system reach 60 per cent by 2020, Mortensen says that it is important to first understand the scale of the transition in Denmark as a whole.

Mortensen is the Executive Director of State of Green, a public-private partnership, established in 2008 in preparation for Denmark hosting the UN Climate Conference, which combines industry and government and provides an overall narrative for Denmark’s switch from a country totally dependent on fossil fuels in the 1970s to a global examplar of decarbonisation, with a vision to be totally independent of fossil fuels by 2050.

In 2012, Denmark’s renewable share of total energy consumption was 23 per cent and by 2018 this had risen to 33

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per cent. Mortensen explains that the goal is to reach 55 per cent over the next decade to 2030.

Of renewable generation, like Ireland, wind is a dominant source in Denmark, with around 45 per cent of all electricity generation coming from wind annually.

Denmark has recorded several days where production of electricity has been 100 per cent from wind.

Denmark’s ambitious targets have been driven by public demand. In June 2019 a newly elected minority government recognised that on average 70 per cent of Danes prioritised climate change as their major concern pre-election. The result was the Government very quickly setting an ambitious target of a 70 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030.

Mortensen explains that these ambitions were backed up by the establishment of 13 climate partnerships, made up of business, industry and government.

These partnerships are led by top CEOs in their sectors, such as transport and energy, and tasked with delivering solutions for a 70 per cent CO2 reduction within their sectors and to deliver ideas to be used in other sectors.

The partnerships have since developed an extensive set of recommendations aiming to bring down emissions dramatically during the next decade, while also maintaining commercial competitiveness. These recommendations are set to form the basis of a green recovery themed climate action plan expected to be published before the end of 2020.

As Mortensen explains, many, including

the Government, recognise that while the first 65 per cent is “relatively easy” there are few solid solutions to achieving the final 5 per cent reduction required.

Denmark still relies heavily on fossil fuels, in 2018 over 60 per cent of the country’s energy consumption was from fossil fuels. Of the 32.8 per cent renewable contribution, 55 per cent was from biomass, which Mortensen describes as “contentious” and something which the country is actively trying to reduce.

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Currently biogas is not a major player in renewable generation, however, Mortensen outlines an understanding of the much bigger role it has to play in future. Key drivers of production and usage of biogas, Mortensen outlines, are government subsidies, taxes on fossil fuel consumption, fees on waste treatment and the banning of organic waste in landfills, among others.

Turning specifically to Copenhagen’s ambition to be carbon neutral by 2025, a transition that is already well underway, Mortensen points to a 42 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions since 2005.

Over the same time period, Copenhagen’s economy has grown by around 25 per cent.

“Copenhagen is a city with a population of some 600,000 and CO2 emissions of approximately 1.5 million tonnes in 2018. The biggest carbon emitters, like many places, are energy and heat production. In this context, the city administration set out a plan to focus on wind, sun, bioenergy and geothermal as pathways to an 80 per cent reduction goal by 2025,” explains Mortensen.

“The new government has not yet decided which way to go but most are expecting that there will be finance available for biogas in future because people can see the potential of attracting international interest from companies to Denmark.” town gas supply is carbon neutral and HOFOR has outlined expectations for this to increase to 60 per cent by the end of 2020 and be totally green by, if not before, 2025.

expecting that there will be finance available for biogas in future because people can see the potential of attracting international interest from companies to Denmark,” explains Mortensen.

“However, even existing initiatives will leave a gap of 200,000 tonnes and while the city is optimistic about reaching the target, there is a requirement for support from national government.”

The Executive Director highlights a focus on attracting corporate customers, with most of Copenhagen’s restaurants connected to town gas, as well as Denmark’s national hospital.

At the time of WWI, Denmark had close to 120 different gasworks. As these have phased out, today greater Copenhagen, with around 1.2 million residents, is serviced by one utility in the form of HOFOR. HOFOR provides environmentally friendly district heating, district cooling, water supply and town gas to approximatley 300,000 residents in the city of Copenhagen. HOFOR also owns another utility, BIOFOS, which is Denmark’s biggest wastewater treatment plant, converting waste water sludge to biogas for town gas supply.

Even though bioenergy makes up only 4 per cent of Denmark’s total energy consumption, the potential and economic contribution is recognised.

Currently the sector employs around 14,000 full time workers and an estimated 1,400 companies work in the sector. Annual turnover is in the region of €5.2 billion, with the sector contributing €1.5 billion to exports. This figure is expected to grow as the Danish Government plans to introduce national subsidies for bioenergy, including biogas.

Highlighting a concrete example of this.

Mortensen, in conclusion, points to Apple’s decision to locate a large data centre near the city of Viborg, with district heating for the city coming only from renewable energy, including the excess heat from the data centre.

Separately, Apple has invested €3 million to expand Aarhus University’s biogas test and demonstration plant in Foulum, which will provide backup power to Apple’s data centre.

Mortensen estimates that currently above 45 per cent of Copenhagen’s

“The new government has not yet decided which way to go but most are

Like Ireland, Denmark is a popular choice for big technology companies to establish data centres. Mortensen says that there are huge economic benefits from being able to supply these large energy users with renewable energy that doesn’t compromise Denmark’s energy supply of increase their CO2 emissions.

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Realising our decarbonisation ambition

2021 is a defining year for climate action on the island of Ireland and a range of important measures are required to deliver on 2030 commitments, writes Peter Baillie, Managing Director of Energia Renewables.

In 2030, at least 70 per cent of all electricity consumed on the island of Ireland will be from renewable sources.

Achieving this ambitious target enables the decarbonisation of the wider economy, through electrification. Various high-level roadmaps and plans have shown how this can be done and attention must now turn to making it a reality.

The scale of this challenge cannot be underestimated. In 2010 renewable electricity made up less than 15 per cent of electricity consumption on the island.

Since then targets have been very effective in reaching the 40 per cent target by 2020. This decade we must add at least another 30 per cent.

In Northern Ireland the development of a 66

new Energy Strategy in 2021 is crucial to support the further decarbonisation of the economy. A new support scheme for renewable electricity projects is urgently required to build on the significant success already achieved.

In the Irish Government’s All of Government Climate Action Plan, National Energy and Climate Plan, and Programme for Government, a clear vision has been set for a decarbonised future. As was the case for the 2020 targets, Minister Eamon Ryan TD is once again in the position to put in place a successful framework for the delivery of these ambitious targets.

To support the achievement of these plans, Energia will commit €3 billion to renewable energy projects over the next

five years through our Positive Energy Programme. Investments will include onshore and offshore wind, solar, battery storage, anaerobic digestion and green hydrogen. As a leading energy provider and infrastructure investor, across renewables, flexible generation and customer solutions, Energia already delivers 21 per cent of Ireland’s wind power. We’re an integrated energy supplier to over 770,000 homes and businesses across the island of Ireland, and we are Ireland’s greenest supplier.

The Climate Action Plan identifies the need for very significant investment in new renewable capacity in Ireland; at least 3.5GW offshore wind, up to 1.5GW solar and effectively a doubling of onshore wind to 8.2GW. The

Programme for Government increases the offshore wind ambition to 5GW. However, to achieve this level of ambition, there are a number of issues which require urgent attention in 2021.

It is essential that the power system facilitates the ambition of the policy and to this end an urgent review of grid development should be undertaken by EirGrid and SONI in 2021, to ensure a grid development plan that can match the renewable ambition put forward by Government.

Renewable Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (ReCPPAs) are to account for 15 per cent of Ireland’s overall target of 70 per cent renewable electricity in 2030. Current policy and regulatory arrangements do not facilitate the growth of this market and significant progress is required year-on-year if this target is to be achieved. In 2021, a clear framework for the development of the ReCPPA market must be brought forward.

Possibly the most ambitious aspect of the renewable electricity ambition on the island is the development of up to 5GWs of offshore wind in Ireland. This is a nascent sector with projects of an unprecedented scale in terms of both cost and complexity. With a development timeline of approximately 10-years for a typical project, the projects that will contribute to 2030’s targets are already in existence and all are at a relatively early stage in their development.

Energia is making progress preparing planning applications for its two Irish offshore projects up to a combined scale of 1.8GW, in the North Celtic Sea off the coast of Waterford and the South Irish Sea, off the coast of Wexford. These projects are on track to contribute to Ireland’s 2030 targets but need policy decisions urgently to maintain this progress.

There are multiple important milestones in development of an offshore wind project, any of which can be fatal to a project’s prospects of delivery. These include the initial foreshore licence and marine feasibility studies, public consultation, environmental impact assessments, grid connection approvals, an extensive planning applications process and successful participation in a competitive Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction, before any construction begins.

The inclusion of the south coast for

The introduction of the Marine Planning and Development Management (MPDM) legislation in early 2021 is imperative to allow offshore wind projects to enter the planning process. For projects that must apply for a planning interest, a decision to grant must also be made in 2021, if these projects are to remain on-track for delivery by 2030.

applicable to the Relevant Projects, it is

To facilitate the delivery of this ambitious offshore wind target, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) has recently classified Phase 1 and Phase 2 Projects. Recognising that Phase 1 projects (previously the Relevant Projects and Arklow Bank) will not achieve the stated target of at least 3.5GW, a category of Phase 2 projects has been identified. These are projects (previously Enduring Projects) on the east and south coasts that are capable of contributing to the 2030 target.

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The development of the electricity grid across the island has not kept pace with the volume of renewable electricity being connected. Constraints and curtailment result in large volumes of renewable electricity being ‘lost’ due to the system’s inability to accommodate it; in the first half of 2020 this was over 11 per cent and closer to 17 per cent in Northern Ireland. This is not only directly detrimental to the renewable electricity ambition, it increasingly undermines the attractiveness of the island as a place to invest and thus further damages the likelihood of achieving the targets.

Phase 2 projects is an important development that is not only consistent with the Programme for Government, it acts as a mitigant against significant cumulative impact concerns arising from concentrated development on the east coast that could materially delay or prevent a number of these projects from contributing to the 2030 target.

If Phase 2 projects are not to be included in the Transitional Protocol imperative that the focus of policy in 2021 is on facilitating the development of Phase 2 projects in parallel with those in Phase 1. This will require expedited mechanisms through which these projects can progress planning, consenting and grid applications.

Realising the 2030 vision requires urgent action in 2021. The decisions taken this year will define our ambition and provide clarity on how it is to be achieved. Ultimately, 2030 is the first step to 2050 and net-zero economies, and therefore represents a no-regrets policy that benefits future generations.

E: contact@energiagroup.com W: www.energiagroup.com

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renewable energy magazine

Renewable options for Northern Ireland With a new Energy Strategy set to follow the UK Government’s lead on achieving net zero carbon by 2050, big decisions will be required on how to support and progress existing and new forms of renewables in Northern Ireland.

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Although a devolved matter (excluding nuclear power), energy policy in Northern Ireland will be shaped by the commitments already made by both the UK and the Republic of Ireland in relation to decarbonisation targets to 2030 and 2050.

Northern Ireland’s successes in comfortably meeting a 40 per cent target of electricity generation from renewables by 2020 (46.8 per cent from April 2019 to March 2020) is often cited as evidence of its potential to meet the future full decarbonisation of energy but such confidence fails to recognise the scale of the requirements to not only decarbonise the power system but also address the little progress that has been made in relation to transport and heat, as well as the high levels of carbon emissions from agriculture.

UK-wide carbon emissions and renewables take account of Northern Ireland’s policies and developments, despite the devolved nature of the policies. Northern Ireland accounts for roughly 4 per cent of all UK carbon emissions targets. Therefore, policy by the Department for the Economy will have to take account of not only Northern Ireland’s own ambition but also compatibility with UK policy and State Aid Approval, as well as the compatibility with the Single Electricity Market.

Although trying to achieve the same goal as the UK in the same timeframe, it’s recognised that Northern Ireland must tailor its approach to decarbonisation for its own unique challenges, most notably its much

smaller population size, meaning more challenging cost recovery, and its population spread, which has seen a retention of oil heating in homes above other UK regions.

The majority of Northern Ireland’s increased use of renewables has been in relation to electricity, most specifically from onshore wind. The rise in renewable electricity generation from onshore wind was driven by the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO) scheme, which closed to all technologies in 2017. Almost 80 per cent of developments on the scheme were for onshore wind, with the next most popular (around 16 per cent) coming from solar.

Research suggests that while new technologies will be needed to drive decarbonisation to net zero, in the coming decades onshore wind and solar are set to continue to dominate renewables deployment. A number of factors, not least greater levels of public objections to onshore wind projects are expected to see the scaling up of microgeneration solar projects, as the technology cheapens to become competitive in price with onshore wind.

Another factor to be considered is that many of those existing assets, mostly wind turbines, only have a life expectancy of another 10 years and will either need to be replaced or decommissioned.

The impact of the NIRO scheme in terms of renewable generation levels and how it has influenced the diversity of projects will be a key consideration for the policy options in delivering a

renewable energy magazine

future Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland. However, also to be considered will be that the costs of NIRO were spread across all UK customers. It’s unlikely, given the desire to attract private investment into renewable generation for schemes across the UK, that a similar scheme would be on offer.

There is a recognition that the decrease in the costs of renewables has lessened the appetite by policymakers to provide subsidies and instead the aim is to deliver a broader range of routes to investment for new projects.

The decarbonisation agenda will also need to consider deeply the existing energy system in Northern Ireland. In relation to electricity, generation from heat is dominated by gas, which makes up about 46 per cent of energy generated. Coal generation still comprises 13 per cent of installed capacity in Northern Ireland, although SONI have signalled their intention to cease coal-fired generation by 2024.

A recent analysis commissioned by the Department for the Economy by Cornwall Insight, which focussed on the future of renewables in Northern Ireland, recently stated: “Considering the quality of wind resource availability in Northern Ireland, it is widely expected that onshore wind will continue to be the primary source of renewable electricity to 2030 and beyond with falling costs making it increasingly competitive with conventional generation sources, including CCGT plants, which will likely be the lowest cost fossil fuel generation in Northern Ireland in that timeframe.”

However, it’s also recognised that public objections to increased levels of onshore wind infrastructure has caused greater levels of delays in delivery, which will be factored into any investment decision. Although onshore wind is projected to be the cheapest form of generation out to 2030, Northern Ireland’s electricity network is nearing capacity and that further development will require significant levels of capital investment in the distribution and transmission system.

Efficient deployment of greater levels of onshore wind to increase renewable electricity generation will require policy that aligns planning and energy.

The report also focussed on the role of existing and upcoming technologies to inform policy options to be considered for a future energy strategy.

Northern Ireland’s coastline has up until now been deemed largely unsuitable for

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renewable energy magazine

offshore wind, mostly due to the visual and environmental impact it would be deemed to have. While exploration of onshore wind potential will continue, driven by recognised successes in other countries, the five to 10-year timeline associated with development of offshore wind means that it will not play a role in Northern Ireland’s future energy mix for quite some time. Although, research has suggested that up to 300MW of offshore wind may be operational by 2030.

Solar PV has enjoyed significant growth in Northern Ireland from 2MW in 2011 to 246MW in 2018 but capacity factors have contributed to the technology largely being deployed as microgeneration units. Now recognised as a mature technology because of its roll-out on a global scale, cheaper production means that it is likely to form an important part of Northern Ireland’s

future energy mix. However, challenges remain. The microgeneration nature of solar PV technologies in Northern Ireland have been highlighted as causing problems for SONI and NIE Networks in relation to stability. There is also concerns that Northern Ireland’s slow uptake of solar PV technology, in a global context, has created a skills and expertise deficit in relation to installation.

Biomass accounts for less than 5 per cent of renewable electricity in Northern Ireland. Biomass for generation has largely been through combined heat and power (CHP) plants, which means that locations are determined by requirements for process heat. Again, biomass electricity generation is viewed as a mature technology because of wider use elsewhere in the globe.

Biomass is recognised for its potential to supplement or part-decarbonise existing fossil fuel generation.

Advocates for greater levels of biomass in Northern Ireland’s energy mix recognise that in comparison to intermittent sources, such as wind and solar, it has a high load factor, provides carbon-neutral back-up capacity and can support the increase of nonsynchronous penetration on the system.

However, the sustainability of biomass technology remains under scrutiny because of concerns around fuel availability. Given that only 4 per cent of Northern Ireland’s land is under forest, options would need to be explored to increase supply, such as through fast rotation crops.

Large scale anaerobic digestion (AD) is as of yet relatively unexplored in Northern Ireland. There are a number of small-scale sites across Northern Ireland, which are largely farm-based.

However, the number of AD plants are increasing in Northern Ireland, where a

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greater reliance on agriculture than the rest of the UK means greater levels of potential fuel. Biogas can be used for heat and electricity but purification of biogas into biomethane facilitates potential injection into the gas grid or the creation of fuel. To date, Northern Ireland has not established a policy context to outline how AD can be best utilised to meet the future demands.

In the past, landfill gas was seen as a viable option to utilise the levels of landfill in Northern Ireland, and the methane and CO2 it produces, to generate biogas for power. There are 12 such plants in Northern Ireland totalling 16MW, however, given efforts to reduce landfill levels in Northern Ireland and a reduction in the disposal of organic material (down 35 per cent since 1995), the deployment of large-scale landfill gas is highly unlikely.

As battery prices continue to fall, the installation of storage technology is expected to accelerate in the coming years and facilitate greater efficiencies in managing intermittent renewable generation and manage network constraints. However, storage potential does not lie in battery technology alone.

Hydrogen is gaining greater recognition for its storage potential. Currently, the majority of hydrogen in Northern Ireland is being produced from fossil fuel burning. ‘Green’ hydrogen is currently more expensive to produce but estimates suggest that the cost of electrolysis is set to fall by some 70 per cent in the next decade and parity between green and grey hydrogen could be recognised by 2030. If this is the case, then hydrogen and its ability to act as a chemical storage technology could become a much bigger player in Northern Ireland’s energy mix.

Calor’s journey towards a low carbon future renewable energy magazine

The current journey of Calor BioLPG shows momentum and the importance of innovative development. Calor CEO, Duncan Osborne, explains that he wants Calor to lead and not just meet customer needs.

“Calor are committed to being 100 per cent renewable by 2037. That is significantly ahead of EU and Irish targets. We want to help lead this transition. To support the companies and homeowners who want to make a difference, but aren’t sure how to. We know our customers are engaged by sustainability issues; our job is to help lead them to a cleaner energy supply.

With a commitment to being 100 per cent renewable by 2037, Calor is poised to help deliver a cleaner economy across the island, explains CEO, Duncan Osborne.

2020 is the year in which the world was forced to hit the pause button. While the pandemic is not a welcome visitor in our world, it has forced us to reflect on how we live our lives and run our businesses.

We are doing less and consuming less.

Between this, and perhaps a greener tinge to government, the focus on sustainability is greater than ever.

Calor is on a journey towards a cleaner energy future. Since Calor first launched BioLPG in 2018, the company has made strides across various business divisions to incorporate sustainable principles into our products, and there is still more to do.

Innovation is a key part of all product planning and development in Calor.

Looking at new ways of transitioning homes and businesses on the island of Ireland to a low carbon future. Calor has worked hard over the last number of years to introduce renewable and low carbon energy solutions to the

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marketplace. This ensures all environmentally conscious consumers, regardless of their location, have the option to select a cleaner fuel source with Calor.

In 2018, Calor was the first company in Ireland to offer BioLPG. BioLPG is a certified renewable gas which is made from a traceable blend of renewable vegetable oils wastes and residues.

Initially Calor BioLPG was only available to Calor’s bulk domestic and business customers, but in June 2019, the first renewable gas cylinders came to market.

The new renewable gas cylinders are perfect for extending living spaces into gardens with options for patio heaters and barbeques. At a time when we are all urged to spend more time at home, BioLPG cylinders allow customers to enjoy their outdoor living spaces, even into the winter months, and to do so with a cleaner fuel choice.

Building on this success, another innovation which lets our sustainable fuel do all the heavy lifting has come to the market in the form of BioLPG for forklifts.

Providing energy that is kinder to the environment makes sense to us, and BioLPG helps businesses and individuals further reduce carbon emissions in their forklift fleets.

“Switching to BioLPG is easy, that is why it is working so well. For LPG customers it is the same equipment and the same way of doing things. For people switching from oil or other fuels, gas is a well-known fuel that most people are comfortable using. That makes it easier for them to switch.”

Another recent development for Calor in their drive towards delivering more sustainable and lower carbon energy solutions is the supply of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). LNG is natural gas in cryogenic liquid form. Aimed at the very large energy user and transport, it is an ideal energy solution for off-grid industries with a continuous demand for fuel. LNG delivers the benefits of natural gas anywhere in Ireland and gives businesses a lower carbon energy option. Calor have recently completed the third LNG installation in Ireland which is enabling these businesses to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint.

BioLPG and LNG now join Calor’s traditional LPG product, used by over 50,000 bulk customers in Ireland, in offering domestic and industrial customers the chance to lower emissions. With the development of new products in the BioLPG range and the introduction of other lower carbon technologies, Calor is poised to help deliver a cleaner economy across the island.

T: 1850 812 450 W: www.calorgas.ie

renewable energy magazine

Decarbonising Ireland: The energy challenge John FitzGerald, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, argues that the increased ambition to tackle climate change must be matched by implementation of new measures to drive decarbonisation.

Outlining the failure to date to significantly reduce carbon emissions in Ireland, FitzGerald points to a coupling between the levels of national income and carbon dioxide emissions that has existed since the 1960s. The year 2000 marked a period of decoupling in this regard but by 2013 the economic recovery marked a rise in emissions once more.

FitzGerald points to data for 2018 which shows that the total emissions of greenhouse gases remained largely unchanged from 2017, but explains that the absence of a significant rise was largely driven by a 10 per cent reduction in the electricity sector due to reduced hours at Moneypoint power station, which masked significant increases in emissions in the residential, agriculture and transport sectors.

The analysis, says FitzGerald, is that not

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only have behaviours not changed significantly but that Ireland hasn’t even turned the corner in getting emissions to fall.

Outlining that Ireland will fail to meet the 20 per cent reduction of greenhouse gases target for 2020, despite an estimated 7 per cent reduction in emissions driven by the Covid-19 pandemic, FitzGerald points to a gap of between 12.6 to 13.4 Mt CO2eq on the Effort Sharing Decision (ESD) target of 337.9 Mt CO2eq.

“The reductions due to Covid-19 might bring that gap below 10 Mt CO2eq but we will still not meet our target and it’s important to remember that this reduction will be temporary. In this context, it’s important that investment to stimulate economic recovery must be ‘green’,” he states.

The Climate Action Plan 2019, if implemented fully, significantly changes the trajectory on emissions, explains FitzGerald but will still see Ireland fall short of the EU’s annual targets, meaning that Ireland will need to use the flexibilities allowed for on terms of land use. This, the Chair says, is more optimal than the other flexibility allowed for, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which would allow Ireland to buy its way out of any gap to target but would not offer a long-term solution. “If we don’t meet even the current target for 2030 then we certainly won’t meet net zero carbon for 2050,” FitzGerald states.

The challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland comes in the face of increased ambitions both from the EU and within the new Programme for Government (PfG) for 2030.

FitzGerald admits that not all the additional measures in the new PfG have been fully analysed by the Climate Change Advisory Council but welcomes the “step up in ambition”, while also recognising the need for clarity on the new actions envisaged. “Additional action will be essential,” he argues.

Target Mt CO2eq

Projected emissions

Projected Distance to target

Cumulative (2021-2030)

378.3

396.2

-17.9

With land use flexibility (26.8)

405.1

-

8.9

With land use and ETS Flexibility (18.8)

423.9

-

27.7

“The EU is upping their ambition and so we all have to up ours,” he says.

FitzGerald believes that the likelihood that the EU are going to shift a lot of carbon dioxide emissions to the ETS would be helpful for Ireland and would change the policy challenge, however, he admits that how the EU policy will translate remains to be seen.

2021 saw a rise in the carbon tax from €26 to €33.50 per tonne), rising to at least €100 per tonne by 2030.

Setting out that the national position is still to see a reduction of 80 per cent of CO2 by 2050, FitzGerald says that the Climate Change Advisory Council support the proposed objective of the PfG to reach net zero emissions by 2050, but adds: “We need additional policy measures to the Climate Action Plan for a post-2030 world. The current planned policies are not enough to get us to that 2050 target.”

“The lower fuel prices since the Budget 2020 mean that, even with the higher carbon tax, all of our energy is going to be substantially cheaper. The Department has already showed, when producing the Climate Action Plan, that low energy prices lead to much bigger emissions and so we have a much bigger hill to climb because of those low energy prices.”

The Chair says that the first task must be to implement the measures of the Climate Action Plan. At the end of September, the Climate Change Advisory Council published its annual review, within which it cautioned that some of the measures within the Climate Action Plan may not work. “So, already there is a need for additional measures if we are to meet our existing 2030 target and of course, the new ambition will require further measures.

We need to change behaviour in all sectors and not just rely on energy to do all of the work,” he adds.

Carbon tax FitzGerald has long advocated for a steeper rise in the carbon tax, highlighting that behavioural change will not occur until the profitability of change is recognised. The Climate Change Advisory Council recommended a €35 per tonne tax for Budget 2021 (Budget

However, the Chair believes that with the hindsight of the pandemic causing a reduction in fossil fuel prices, the need for a higher carbon tax has never been more pertinent.

Those opposed to the rise in carbon tax often cite the potential impact of those in fuel poverty but FitzGerald believes that a solution lies in using some of the revenue raised through the carbon tax to avoid regressive impacts on lowincome households. The Chair points to research which suggests the use of one third of revenue from a carbon tax to compensate those on low incomes would not only insulate them against the problem but actually render them financially better off.

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The Chairman believes that the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan announced in September, which sets out an ambition of a 55 per cent greenhouse gas emission reduction across the EU by 2030 is a “potential game-changer” in terms of Ireland’s journey.

Projected limits

finally shut down peat-fired generation.

To this end, the Climate Change Advisory Council has suggested the introduction of a carbon price floor to support renewable energy and phase out fossil fuels, however, FitzGerald believes that the new EU proposals may render this step unnecessary. “We need to it to be profitable to shut down coal and peat generation or at least make it costly to keep them open,” he adds.

The Chair recognises the potential in new opportunities, such as offshore wind development, which he says may be important not just for Ireland but for the rest of Europe. However, he believes that investment is needed in necessary infrastructure to support the goals on renewable electricity and the roll out of electrification of transport and heating.

FitzGerald emphasises the need for the initial emphasis to be in non-urban areas, highlighting these as areas where emission savings would be greatest.

“The CRU in their price review need to ensure that the distribution network is upgraded so that you can roll out decarbonisation quicker in rural areas than in urban ones,” he says.

“Using the revenue to protect those on low incomes so that they don’t lose out as a result of an increased carbon tax is essential,” he states.

Other changes will also be required, he explains, pointing to the need for greater level of interconnection, work already underway on green hydrogen and adding, “technological solutions will help us on our way in electricity”.

Electricity

Transport

Turning to the issues which he believes must be addressed by additional measures in key sectors, the Chair says that in terms of electricity, the Government needs to accelerate the closure of coal-fired generation and

Turning to transport, FitzGerald outlines that the sector is 20 per cent of Ireland’s total emissions and this is a figure that is increasing. The Climate Change Advisory Council has voiced concerns that the current target for EV take up is

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Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 to 2018 50

renewable energy magazine

Greenhouse gas emissions (Mt CO 2eq)

48

Emissions Projections

46 44 42 40

Historical Emissions 38 36 34

Effort Sharing Regulation Annual targets 2021 - 2030

32 30 2005

2010

2015

2020

2025

Reported Emissions

Projection "with existing measures"

Projection "with additional measures"

Effort Sharing Regulation targets to 2030

2030

Data sources: EPA (2020) National Emissions Inventory and Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2019–2040.

going to be difficult to achieve and FitzGerald says that given the estimated expense to government, taxation and subsidy will be required and that it’s important that changes to the tax system begin now to encourage people to buy electric cars. Again, the Chair emphasises that priority should be given to those areas of high usage, namely rural areas. “The infrastructure, including the electricity, needs to prioritise where big money will be saved in tackling areas of longer commutes,” he adds.

However, EVs alone will not offer a solution to the emission challenge in transport. “We need action on other forms of transport as well. The Climate Action Plan didn’t really deal with HGVs and LGVs but we need to look at these areas in case we don’t meet our target on EVs.” However, FitzGerald admits that the EV challenge may be aided by the new EU proposals which will likely see the EU’s car industry produce EVs “cheaper and earlier”.

Finally, on transport he calls the better planned development, citing the National Planning Framework as essential to facilitate public transport and active travel modes. “We’re set to

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build around another one million homes between now and 2050 and we must ensure that we put them in the right place where people have access to active travel modes. Investing in public transport is essential and BusConnects is a start but there is a need for further investment. The benefits of investment today will come in reduced emissions after 2030 but if we don’t do it now because it won’t effect our 2030 figure, then we won’t meet the 2050 goal.”

Built environment On the built environment, FitzGerald acknowledges that the major deep retrofit of homes by 2030 is a challenging ambition. Highlighting that the retrofit of around 40,000 homes requires the same level of resources as that to build 5,000-10,000 new dwellings, he recognises that competition will exist between the Government’s ambition to build more homes and the desire to retrofit existing properties.

The Chair suggests that as well as increasing the capability of the building and construction sector, retrofitting efforts should be targeted at areas of most benefit and where the greatest level of emissions can be reduced:

vulnerable households and those homes currently heated by coal, peat or oil.

However: “High rates of retrofit cannot be achieved without unlocking low-cost finance for households and SMEs,” he adds.

Additionally, highlighting work already underway in the Department, FitzGerald points to the benefits of aggregation and the efficient management of this.

“Finding ways to do this efficiently, which makes it easier, will make a significant difference. Making it profitable alone will not suffice, it must be easy,” he states.

Concluding, FitzGerald restates his belief that increased ambition to tackle climate change must be matched by the implementation of new measures to drive decarbonisation. “I want to see the announcement of things happening on the ground,” he stresses.

“Integrating a just transition into climate policy can add depth and assure public support for action. If policies are seen to be unfair then they are going to be very difficult to implement. Ensuring fairness is going to be an important task for policy for the future.”

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Energy storage and the grid Innovative energy storage solutions will play an important role in ensuring the integration of renewable energy sources into the grid in the EU at the lowest cost, according to a new study published by the European Commission.

“An appropriate deployment of energy storage technologies is of primary importance for the transition towards an energy system that heavily relies on variable RES technologies to be a success,” states the independent study funded by the Commission.

Published in March 2020, the study on energy storage estimates that 97GW will be necessary for Europe for 2030, including large development of stationary batteries. The report found that pumped hydro storage is currently the main energy storage in Europe but that new battery projects are rising as prices “plummet”.

Of electrochemical storage projects, Lithium-ion is in the majority but the report cautions that theoretical specifications submitted to grids may be relatively optimistic compared with their use at nominal conditions. Germany leads on

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the number of operational electrochemical facilities but the study notes a number of important projects in Ireland.

or heating sectors, then they could provide flexibility.

In separate scenarios out to 2050, where

The study was based on a need to understand which of the technologies are most likely to have an important role in the future and to detect the potential barriers to their development. Additionally, it proposes an updated regulatory framework and policy actions to allow the relevant flexibility solutions to successfully penetrate the market.

the deep decarbonisation of different

Running a range of scenarios, the study forecast that based on policies already agreed across member states, electrolysers do not appear to be competitive solutions to provide flexibility to the power system. However, it does qualify that if deployment was to materialise in 2030, driven by indirect electrification of end-uses in the industry

facilities, electrolysers will be able to

sectors including industry, transport and heating, around 550GW of electrolysers would be required to satisfy the demand of green hydrogen.

“Combined with the flexibility offered by the end-users’ of hydrogen and e-fuels, or with direct use of hydrogen or gas storage provide important levels of flexibility to the power system,” the study finds. It also outlines that the deployment of EVs using smart charging strategies, combined with short-term thermal storage, will also enable the demand-side to provide daily flexibility to the power system.

Interestingly the report finds that in a deep decarbonisation scenario out to 2050, the requirement for pumped hydro storage and batteries will be lower in 2050 than in 2030 due to competition between various flexibility sources.

However, for the shorter term it says that various policy barriers still hamper the development for energy storage in the EU, leading to uncertainty concerning the revenues streams to cover project costs and risks.

To that end, it suggests that the main responsibility of policymakers is to provide an enabling environment and level playing field “in order to enable storage to participate in energy and ancillary services markets as well as in eventual capacity mechanisms, and to be remunerated in a transparent, nondiscriminatory way”.

“Adequate energy price signals should also guide the investment and operational decisions of private actors,” it adds.

The European Commission, ACER and other EU authorities should prioritise policy measures that address barriers to storage identified in the majority of all member states and that hinder the deployment of several storage technologies and applications, the report recommends. Importantly, however, barriers specific to only a few member states should be addressed at the national level, it adds.

“At the EU level, upcoming revisions of EU instruments relevant for energy storage provide an opportunity to address barriers where EU action would be adequate. Actions under the European Green Deal should also consider storage, where appropriate.”

renewable energy magazine

The report included a range of policy recommendations for energy storage including the addressing of barriers, examples of which are given as public guidance and support, electricity market design and grid aspects. “The most important barrier is the lack of a viable business case for many energy storage projects,” it states, adding “the cost and technical performance of storage technologies gradually improve their viability, which in the long-term will significantly improve the business case, and already has for several technologies.”

Credit: Raine Villa

Clean Energy Package for all Europeans (CEP) A definition of storage is provided in the new Electricity Directive, however, at present most EU member states do not yet have a coherent definition of storage nor have transposed the Directive, and definitions in secondary legislation often are not aligned with the rest of the legal framework. To this end the report recommends that “member states should ensure that storage is coherently defined across the national legal framework”.

The report also recommends the elimination of double charging in the form of grid tariffs during storage charge and discharge, describing them as detrimental.

Member states should develop a policy strategy for storage based on an assessment of the system flexibility, adequacy and stability needs, and of gaps in national regulatory frameworks.

“An appropriate identification of the flexibility needs per country and per timescale is key to assess the possible contribution of storage technologies in the future,” the report states.

The report specifies that specific EU action is to be considered to encourage/develop harmonised standards for device communication and system operation.

“Currently, the digital layer of battery management systems, notably application programming interfaces, is often based on proprietary solutions, and a move to open interfaces would be desirable,” it states, recommending that EU organisations and member states should guarantee the interoperability of flexibility resources and access to data.

Finally, the report highlights that the EU’s Clean Energy Package did not address the issue of energy taxation.

“EU institutions and member states should increase the energy and greenhouse gas reflectiveness of taxation, and eliminate the double taxation of stored energy.

“The upcoming revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) is pivotal, not only for the development of energy storage, but also to foster low-carbon energy technologies in general. The increasing system integration will also require the elimination of diverging taxation levels across energy sectors and carriers, in order to avoid crosssectoral distortions regarding taxation or the internalisation of carbon costs, and to seize the synergies between the electricity, heat and gas sectors.

“Only storage losses should be subject to taxes in order to stimulate highly energy-efficient processes,” the report concludes.

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Transforming the grid renewable energy magazine

3,500MW of offshore wind energy, as published in the Climate Action Plan (CAP) in June 2019. The recent Ireland Programme for Government raised this target to 5000 MW. But it is not as simple as just building a windfarm and bringing the power ashore at the nearest bit of coastline. “There is no point in building offshore windfarms if we are not ready for them on land,” says Foley. “We need to have the onshore network in place to connect to the offshore windfarms and to distribute the power. In the medium to long term, a high level of co-ordination will be required.”

Just over one year ago, EirGrid launched a new five-year strategy to transform the Irish electricity system. The strategy will ensure that renewable energy accounts for 70 per cent of all electricity use in Ireland by 2030, double current levels.

Key to the new strategy is upgrading the power system so that it can handle world-leading levels of renewable energy, supplied through a combination of offshore and onshore wind, along with solar energy.

EirGrid Chief Executive Officer Mark Foley explains: “The strategy is a direct response to the significant but necessary challenges we have been set in the Government’s Climate Action Plan. The need to respond to the climate change crisis is a priority and I believe the resulting benefits will be considerable.”

Achieving this requires the connection of up to 10,000 megawatts (MW) of additional renewable generation by 2030.

Foley adds: “EirGrid Group is responsible for managing the flow of 80

electricity around the island. The coming years will see the most radical transformation of the system since the advent of electricity and will provide people with the clean energy they need.

EirGrid will develop the infrastructure and operational requirements to facilitate this shift.”

EirGrid can operate the grid at any given time with up to 65 per cent of renewable power, including onshore wind and solar.

This is a pioneering engineering achievement. By 2030, this must increase to 95 per cent.

Supporting the development of a vibrant offshore wind sector is a priority for the company and key to achieving the 10,000MW of additional renewable generation.

Ireland has a target to develop at least

The CAP directed EirGrid to develop an options paper on offshore grid models.

EirGrid engaged international consultants, Navigant, to prepare a report to inform this policy framework.

The two main classes of grid delivery in the international context are plan-led and developer-led models, representing both ends of a spectrum of options.

Under a developer-led model, developers prepare the requirements for consents, select and pre-develop wind farm sites and develop and build both offshore wind farm and transmission assets. The latter includes offshore substation, export cables and onshore connection assets. This model is applied in the United Kingdom.

Under a plan-led model, a state body and/or the grid operator is responsible for the complete process of wind farm site selection and pre-development and offshore grid connection development.

This model is applied in the Netherlands.

Foley says: “Four possible grid delivery models for Ireland were assessed by Navigant, ranging from a fully developerled model to a fully plan-led model. The models represent a set of options, each with their advantages and disadvantages, to indicate a spectrum of options for the Irish context.”

Elements of the four models could be combined to form a wide range of additional model options.

•

Option 1: Developer-led model. This fully developer-led model is a variation on the current “onshore” grid delivery model.

Developers are responsible for securing the required consents, financing, construction and operation and maintenance of both wind farm and transmission assets.

Required onshore grid reinforcements are undertaken by EirGrid and ESB Networks.

•

In this way EirGrid can optimise the upgrades of the onshore grid such that the connection capacity to meet the CAP targets is made available in a timely manner. The developer remains responsible for site selection and pre-development, and the consenting and construction of the offshore wind farm transmission assets.

•

Option 3: Plan-led, developer builds. Developers are responsible for offshore wind farm transmission asset construction, ownership, operation and maintenance in this plan-led model.

•

Option 4: Plan-led model. This follows the fully plan-led model, shifting even more responsibilities to EirGrid and ESB Networks compared to option 3. Alongside site pre-development, the construction, ownership, operation and maintenance of the offshore wind transmission assets are now centrally planned by EirGrid and ESB Networks.

The advantages of the developer-led model include compatibility with seven legacy offshore projects deemed “Relevant Projects” by the Government earlier this year. They can be developed quickly and are more likely to be compatible with existing legislative and policy frameworks. This model also leverages developer experience in the delivery of offshore wind farms.

The disadvantages include minimal onshore-offshore transmission asset coordination; the likelihood that any public acceptance campaign will be

renewable energy magazine

Option 2: Plan-defined, developer consents and builds. Under this model the state defines a minimum distance from wind farm to shore to enhance public support for offshore wind developments. In addition, EirGrid plans and coordinates onshore grid reinforcements and identifies the locations, capacities and timelines for onshore connection points.

“We need to have the onshore network in place to connect to the offshore windfarms and to distribute the power. In the medium to long term, a high level of co-ordination will be required.” focused on a single project rather than multiple projects; greater risk of additional infrastructure with associated environmental impact and more complexity involved in future proofing of offshore transmission assets.

According to the report, a transition

The advantages of the plan-led model include long-term onshore-offshore transmission coordination with the potential for reduced infrastructure.

onshore-offshore grid development in

They present an opportunity to craft a coordinated public acceptance campaign covering multiple projects and ease of future proofing of technology.

and the decision for the grid delivery

The disadvantages include the time needed to develop new governmental capabilities, and policy, regulatory, licence and legislative frameworks which are likely required.

There are also potential challenges with state bodies simultaneously developing multiple offshore and onshore renewable energy and transmission projects, and incompatibility with “Relevant Projects”.

towards a more plan-led model option (3 or 4) could offer a pathway to leverage the timing advantages of more developer-led models in the short term and allows greater coordination of the medium to long-term.

The report notes that all four models have advantages and disadvantages model for Ireland and will require careful consideration.

“Internationally, there has often been a transition from one model to another as needs change and infrastructure gets developed,” adds Foley.

Contact David Martin T: 01 237 0260 E: david.martin@eirgrid.com

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Northern Ireland’s renewable transition renewable energy magazine

Northern Ireland is squandering its position as a global leader in renewable energy, writes Patrick Keatley, lecturer in Energy Policy and Infrastructure at Ulster University.

Hindsight is wonderful. It makes it easy to mock predictions which seemed believable when they were made, but which appear ludicrous after time and events have done their confounding work. The long list of examples from the energy sphere includes the Chairman of the US Atomic Energy Agency’s claim in 1954 that nuclear energy would be “too cheap to meter”; or the sceptical senior BP executive who said, “I’ll drink all the oil in the North Sea”, when the company began exploratory drilling in the late 1960s.

A 1999 paper by the Office for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas here could make a reasonable claim for a place on the list. “The maximum amount of wind capacity that can be connected to the Northern Ireland system”, it confidently asserted, “is 50MW.” At the time, that would have sounded perfectly judicious. Two decades later however, that certainty seems quaintly wrongheaded. Northern Ireland has connected over 1,300MW of wind power; last year almost half of our electricity came from renewable (overwhelmingly wind) generation; and as part of the all-island system, we are global leaders in integrating wind energy.

Although other countries, notably Scotland, Denmark and Portugal, often claim to have integrated higher levels of renewable energy than us, their chest-

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beating ignores two key factors.

Firstly, their claims reflect political, rather than power system boundaries, overlooking the fact that these countries are a small part of much larger, transnational power systems. By the same logic Donegal could reasonably claim the title of ‘Wind Energy Capital of Europe’ because many times its own power demand is often generated within the county border. In terms of system stability (or inertia – in this context, a good thing) needed to manage very high levels of wind power, what counts are electrical, not political, boundaries.

The all-island system is a standalone grid within which wind and solar power have to be managed organically, as inertia can’t be imported through our subsea interconnector links with Britain.

Secondly, the term ‘renewable’ doesn’t differentiate between controllable resources like hydroelectric and biomass energy, and uncontrollable resources like wind and solar. Hydro and biomass can be turned off and on, and up and down in much the same way as fossil generators, which makes their integration a trivial matter. Wind and solar cannot and it requires engineering brilliance to manage them at high levels.

Since 2010, the system and network operators here have developed world-

leading management techniques which have made the Irish all-island grid the global leader in integrating wind power.

Because of this, in Northern Ireland we didn’t just meet our 2020 target to source 40 per cent of our electricity from renewables ahead of time; we smashed it, achieving 47 per cent in 2019. Other countries are now learning from what has been achieved here in order to meet their own renewables integration targets.

There is a downside to this happy tale.

The variability of renewables like wind and solar means that they need flexible demand to complement their output.

Globally, new markets for smart, consumer-owned flexible resources (think electric heating systems, battery and thermal storage, electric vehicles and rooftop solar, all bound together by the ‘glue’ of energy efficiency) are seeing explosive growth and overturning traditional incumbentdominated markets.

While policy here has been successful in connecting a supply of renewable energy, it has failed to address the other side of the equation; creating the incentives for flexible demand to complement it. The consequence is that massive amounts of wind energy are currently being wasted. In the first six months of 2020, 17 per cent of Northern Ireland’s available wind energy was

Managing clean energy by dumping it when you can’t provide flexible demand isn’t just economically irrational, it also undermines our contribution to the UK’s emissions reduction targets. Last year the Climate Change Act (Target Amendment) Order became law, changing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions reductions target for 2050 from 80 per cent (compared with 1990 emissions) to net zero. The momentum for the net zero target became irresistible after the UK Committee on Climate Change first mooted it in 2017, but it was evident that UK policy had been travelling in this direction, even before the Paris Agreement of 2015.

Since the scientific consensus on climate change became clear, UK policy has been remarkably consistent across all administrations. The UK was the first country in the world to implement a legally binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction target while Labour was in power through the Climate Change Act of 2008. David Cameron’s Conservative government was not only a signatory to the Paris Agreement; it was one of its main architects. Similarly, under Theresa May, the UK was the first country to mandate a net zero target in 2019. Over the coming decades, intensifying global climate disasters will only be reflected in ever more urgent policy targets.

But despite this clear direction of travel, Northern Ireland has always been out of step with policy in the rest of the UK. Northern Ireland is still the only jurisdiction in these islands which doesn’t have its own climate change legislation. Unlike the other devolved administrations, the Executive interpreted the original 80 per cent emissions reduction target in the Climate Change Act to mean not that we should reduce emissions proportionately, but that we could do things at our own pace. The possibility

renewable energy magazine

dumped because there was no flexible demand available for it. In terms of retail value, this represents over £50 million worth of clean electricity that was thrown away. We are currently on track to dump around £100 million worth of clean electricity this year. In an economy which has suffered from being among the highest levels of fuel poverty in the UK and Europe, that is shockingly wasteful.

“Managing clean energy by dumping it when you can’t provide flexible demand isn’t just economically irrational, it also undermines our contribution to the UK’s emissions reduction targets.” that 80 per cent could be a waypoint, rather than a destination, and that future legislation might require a fully decarbonised energy system, seems not to have been considered. The consequence is that while the rest of the UK has reduced emissions by 27 per cent since 2008, Northern Ireland has achieved only 9 per cent.

So, while the impact of net zero legislation in the rest of the UK will be significant, the fact that we are so far behind makes it a massive challenge. It also highlights the fact that not only are we currently throwing away clean energy; but that we’re simultaneously spending hundreds of millions of pounds on fossil infrastructure, based on policy from almost 20 years ago, the Energy (NI) Order 2003.

When the Energy Order was written, natural gas was being pushed by the industry as a ‘bridge’ to a low-carbon future, and because it produces fewer

emissions than oil or coal when it is burnt (provided you ignore fugitive methane emissions from the supply chain), it created an opportunity to replace oil heating systems and reduce carbon pollution from domestic heat by about 25 per cent. As the gas price is regulated and usually lower than oil, it could also help to reduce costs for consumers in the short term. But by 2010, when the Northern Ireland Strategic Energy Framework (the last significant piece of energy policy here) was written, it would have been clear that increasing gas use wasn’t going to deliver anything like the 80 per cent emissions reduction required by the original Climate Change Act. Despite this, Northern Ireland has continued to invest in gas networks since then, to the tune of about £750 million.

This investment carries risks.

Independent research into decarbonisation in advanced

4

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companies in the US recently announced that the company wants to sell its gas networks, saying: “We made those investments five to seven years ago, and at that time we, and frankly many others, viewed natural gas as having a fairly large role in the transition to the clean energy economy. That view has largely changed, and natural gas,

renewable energy magazine

while it can provide emissions reductions, is no longer part of the longer-term view.” Yet in Northern Ireland, as well as extending the grid and building new generators at Kilroot, projects like the Islandmagee Gas Energy Storage continue to be supported by the Assembly.

“Other countries are now learning from what has been achieved here in order to meet their own renewables integration targets.”

Northern Ireland has been gifted an opportunity to be in the vanguard of the transition to a smart, clean, consumerled energy system. Our location on the margins of the Atlantic gives us access to cheap electricity from the best onshore and offshore wind resources in Europe. Our ‘long and stringy’ network is perfect for developing the innovative business models that are already empowering local communities and individual consumers elsewhere. While

economies concludes that it will be primarily led by energy efficiency and electrification. In places like Northern Ireland with good renewable resources, the quick wins are achieved by the rapid electrification of heat and transport using cheap renewable energy, managed by energy storage, demand flexibility and consumer-led market structures.

The upside of gas, a short-term reduction in emissions and costs, is countered by the fact that once you’ve committed to building expensive pipelines, you’re stuck with them for a very long time. The capital cost of gas infrastructure is recovered over decades (in the case of the £250 million Gas to the West project completed in January 2020 for example, more than 40 years).

Committing consumers’ money to longterm investments in fossil infrastructure during a period of such profound change is fraught with risk.

The gamble is not limited to pipelines.

As well as stopping the construction of new pipelines, regulators in the United

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States and Australia have begun to block the construction of new gas power plants like that planned for Kilroot on economic grounds. These decisions effectively mandate a switch from coal straight to Clean Energy Portfolios (suites of integrated technologies comprising interconnection, energy storage and flexible demand), and recognise that we are already at the end of the gas ‘bridge’. Instead of paying for standby fossil generation (like the £370 million that the new Kilroot gas plant will receive in its first decade), innovative market products are paying consumers to provide solutions to peak demand.

As with pipelines, regulators can see that the declining costs of renewables and the consumer-side resources to manage them, are a better bet than long-term commitment to fossil generators.

Everywhere banks, insurers and investors warn of stranded assets and are offloading their exposure to oil and gas markets. The Chairman of Con Edison, one of the largest utility

the Economy Minister’s recent announcement on hydrogen research is welcome, the future role and costs of hydrogen are largely unknown. Heat pumps, electric vehicles and energy storage are technologies which are ‘business as usual’ in many places and can make use of Northern Ireland’s wind energy today.

Instead of exploiting our advantages, obsolete policy is locking us in to dependence on fossil infrastructure which consumers will have to finance for decades to come. A green Covid recovery like that just announced by the Scottish Government, linking clean energy with a properly funded campaign to bring our draughty, poorly insulated housing stock up to 21st Century standards, could rapidly create jobs and reduce fuel poverty. But by continuing to support the construction of outdated, polluting technology in the vague hope that we can clean it up later, Stormont may well be leading us down the same path that led to the RHI disaster.

Enabling a decarbonised future for business traceability of our supply to locally sourced renewable power.

Ireland, Brookfield Renewable is driving change across the renewable landscape, making the energy market more accessible and flexible for customers.

The pace of decarbonisation must accelerate further for Ireland to meet its Climate Action Plan targets and to align with Europe’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. Businesses must continue to lead the way and decarbonise their own business and that of their supply chains through ambitious sustainability targets. The purchase of 100 per cent renewable energy is one of the most impactful ways of contributing to these goals. To date the purchase of renewable energy through corporate power purchase agreements has been the preserve of large global companies, but the time has come for all sectors to source alternative green energy solutions.

At Brookfield Renewable Ireland we believe that the global shift towards low carbon will mean affordable, renewable energy solutions for every business regardless of size and sector. Since 2014, our team has been at the forefront of developments in the renewable energy industry, commissioning 235MW of onshore wind capacity in Ireland through the development and build out of our existing project pipeline and the acquisition of bolt-on assets, so that today we have one of the largest renewable portfolios in Ireland.

As a business that builds, owns,

operates and markets renewable power, we are uniquely positioned by having the full-service capabilities and depth of expertise of a large utility with the agility and flexibility of a dynamic start-up.

We are a recognised leader in the PPA market, having signed the first PPA in the Irish market in 2016, and have the flexibility and skills required to structure renewable solutions for large-energy users. We work closely with customers to craft the best low-carbon energy options, that unlock value in their energy supply, ensure price stability and match their real-time energy consumption demands with renewable energy generation, helping to meet their sustainability targets.

Our large portfolio of onshore wind and an active development pipeline of new projects has allowed us to tailor utilityscale PPAs for large energy users in the data centre and pharmaceutical sectors; signing more than 200MW of renewable capacity in Ireland and the UK in the last two years. Our customer demand of circa 700 GWh is equivalent to powering the city of Galway with renewable electricity for a whole year. Additionally, operating 23 wind farms across Ireland, contributing significantly to the generation of renewable energy every year, means we can guarantee the

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Owners of one of the largest renewable portfolios in

Our experience tells us that renewable energy solutions are not ‘one size fits all’, that’s why we form long-term, collaborative partnerships with customers on their decarbonisation journey. This can comprise a mix of onsite ‘behind the-meter’ generation, distributed generation, demand side management services as well as structuring solutions that protect customers from volatile energy market prices. We are continuously developing new projects across Ireland and the UK. End to end, from site scoping and financing to construction and operations, we work with businesses to source opportunities and deliver new renewable assets to the grid.

From the renewable energy assets we develop, operate and trade to our innovative solutions, we are driving change across the renewable landscape. Making energy more sustainable for the planet and the energy market more accessible and flexible for our customers.

For more on renewable energy solutions for your business contact Brookfield Renewable Ireland:

Ciarán O’Brien Chief Commercial Officer E: ciaran.obrien@brookfieldrenewable.com

David O’Sullivan Head of Commercial Development E: david.osullivan@brookfieldrenewable.com

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renewable energy magazine

Solar shines bright in RESS-1 Although wind projects were the largest beneficiaries of the results of the first auction under the new Renewable Energy Support Scheme (RESS-1) support for solar signalled a clear shift from aspiration to action in reaching ambitious renewable electricity targets.

While much has been spoken about the need for Ireland to diversify its renewable energy mix for electricity generation in recent years, the emergence of the first grid-scale solar projects to soon be connected to the system, signalled the first major step change in a support mechanism to further this policy.

The RESS-1 confirmed what many already understood, that Ireland’s successes in onshore wind generation, facilitating greater levels of renewables on the electricity system, will continue to form the backbone of ambitions for greater levels of penetration out to 2030 and 2050.

However, it was the emergence of solar projects which grabbed most of the attention with 63 projects now set to be connected to the grid network over the next number of years.

The Climate Action Bill, emanating from the recent Programme for Government, increased Ireland’s ambitions in relation to carbon emissions and reaffirmed the 2019 Climate Action Plan’s target of meeting 70 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2030.

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The Climate Action Plan outlined that to achieve a 70 per cent target, an additional 4,000MW of onshore wind would need to be connected and above 1,500MW of solar energy.

The RESS scheme was established to support the development of renewable, funded by the Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy. The auction system enables renewable generators to compete for contracts by bidding in a price for the power they can provide, helping to deliver lower prices. The successful projects retain support for approximately 15 years.

A total of 114 projects applied to participate in the RESS-1 qualification process with 109 projects, including eight community projects, qualified, with 82 projects in total deemed successful.

A total of 19 new wind farms (479MW of

Average price

onshore wind), generating 1,469 GWh of energy were successful. The 63 new solar farms (796MW) that were successful will generate 767 GWh. Included in these projects were seven successful community-led projects.

The prices are significantly lower that the support price offered under the current REFIIT scheme, which is €80.25 per MWh and index linked. As Contracts For Difference (CFDs), it also means that a better price obtained on the wholesale market than the price obtained under RESS would see any excess returned to the PSO fund.

The frequency of future RESS auctions is dependent on the renewable electricity project supply pipeline. It is envisaged that a minimum of four auctions will occur between 2020 and 2025 to deliver on the 2030 targets.

Community

Solar

All projects

104.15 €/MWh

72.92 €/MWh

74.08 €/MWh

Location of RESS-1 successful projects This section is a series of images showing the location of each successful project by eligible technology on a map of Ireland.

renewable energy magazine

Legend Solar (63) Onshore wind (19)

Location of RESS-1 successful projects 87

renewable energy magazine

Biofuels: The UK’s approach Senior Policy Advisor of Low Carbon Fuels at the UK’s Department for Transport (DfT), Charlotte Stead discusses the direction of travel for advanced biofuels for transport in the UK. Speaking in early 2020, Stead highlighted that in the UK less than 5 per cent of the 450,000 litres of fuel supplied to transport companies is biofuel, however, the Government has set a target to increase this level to 12.4 per cent by 2032.

The desire to progress the use of advanced biofuels in the hard to decarbonise sectors, such as transport, lies in the understanding of the potential benefits of greenhouse gas emission savings and that advanced biofuels avoid displacement effects when used to produce transport fuel, explains Stead.

Currently, the UK primarily uses waste feedstock for transport biofuel and has in recent years been moving away from the use of crops. This has been hastened by the introduction of a crop

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cap, aiming to reduce plant-based renewable fuels down to 2 per cent by 2032.

However, the majority of the UK’s wastefeed stock (47 per cent) comes from cooking oil, highlighting that advanced biofuels are not yet emerging at pace.

Stead explains that this is largely due to two major challenges. The first is the cost associated with producing advanced low carbon fuels, which historically arises caution in investors.

The second is a question of feedstock availability. As the harder to decarbonise sectors increase their use of advanced biofuels, it’s likely that they will find themselves in competition for feedstock with other sectors. Additionally, Stead explains, it’s not simply the UK where there is an increased demand for

feedstock, but demand for advanced biofuels has increased worldwide.

Explaining how the UK is addressing these challenges, Stead highlights that as of 2019, the UK has a target for development fuel, intended to stimulate the production of advanced renewable fuels and aimed at modes within the transport sector recognised as difficult to decarbonise including aviation and heavy goods vehicles.

It is also recognised that growth of the domestic industry of development fuels will have an economic benefit, given estimates that the global market is set to be valued at around £15 billion by 2030.

From 1 January 2019, the UK have made available Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (dRTFCs) which allow

for earnings to be made of up to £1.60/litre for development fuels and up to £0.30/litre for general fuels.

“This is recognising that the development fuels are much more expensive and that’s why they have a higher value,” explains Stead.

The competition is now in its final stages with a plant being built in Teeside where a company plans to create cellulosic ethanol from forestry residues and another in Swindon, where biomethane will be produced from municipal and wood waste.

The UK also launched a second competition named the Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition (F4C) in April 2017. The competition provided £22 million to “help construct novel, advanced low carbon fuel plants” in the UK by 2021. Projects were required to produce fuels from waste and offer an end product with greater than 70 per cent greenhouse gas savings compared to conventional fuels.

Stead explains that 28 projects entered for the first stage (2017-19) of the competition with seven projects sharing

a £2 million grant pot to support preliminary project work. In 2019, four projects were shortlisted for the final stage with £20 million of funding made available. Two of the projects focus on aviation fuel while the other two focus on HGV fuels.

Turning back to the question of feedstock availability, Stead outlines that the UK Government are currently investigating the potential of recycled carbon fuels (RCF), which are transport fuels made from fossil derived wastes that are not suitable for reuse or recycling, or cannot be avoided.

The UK does not currently support these under the RTFO but recognises that there is potential greenhouse gas savings.

“We are exploring the greenhouse gas benefits of using them to produce fuels instead of how they are currently disposed,” says Stead. The pathways for RCF are varied and include the likes of incineration, cement Kilns, landfill, combined heat and power and heat.

“These are known as counterfactuals and each counterfactual will have a different level of greenhouse gas savings. One of the things we are exploring is which counterfactual should we be using RCF’s from,” she adds.

Stead explains that the Department for Transport has commissioned two reports on sustainability risks of RCFs and hosted RCF workshops in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, the Department has engaged with numerous RCF producers/potential producers in order to understand their process and the feedstocks used, as well as working closely with other government departments, making sure that there is alignment so as not to displace waste being used elsewhere.

renewable energy magazine

Another tool utilised by the UK Government is competitions. In 2014 the UK launched its Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Competition (ABDC) which made available £25 million (private sector matched capital funding) to companies to demonstrate waste to fuel technologies. “Specifically the competition sought to attract significant private sector investment, see first-of-akind biofuel plants built, support the development of the UK-based advanced biofuels industry and contribute to commercial waste based fuels that could offer significant carbon savings up to 95 per cent relative to fossil fuels,” Stead explains.

“Our recommendation is that we need to diversify the feedstocks and unlock the more difficult to process ones.”

Looking to the future Stead explains that the Department’s biofuel policy focusses on waste, which is demonstrated by current competitions, the crop cap, the introduction of development fuel sub targets and the double rewarding of feedstocks.

However, challenges remain in the face of rising targets across the EU and beyond which raises questions on whether enough sustainable material available and how low carbon fuels can be transitioned to difficult to decarbonise sectors.

“Our recommendation is that we need to diversify the feedstocks and unlock the more difficult to process ones,” concludes Stead.

F4C shortlisted projects Project

Location

Feedstock

Technology

Product

Kew Technologies

West midlands

Waste wood

Gasification + thermal + cracking + fischer tropsch

HGV Diesal (jet in the future)

Rika Biogas

North lincolnshire

Straw

Straw pre-processing, AD, cryogenic upgrading

HGV Liquid biomethane) Liquid CO2 coproduct)

Lanzatec/Lanzajet

Port Talbot, Wales

Ethanol from steel mill waste gases

Ethanol dehydration+oligomerisation Jet (ATJ-SPK) + some diesel +hydrogenation+fractionation

Velocys

North east Lincolnshire

Post recycling MSW

Gasification+fischer tropsch

Jet(SPK+naptha)

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renewable energy magazine

Bioenergy: A role in heat and transport decarbonisation

Government support for an enhanced role for bioenergy in Ireland’s future energy mix has not been forthcoming with the major focus remaining on the electricity sector.

Significant progress in decarbonising Ireland’s electricity generation is being undermined by rising (pre-Covid-19) carbon emissions in the areas of heat and transport, with overall energy generation heavily reliant on fossil fuels.

Heat accounts for close to 40 per cent of final energy consumption in Ireland and makes up 35 per cent of all energy related emissions. A total of 94 per cent of energy for heat still comes from fossil fuels.

Bioenergy has been recognised globally as having a role in future energy security, removing the necessity for imported fossil fuels with carbon neutral domestic fuel. However, in Ireland bioenergy makes up just 4 per cent of Ireland’s energy mix.

Despite recognition of the Programme for Government’s outlook as the most climate ambitious of any government in the State’s history, the agreed outlook for the new tri-party coalition included just one line on bioenergy.

Under its mission of a Green New Deal, the Government said that far-reaching policy changes will be developed across

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every sector to deliver its expanded and deepened climate ambition and as a result they are “rapidly evaluating the potential role of sustainable bioenergy”.

This is in stark contrast to weight and support given to continuing the decarbonisation of the electricity sector through the promotion of solar and offshore wind generation. Undoubtedly, the Government recognise the opportunity presented by the future electrification of the heat and transport sectors if the electricity system can be fully decarbonised, however, this alone is unlikely to provide the levels of carbon reduction needed to meet 2030 targets in such a short period of time.

Bioenergy, the world’s largest source of renewable energy, provides an estimated 13 per cent of global energy supply, compared to the almost 5 per cent provided by other renewables combined. In the EU, bioenergy is the main source of renewable energy with a share of almost 60 per cent, Heating and cooling remains the largest user sector, taking around 75 per cent of all produced bioenergy.

According to the European Commission Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and the UK are the largest bioenergy consumers in absolute terms, while the Scandinavian and Baltic countries, as well as Austria, consume the most bioenergy per capita. Although Ireland has a perceived land and climate advantage in producing bioenergy, it ranks 27th of the 28 member states (UK included) in terms of its use of renewable heat.

Although Ireland has focussed on the decarbonisation of electricity, efforts in the area of heat have not been totally absent. In June 2019, then Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton TD opened the second phase of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), which provides operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems.

Biomass However, any moves to deliver bioenergy production at scale have so far been delayed in Ireland. One reason

for this may be the challenges that surround mass production of bioenergy.

Although the benefits of a neutral carbon cycle created by the production of energy from biofuel are recognised, so too is the fact that careless use of biomass has potential negative impacts on climate change.

The three main areas of concern are: • The risk of supply chain emissions in creating biomass for energy generation;

Share of renewables in the EU’s gross final energy consumption for 2016 Transport biofuels 12.0%

Non-renewables 951 941 ktoe (83%)

Other renewables 79 782 ktoe (40.8%)

Bioelectricity 13.4%

Bioenergy 115 694 ktoe (59.2%)

Biomass H&C 74.6%

Renewable energies 195 476 ktoe (17%)

renewable energy magazine

• The use of mature trees and replacement by younger trees causing a short-term carbon debt; and Source: Eurostat 2018b and nREAP Progress Reports.

• The cultivating of energy crops causing land use change which reverse carbon emission savings.

The EU’s 2021 Renewable Energy Directive attempted to address some of these concerns and implement regulation on the bioenergy sector. The Directive made a requirement for proof of suitable land and forest management to reduce the risk of harmful land-use change carbon debt.

The Directive ruled that biomass fuels could not come from protected and highly biodiverse and that forest biofuels could not come from areas of conservation. Also, that the productivity capacity of forests must not be reduced and that any sourcing from forests must minimise the impact of soil quality and biodiversity.

EU biomass fuel sustainability criteria • Biomass fuels from energy crops must not come from protected and highly biodiverse land.

• Biomass fuels from forests must not come from areas of conservation.

• Biomass fuels must not reduce the long-term production capacity of the forest.

• The sourcing of biomass fuels from forests must minimise the impact of soil quality and biodiversity.

• You must be able to prove that biomass wood was legally harvested.

aims to ensure EU laws on bioenergy

Biogas

are in line with the European Green Deal's increased ambition, notably its target of a 50 per cent reduction in EU emission reductions by 2030 from 1990

In May 2020 the European Commission announced its policy strategy aimed at recovering biodiversity by 2030. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 is set out as a “comprehensive, ambitious, longterm plan for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems”. While the Strategy did not include any legal proposals in relation to bioenergy, its recognised that the strategy could be worked into reviews of legislation affecting biofuels and biomass.

levels, up from 40 per cent previously.

The commission is assessing, until the end of 2020, EU and global biomass supply, demand and sustainability. The assessment will feed into the commission's review and revision of renewables targets, the emissions trading scheme, and the EU's regulation on land use, land use change and forestry "where necessary" in 2021.

of electricity and while a decarbonised

The commission will also review data on biofuels with high indirect land-use change risk (ILUC) in 2021. The review

replace fossil fuels, create jobs and aide

Analysis suggests that Ireland could meet up to 20 per cent of its current energy demand from domestic bioenergy demand by 2030, however, strict regulation and policy would be required to not only give confidence to the industry but also ensure that bioenergy is produced in a sustainable manner.

The decarbonisation of heat will be a much more difficult challenge than that electricity system will have a role to play in the future decarbonisation of heat through technologies such as heat pumps and district heating schemes, electrification alone will not achieve current targets in a timely manner.

To this end, bioenergy, with its ability to with rural regeneration will be under greater consideration from Government.

While biomass, specifically the burning of wood for fuel, is the most prominent use of bioenergy globally, biomethane (biogas) is a recognised clean, renewable and carbon neutral fuel with potential to be used in heat, electricity and transport.

Ireland has the highest potential for renewable gas production per capita in Europe with 13 TWh achievable by 2030, the EU commission found, based on its large agricultural sector.

Biomethane generation and production is done through the upgrading of biogas, which is produced through anaerobic digestion of organic materials. The renewable gas can be used as a direct substitute for natural gas. Much of the focus of decarbonising the existing gas network is on the potential of hydrogen. Hydrogen will undoubtedly play a major role in decarbonising heat in Ireland out to 2050 and beyond but is still considered fairly immature in its development. While a range of pilot projects utilising hydrogen as a fuel are in operation, the prospect of it being utilised on the gas 4 grid still remains some way off.

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In June 2020, a major step was taken when biomethane was injected into the Irish gas grid for the first time at the injection point at Cush, County Kildare.

Available biomass resources

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The complexity of decarbonising heat means that a range, rather than a single solution will be required if 2030 and 2050 targets are to be reached and to this end the bioenergy industry continues to lobby government for supports and policy to help mobilise the industry and realise its full potential.

Source: SEAI

Resources at different price brackets

Source: SEAI

The same argument can be made for the transport sector in that a range of fuels will be needed to play a part in decarbonisation. While greater uptake of EVs represents a huge opportunity for decarbonisation through electrification, there is also recognition that electrification may not offer a solution to some transport types, such as heavy goods vehicles. Some biomethane fuelled vehicles already exist in Ireland.

In Summary, bioenergy represents a significant opportunity for Ireland to diversify its energy mix. However, the role of bioenergy in that energy mix will depend on government policy and what levels of support the government intend offer to the industry. Given Ireland’s natural resources of wind and sun, it’s unlikely that bioenergy will play more than a contributing role to the decarbonisation of electricity. However, the advancement of the technology in Ireland and the recognition off deployment more widely, would suggest that it has a significant role to play in the decarbonisation of the heat and transport sectors.

In comparison: Scotland Like Ireland, Scotland’s bioenergy in Scotland contributes around 4 per cent of final energy demand. In 2017, the Scottish Energy Strategy included the development of a bioenergy action plan as part of its ambition for 50 per cent of all energy consumed to come from renewables.

In continuing to develop an action plan the Scottish Government commissioned research to more fully understand the scope for bioenergy in Scotland. The research findings included: • Increasing the contribution that bioenergy makes by 2030 would require additional bioenergy plant to be built and deployed within the next decade; • Based on typical capital, operating and feedstock costs, all of the bioenergy conversion technologies considered produce energy or fuel at a price that is higher than that produced by conventional technologies, based on current fossil fuel prices; • Estimates of domestic bioresources suggest that several additional anaerobic digestion plant are technically feasible, but utilising the resource fully is likely to require the use of a mixture of feedstocks in some plant; • Advanced conversion technologies such as gasification for power or to produce synthetic natural gas and advanced biofuels production could be commercially proven by 2030; • Allowing for competing uses of some bioresources in other sectors of the economy, there is another 5.3 TWh per year (of primary energy), that is currently not collected or is disposed of as waste, that could potentially be utilised for bioenergy; and • By 2030, further bioresources equivalent to 2 TWh per year (of primary energy) could be available.

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ok ing in s Fe g de oo br a ua dlin n ry e 20 21

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Yearbook 2021 The essential desktop sourcebook for the Irish energy sector.

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The Energy Ireland Yearbook is the only detailed guide to Irish energy (north and south). Content includes: • Energy policy north and south • Overview of electricity market networks • Gas sector including biogas

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Renewable energy research institutions

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The following is an A-Z list of institutions involved in renewable energy research.

Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE)

Centre for Renewables and Energy

Queen’s University Belfast

The Centre for Renewables and Energy at Dundalk IT is an applied research centre based in the School of Engineering established in 2002. The Centre seeks national and EU funds to pursue research projects in the topics of wind energy, energy storage, bioenergy and wave energy.

CASE is a £10 million centre for industry driven research, aligning renewable energy expertise at Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and AFBI with the research needs of participating companies. Through the Invest NI Competence Centre Programme, CASE funds collaborative R&D in sustainability.

Research interests: • energy from biomass; • energy systems (i.e. storage, smart grid solutions); • turbines (i.e. onshore and offshore wind, tidal, wave, gas).

Contact details: Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy Queen’s University Belfast David Kerr Building, Stranmillis Road Belfast, BT9 5AG Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5577 Web: www.case-research.net Email: s.mccloskey@qub.ac.uk Contact: Sam McCloskey

Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI)

Dundalk Institute of Technology

Research interests: • wind energy – particular expertise in urban and peri urban wind analysis and study the wind resource in complex locations, which has come from the availability of data from their 850kW onsite wind turbine autoproducer; • energy storage – particular assets on site of interest, namely a 4.65MWh ice bank and a 50 kWh Zinc Bromine flow battery; • bioenergy – characterised anaerobic digestion feedstocks and drying of logwood for chipping; • wave energy research focuses on oscillating water column device design.

Contact details: Centre for Renewables and Energy Dundalk Institute of Technology Dublin Road Dundalk County Louth, A91 K584 Tel: +353 (0)42 937 0474 Web: www.credit.ie Email: admin@credit.ie Centre Director: Dr Paul MacArtain

University College Cork MaREI is the marine and renewable energy research, development and innovation Centre supported by Science Foundation Ireland. It combines the expertise of a wide range of research groups and industry partners, with the shared mission of solving the main scientific, technical and socio-economic challenges across the marine and renewable energy sectors.

Research interests: • coastal and marine systems; • marine renewable technologies; • bioenergy; • materials and structural testing; • observation and operations; • energy policy and modelling; and • energy management.

Contact details: Marine and Renewable Energy Ireland (MaREI) Beaufort Building Environmental Research Institute University College Cork Haulbowline Road Ringaskiddy, Co Cork Tel: 021 486 4300 Web: www.marei.ie Email: marei@ucc.ie Centre Director: Brian Ó Gallachóir

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Clean Energies Research Group Queen’s University Belfast The Clean Energies Research Group is part of the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. This school was rated one of the top 10 mechanical engineering schools in the 2008 research assessment exercise.

Research interests: • turbomachinery (i.e. turbochargers, gas turbines); • alternative energy sources (power systems, biomass, biogas, waste-toenergy and energy conversion technologies).

Contact details: Clean Energies Research Group School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Queen’s University Belfast, Ashby Building Stranmillis Road, Belfast, BT9 5AH Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 4133 Web: www.qub.ac.uk Email: a.foley@qub.ac.uk Contact: Dr Aoife Foley

COFORD COFORD is part of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s research division. Established in 1993, it is responsible for the development of national forest research and development policy and priorities.

Research interests: • productivity – sustainable improvements in crop productivity and quality; • climate change – impact adaption and mitigation – responding to a changing climate; • expansion of the forest resource – sustainable increase in productive area.

Contact details: COFORD Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Kildare Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 607 2487 Web: www.coford.ie

Coillte Established in 1988, Coillte is a private limited company with all shares held by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Minister for Finance. Coillte conducts research in a number of areas focused on developing the biomass wood for energy market.

Research interests: • bioenergy; • biomass operations and logistics (chipping, drying, haulage etc.); • utilisation of low-value waste wood for energy (brash baling, lop and top); • carbon sequestration; and • sustainability.

Contact details: Coillte Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN25 Tel: 01 201 1111 Web: www.coillte.ie

Energy Institute University College Dublin UCD Energy Institute plays an integral part in the energy transition, endorsing a net zero carbon energy system, promoting modernised integrated energy systems while empowering the citizen through education, innovation and digitalisation.

Research interests: • energy systems; • energy management; and • energy in society.

Contact details: Energy Institute UCD O'Brien Centre for Science University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Tel: +353 1 716 2625 Web: www.energyinstitute.ucd.ie Email: energy@ucd.ie Contact: Andrew Keane

Energy Research Centre National University of Ireland, Galway

Research interests: • smart cities & communities; • low carbon technologies; and • energy efficiency.

Low Carbon Technologies group • ocean energy; • wind energy; • hydro power; • solar; • geothermal.

Contact details: Energy Research Centre Ryan Institute, NUI Galway University Road, Galway Tel: 091 495 061 Web: www.nuigalway.ie Email: energy@nuigalway.ie

Energy Research Group Trinity College Dublin The Energy Research Group focuses on the development of next-generation renewable energy technologies, while also examining topics such as energy recovery and behavioural change to address sustainability.

Two prominent initatives exist under this research theme: Trinity Haus, an innovation centre focusing on energy in buildings and sustainability in the built environment; and the Solar Energy Applications Group (SEAG), leading research group working in solar energy.

Research interests: • hydro; • solar; • wind; and • wave.

Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC) Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) The Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC) based at AFBI Hillsborough assists the agri-food industry to maximise the potential of renewable senergy and support technology transfer activities.

Research interests: • evaluation of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow production with bioremediation of dirty water; • storage and utilisation of biomass crops; • the carbon footprint of agricultural enterprises; • combustion and emission characteristics of varying biomass sources; • demonstration of other renewable energy technologies; • demonstration of energy saving design and technology; and • anaerobic digestion of animal manure.

Contact details: Environment and Renewable Energy Centre (EREC) Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Large Park, Hillsborough Co Down, BT26 6DR Tel: +44 (0)28 9268 2484 Web: www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/environment-andrenewable-energy-centre Email: renewable.energy@afbini.gov.uk Contact: Stanley McDowell

Environmental Research Institute University College Cork The Environmental Research Institute was established in 2000 and is aimed at supplying environmental research and education at UCC. The institute brings together expertise in biological, chemical and environmental sciences as well as environmental engineering, energy and law. The institute has over 150 researchers and five thematic research areas, one of which is sustainable energy and environmental engineering.

Research interests: • wind energy; • bioenergy and biofuels; • energy policy and modelling; • climate change (GHG flux modelling and climate change adaption); • marine renewable energy.

Contact details: Environmental Research Institute (ERI) Lee Road, Cork, T23 XE10 Tel: 021 490 1931 Web: www.ucc.ie/en/eri Email: eri@ucc.ie Contact: Paul Bolger

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The Energy Research Centre focuses on research, education and outreach in the fields of energy and environment. Established in 2007, it is part of the Ryan Institute (for environment, marine and energy research).

The centre is divided into four thematic research groups: bioenergy research; renewable resources; energy efficient technologies; energy and society.

Contact details: Energy Research Group Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin Dublin 2 Tel: 01 896 1457 Web: www.tcd.ie/civileng/research/energy/ Email: civeng@tcd.ie Contact: Biswajit Basu

Marine Institute, Galway Established by the 1991 Marine Institute Act, the Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation. The institute operates an ocean energy test site with SEAI. Real-time wave information is available at the Galway Bay test site for all developers of wave energy devices who have a prototype that is built for open water testing in a relatively sheltered location.

Research interests: • marine technology; • marine biotechnology.

Contact details: Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore, Co Galway, H91 R673 Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie

Teagasc Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, provides integrated research and advisory and training services to the agricultural and food sectors as well as rural communities. It is funded by the State, research programmes and other revenue streams. In the area of energy research, Teagasc aims to promote the development and expansion of renewables production from agricultural sources.

Research interests: • energy crops; • liquid biofuels; • biomass combustion; and • anaerobic digestion.

Contact details: Teagasc Oakpark, Carlow, R93 XE12 Tel: 059 917 0200 Web: www.teagasc.ie Teagasc Director: Professor Gerry Boyle

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renewable energy magazine

Renewable energy companies and organisations The following is an A-Z list of renewable energy players including industry associations, indigenous energy companies, wind developers and other organisations.

Government departments and agencies Action Renewables Dublin Office Innovation Campus, Old Finglas Road Glasnevin, Dublin Tel: 01 695 0743 Web: www.actionrenewables.ie Email: info@actionrenewables.ie Belfast Office Boucher Business Studios Glenmachan Place, Belfast, BT12 6QH Tel: +44 (0)28 9072 7760 Web: www.actionrenewables.co.uk Email: info@actionrenewables.co.uk Chief Executive Officer: Terry Waugh COFORD Wood Energy c/o Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Johnston Castle Estate Wexford, Y35 PN52 Tel: +353 53 917 0322 Web: www.coford.ie Email: fsd@agriculture.gov.ie

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Coillte Dublin Road Newtownmountkennedy Co Wicklow, A63 DN35 Tel: 01 201 1199 Web: www.coillte.ie CEO: Imelda Hurley Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) The Grain House, The Exchange Belgard Square North, Tallaght Dublin 24, D24 PXW0 Tel: 01 4000 800 Web: www.cru.ie Email: info@cru.ie Commissioner: Aoife MacEvilly (Chair) Commissioner: Paul McGowan Commissioner: Jim Gannon Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) 29-31 Adelaide Road Dublin 2, D02 X285 Tel: 01 678 2000 Web: www.decc.gov.ie Minister: Eamon Ryan TD Secretary General: Mark Griffin Assistant Secretary, Energy: Matthew Collins Assistant Secretary General, Climate Action and Environment: Brian Carroll Assistant Secretary, Natural Resources and Waste Policy: Philip Nugent

International and Offshore Energy Principal: Martin Finucane Business Energy and Gas Policy Principal: Kevin Brady Electricity Policy Principal: Eamonn Confery Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland) Netherleigh, Massey Avenue Belfast, BT4 2JP Tel: +44 (0)28 9052 9900 Web: www.economy-ni.gov.uk Email: dfemail@economy-ni.gov.uk Minister: Diane Dodds MLA Temporary Permanent Secretary: Mike Brennan Head of Energy: Richard Rodgers Energy Strategy and Sustainability: Thomas Byrne Energy Markets and EU Relations: Joe Reynolds (Acting) Energy Co-ordination: Graham Miller Energy Saving Trust (Northern Ireland) River House 48 High Street Belfast, BT1 2BE Tel: 0800 142 2865 Web: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ northernireland

Invest Northern Ireland Bedford Square Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7ES Tel: +44 (0)28 9069 8000 Web: www.investni.com Email: eo@investni.com Chief Executive: Kevin Holland

Ordnance Survey Ireland Phoenix Park Dublin 8, D08 F6E4 Tel: 01 802 5300 Web: www.osi.ie Email: kevin.brady@osi.ie Contact: Kevin Brady Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) 3 Park Place, Hatch Street Upper Dublin 2 Tel: 01 808 2100 Web: www.seai.ie Email: info@seai.ie Chief Executive Officer: William Walsh Emerging Sectors: Declan Meally Business and Public Sector: Fergus Sharkey Delivery: John Randles Low Carbon Technologies: Jim Scheer Development: John O’Sullivan Communications: Tom Halpin Regional offices Energy Policy Statistical Support Unit Building 2100, Cork Airport Business Park Cork, T12 KV8R Ocean Energy Development Unit Civic Offices, Belmullet, Co Mayo Finisklin Business Park, Co Sligo Finnabair Industrial Estate, Dundalk Co Louth, A91 W8Y7 Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow, R93 XE12 Tel: 059 917 0200 Web: www.teagasc.ie Email: info@teagasc.ie Director: Professor Gerry Boyle

Electricity Association of Ireland 127 Baggot St Lower, Dublin 2 D02 F634 Tel: +353 (1) 524 1046 Web: www.eaireland.com Email: info@eaireland.com Chief Executive: Dara Lynott Energy Institute 61 New Cavendish Street London, W1G 7AR Tel: +44 (0)20 7467 7100 Web: www.energyinst.org Email: info@energyinst.org Republic of Ireland branch Chair: Owen McQuade Secretary: Liam P Ó Cléirigh Email: ireland@energyinst.org Northern Ireland branch Chair: Nicola Murphy Secretary: Sam McCloskey Email: northernireland@energyinst.org Engineers Ireland 22 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge Dublin, D04 R3N2 Tel: 01 665 1300 Web: www.engineersireland.ie President: Maurice Buckley Director General: Caroline Spillane Geothermal Association of Ireland Secretariat c/o SIR (Environmental) Consulting Ireland Ltd 7 Dundrum Business Park Windy Arbour, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 296 4667 Web: www.geothermalassociation.ie Email: info@geothermalassociation.ie Chair: Ric Pasquali Irish Hydro Power Association Joseph Stewart & Company Corn Mills, Boyle, Co Roscommon Tel: 071 967 0100 Web: www.irishhydro.com Email: info@irishhydro.com Contact: Neil Stewart

Irish Solar Energy Association 616 Edenderry Business Campus Edenderry, Co Offaly, R45 TD37 Tel: +353 46 977 3434 Web: www.irishsolarenergy.org Email: info@irishsolarenergy.org Marine Renewables Industry Association c/o Leixfort, Corrig Avenue Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Web: www.mria.ie Email: chairman@mria.ie Chair: Peter D Coyle Secretary: Raymond Alcorn

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Marine Institute Rinville, Oranmore Co Galway, H91 R673 Tel: 091 387 200 Web: www.marine.ie Email: institute.mail@marine.ie CEO: Paul Connolly

Representative bodies

Meitheal na Gaoithe (Irish Wind Farmers’ Association) Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre Burrells Hall St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny Tel: 056 779 0856 Web: www.mnag.ie Email: info@mnag.ie Chair: Grattan Healy Director: James Carville National Offshore Wind Association of Ireland (NOW Ireland) 2 Marine Court Blackrock, Co Louth Tel: 042 932 2952 Web: www.nowireland.ie Email: info@nowireland.ie RenewableNI Arthur House, 41 Arthur Street Belfast, BT1 4GB Tel: +44 (0)28 9044 6240 Web: www.RenewableNI.com Email: steven.agnew@RenewableNI.com Head: Steven Agnew Solar Energy Society of Ireland (SESI) c/o Focas Institute Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Kevin Street Dublin 8 Web: www.sesireland.ie Email: sesireland@gmail.com Secretary: Sarah McCormack

Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) Sycamore House, Millennium Park Osberstown, Naas, Co Kildare W91 D627 Tel: 045 899 341 Web: www.iwea.com Email: office@iwea.com CEO: David Connolly

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Local energy agencies The Association of Irish Energy Agencies (AIEA) was established in November 1998 to represent the interests of its members in both the North and South of Ireland. The Association presently consists of a network of energy agencies and recently welcomed a number of county councils with no energy agencies as members.

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The overall aim of the Association is to promote renewable energy and the rational use of energy, to improve the quality of the environment and to contribute to sustainable development. The Association has worked closely with government and relevant local authorities to support the establishment of new agencies.

The Association of Irish Energy Agencies (AIEA) c/o Tipperary Energy Agency Erasmus Smith House Church Street, Cahir Co Tipperary Tel: 052 744 3090 Chair: Alex Hamilton Secretariat: Françoise Hickey, Tipperary Energy Agency 3 Counties Energy Agency Kilkenny Research and Innovation Centre Burrell’s Hall St Kieran’s College Kilkenny R95 TP64 Tel: +353 (0)56 779 0856 Web: www.3cea.ie Email: admin@3cea.ie Manager: Paddy Phelan Bryson Energy Head Office Unit 2 Rivers Edge 13-15 Ravenhill Road Belfast, BT6 8DN Tel: +44 (0)28 9045 5008 Web: www.brysonenergy.org Contact: Nigel Brady CODEMA The Loft, 2-4 Crown Alley Temple Bar Dublin 2, D02 TK74 Tel: 01 707 9818 Web: www.codema.ie Email: codema@codema.ie Contact: Donna Gartland

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Cork City Energy Agency Room 236 City Hall Cork Tel: +353 (0)21 494 1508 Email: kevin.mcgill@corkcity.ie Contact: Kevin McGill Cork County Energy Agency Cork County Council, Energy Section Mallow Recycling Centre Quartertown Industrial Estate Mallow, Co Cork Tel: 022 43610 Email: jean.sayers@corkcoco.ie Contact: Jean Sayers Galway Energy Agency Limited City Hall, College Road, Galway Galway County Council Energy Programme County Buildings Prospect Hill Galway Kerry County Council Áras an Chontae, Rathass Road Tralee, Co Kerry Tel: 066 718 3500 Email: Gerry O’Riordan Contact: goriordan@kerrycoco.ie Mayo County Council Arran Place, Ballina, Co Mayo Tel: (094) 906 4000 Contact: Laura Dixon Meath County Council Energy Unit – Transportation Section County Hall Railway Street Navan, Co Meath Tel: 046 909 7000 Email: lfagan@meathcoco.ie Contact: Lara Fagan Midlands Energy Agency Laois County Council County Hall JFL Avenue Portlaoise Tel: 057 867 4350 Tipperary Energy Agency Limited Erasmus Smith House, Church Street Cahir, E21 HP66, Co Tipperary Web: www.tea.ie Tel: 052 744 3090 Email: info@tippenergy.ie Acting Chief Executive Officer: Siona Daly

Waterford Energy Bureau Civic Offices Dungarvan Co Waterford Tel: 0761 102 020 Web: www.waterfordcouncil.ie Email: lfleming@waterfordcouncil.ie Contact: Liam Fleming

County Council members of the AIEA Kildare County Council Tel: 045 980 200 Louth County Council Tel: 042 933 5457

Renewable energy companies ABB Limited Head Office Belgard Road Tallaght, Dublin 24 D24 KD78 Tel: 01 405 7300 Web: www.abb.com Email: marketing@ie.abb.com Balcas Limited 75 Killadeas Road, Laragh Ballinamallard Enniskillen, BT94 2ES Tel: +44 (0)28 6632 3003 Web: www.balcas.com Email: info@balcas.com Bord na Móna Main Street, Newbridge Co Kildare, W12 XR59 Tel: 045 439 000 Web: www.bordnamona.ie Head of Powergen Development: John Reilly Bord Gáis Energy One Warrington Place Dublin 2 Tel: 01 233 5000 Web: www.bordgaisenergy.ie Email: info@bordgais.ie Managing Director: Dave Kirwan Brookfield Renewable Lapp's Quay Centre, Cork Tel: + 353 (0) 21 422 3600 Email: ciaran.obrien@brookfieldrenewable.com Web: www.brookfieldrenewable.com Chief Commercial Officer: Ciaran O’Brien

2021 1-2 June 2021 Croke Park, Dublin

Sponsorship opportunities available For more information +353 (0)1 661 3755 • www.energyireland.ie • info@energyireland.ie

Calor Longmile Road, Dublin 12 Tel: 01 1850 812 450 NI: +44 (0)28 9045 5588 Web: www.calorgas.ie Chief Executive: Duncan Osborne

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Clearpower The Green House Hibernian Industrial Estate Greenhills Road Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 462 5000 Email: info@clearpower.ie Contact: Tom Sheehy ElectroRoute 1st Floor, Marconi House Digges Lane Dublin 2, D02 TD60 Tel: 01 687 5700 Web: www.electroroute.com Email: info@electroroute.com CEO: Ronan Doherty EirGrid The Oval 160 Shelbourne Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4, D04 FW28 Tel: 01 677 1700 Web: www.eirgridgroup.com Email: info@eirgrid.com Chief Executive: Mark Foley Energia – Renewables The Liberty Centre Blanchardstown Retail Park Dublin 15 D15 YT2H Tel: 01 869 2000 Web: www.energia.ie Managing Director: Peter Baillie ESB Two Gateway Eastwall Road Dublin 3, D03 A995 Tel: 01 676 5831 Web: www.esb.ie Email: info@esb.ie Chief Executive: Pat O’Doherty Gas Networks Ireland Gasworks Road, Cork T12 RX96 Tel: 021 453 4000 Web: www.gasnetworks.ie Email: networksinfo@gasnetworks.ie Managing Director: Denis O’Sullivan

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GE Grid Solutions Tel: +353 1 402 1100 Web: www.gegridsolutions.com Email: GridSolutions.Ireland@ge.com Country Sales Director: Séamus Ó Caoimh Greenlink Interconnector Limited c/o Mason Hayes & Curran Limited South Bank House, Barrow Street Dublin 4, D04 TR29 Web: www.greenlink.ie Email: info@greenlink.ie Indaver Ireland The Highline, 1st Floor Bakers Point, Pottery Road Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Tel: 01 697 2900 Web: www.indaver.ie Mainstream Renewable Power Top Floor, Arena House Arena Road, Sandyford Dublin 18, D18 V8P6 Tel: 01 290 2000 Web: www.mainstreamrp.com Email: info@mainstreamrp.com Group Chief Executive: Mary Quaney Nordex Energy Ireland Ltd Clonmel House Business Centre Clonmel House, Forster Way Swords Demesne, Swords Co Dublin Tel: 01 897 0260 Web: www.nordex-online.com Email: ireland@nordex-online.com NTR plc Burton Court, Burton Hall Drive Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 Y2T8 Tel: 01 206 3700 Web: www.ntrplc.com Email: info@ntrplc.com Chief Executive: Rosheen McGuckian Oriel Windfarm Limited Digital Office Centre Balheary Road Swords, Co Dublin Tel: 01 963 0313 Web: www.orielwindfarm.ie Email: contact@orielwindfarm.ie

RWE Renewables Ireland Limited Unit 5, Desart House Lower New Street Kilkenny, R95 H488 Web: www.rwe.com/ireland Email: ireland@rwe.com Contact: Cathal Hennessy SIAC Wind Energy Dolcain House, Monastery Road Clondalkin, Dublin 22 D22 F8F5 Tel: 01 403 3111 Web: www.siac.ie Email: info@siac.ie Siemens Limited Innovation House DCU Innovation Campus Old Finglas Road, Dublin 11 Tel: 01 216 2241 Web: www.siemens.ie Email: gary.ocallaghan@siemens.com Contact: Gary O’Callaghan SSE Ireland Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 655 6400 Web: ireland.sse.com Managing Director: Stephen Wheeler SSE Renewables Red Oak South South County Business Park Leopardstown Dublin, D18 W688 Tel: +353 1 655 6400 Director of Capital Projects: Paul Cooley Veolia Suite 18, Plaza 256 Blanchardstown Corporate Park 2 Blanchardstown Dublin 15, D15 TR96 Tel: 01 870 1200 Web: www.veolia.ie

Service providers ABCO Marine 282 Moira Road Lisburn, BT28 2TU 39 Pine Valley Avenue Rathfarnham Dublin 16 Tel: +44 (0)28 9262 2731 Web: www.abcomarine.co.uk Email: info@abcomarine.co.uk

Arctic Ships Agents Roshine Road, Killybegs Co Donegal Tel: +44 (0)74 974 1165 Web: www.arcticshipsagents.com Email: info@arcticshipsagents.com Arup Consulting Engineers One Albert Quay Cork, T12 X8N6 Tel: 021 422 3200 Web: www.arup.com Email: cork@arup.com Contact: Liam Luddy CADFEM Ireland Unit G3, The Stockyard The Steelworks, Foley Street Dublin 1, D01 YW42 Tel: 01 6763 765 Web: www.cadfem.net/ie Email: info@cadfem.ie Director: Derek Sweeney Chris Mee Group Euro Business Park Little Island, Cork Tel: 021 497 8100 Web: www.cmse.ie Email: info@cmse.ie Contact: Chris Mee ENERCON Windfarm Services Ireland Ltd Unit 14, Northwood House Northwood Business Campus Santry, Dublin Tel: 01 893 4020 Email: sales.ireland@enercon.de

Mott MacDonald Ireland Ltd South Block, Rockfield Dundrum, Dublin 16 Tel: 01 291 6700 Web: www.mottmac.com/ireland Email: dublin@mottmac.com Director: Conor O’Donovan

Gemserv Fitzwilliam Hall Business Centre Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 669 4630 Web: www.gemserv.com Email: info@gemserv.com Contact: Sarah Fuller

P&O Maritime Services Parkmore Business Park West, Galway Tel: 091 773 980 Web: www.pomaritime.com

Hydrographic Surveys Limited The Cobbles, Crosshaven, Co Cork Tel: 021 483 1184 Web: www.hydrosurvey.com Email: info@hydrosurvey.com IGSL Ltd Unit F, M7 Business Park Naas, Co Kildare Tel: 045 846 176 Web: www.igsl.ie Email: info@igsl.ie Irish Drilling Ltd Old Galway Road Loughrea, Co Galway Tel: 091 841 274 Web: www.irishdrilling.ie Email: info@irishdrilling.ie Irish Dredging Company Pembroke House Pembroke Street, Cork Tel: 021 427 7399 Web: www.irishdredging.com Email: info@dominicjdaly.com Kingspan Water & Energy Ltd 180 Gilford Road, Portadown Co Armagh, BT63 5LF Tel: +44 (0)28 3836 4400 Web: www.kingspanwaterandenergy.com Email: contact@kingspan.com Medite Europe Ltd Redmondstown, Clonmel Co Tipperary, E91 V584 Tel: 087 248 3794 Web: www.mdfosb.com Email: david.murray@mdfosb.com Contact: David Murray

Ridgeway Unit 1&2 Greene Park, Ratoath Road Ashbourne, Co Meath, A84 XD98 Tel: 01 802 7173 Web: www.ridgeway-online.com Email: info@ridgeway-online.com

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Aecom 4th Floor, Adelphi Plaza Adelphi Centre George’s Street Upper Dun Laoghaire, A96 T927 Tel: 01 238 3100 Web: www.aecom.com

Gardline Endeavour House Admiralty Road, Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR30 3NG Tel: +44 (0)1493 845 600 Web: www.gardline.com Email: enquiries@gardline.com

RPS Group West Pier Business Campus Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin A96 N6T7 Tel: 01 488 2900 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/ireland Contact: Olivier Gaillot Shannon Foynes Port Company Harbour Office Foynes, Co Limerick Tel: 069 73 100 Web: www.sfpc.ie Email: info@sfpic.ie Sensus UK Fifth Floor Office 210 High Holborn London, WC1V 7DL Email: contactemea@sensus.com Shamrock Solar Energies Ltd Doora Industrial Estate, Quin Road Ennis, Co Clare Tel: 065 686 8468 Web: www.shamrocksolar.com Email: info@shamrocksolar.com SLR Consulting Ireland 7 Dundrum Business Park Dundrum Road Windy Arbour, Dublin 14 D14 N2Y7 Tel: 01 296 4667 Email: noniell@slrconsulting.com Contact: Nick O’Neill

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Smith Brothers Power Engineering Ltd 3 Inns Quay Dublin Tel: 01 903 6480 Web: www.smithbrothers.ie Email: info@smithbrothers.ie

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SmartBay Ireland GMIT Innovation Hub (IHub) Galway Dublin Road, Galway H91 DCH9 Tel: 091 394 253 Web: www.smartbay.ie Email: info@smartbay.ie General Manager: John Breslin Solmatix Ltd 10 Tully Road, Nutts Corner Co Antrim, BT29 4SW Tel: +44 (0)28 9082 4000 SSL International Marine Ltd Main Street, Foynes, Co Limerick Tel: 069 65 710 Web: www.sslmarine.ie Email: services@sslmarine.ie Contact: Helen Fitzgerald Subsea Marine Limited 15 Belfry Gardens, Dundalk Co Louth, A91 V5Y6 Tel: 087 254 7362 Web: www.subseamarine.ie Email: paddy@subseamarine.ie TechWorks Marine Pottery Enterprise Zone Pottery Road, Dún Laoghaire Co Dublin, A96 K571 Tel: 01 236 5990 Web: www.techworks.ie Email: office@techworks.ie Chief Executive: Charlotte O’Kelly

Legal advisors A&L Goodbody Solicitors International Financial Services Centre North Wall Quay Dublin 1, D01 H104 Tel: 01 649 2000 Web: www.algoodbody.com Email: rmoore@algoodbody.com Partner: Ross Moore 42/46 Fountain Street Belfast, BT1 5EF Tel: +44 (0)28 9031 4466 Email: belfast@algoodbody.com Partner: Mark Stockdale Arthur Cox Ten Earlsfort Terrace Dublin, D02 T380 Tel: 01 920 1000 Web: www.arthurcox.com Email: dublin@arthurcox.com Partner: Alex McLean Victoria House Gloucester Street Belfast, BT1 4LS Tel: +44 (0)28 9023 0007 Email: belfast@arthurcox.com Byrne Wallace 88 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 D02 DK18 Tel: 01 691 5000 Web: www.byrnewallace.com Email: gblake@byrnewallace.com Contact: Gavin Blake Beauchamps Solicitors Riverside Two, Sir John Rogerson's Quay Dublin 2, D02 KV60 Tel: 01 418 0600 Web: www.beauchamps.ie Email: info@beauchamps.ie Carson McDowell Murray House, Murray Street Belfast, BT1 6DN Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 4951 9 Windsor Place Dublin 2, D02 YF30 Tel: 01 9053 720 Web: www.carson-mcdowell.com Email: law@carson-mcdowell.com Senior Partner: Neasa Quigley

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Elva Carbery Pembroke House 28-32 Upper Pembroke Street Dublin 2 D02 EK84 Tel: +353 86 839 9224 Web: www.elvacarbery.ie Email: elva@elvacarbery.ie Eugene F Collins Temple Chambers, 3 Burlington Road Dublin 4, D04 RD68 Tel: 01 202 6400 Web: www.efc.ie Email: lawyer@efc.ie Partner: Mark Walsh Eversheds Sutherland One Earlsfort Centre, Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2 Tel: 01 664 4200 Scottish Provident Building 7 Donegall Square West Belfast, BT1 6JH Tel: +44 (0)28 9091 8200 Web: www.eversheds-sutherland.com Email: markvarian@evershedssutherland.ie Partner: Mark Varian Fieldfisher The Capel Building Mary’s Abbey, Dublin 7 Tel: 01 828 0600 Web: www.fieldfisher.ie Email: info.ireland@fieldfisher.com LKG Solicitors The Forum 29-31 Glasthule Road, Glasthule Co Dublin Tel: 01 231 1417 Web: www.lkgsolicitors.ie Email: info@lkgsolicitors.ie LK Shields Solicitors 40 Upper Mount Street Dublin 2, D02 PR89 Tel: 01 661 0866 Web: www.lkshields.ie Email: pdaly@lkshields.ie Partner: Philip Daly Maples and Calder 75 St. Stephen’s Green Dublin 2, D02 PR50 Tel: 01 619 2000 Web: www.maplesandcalder.com

Mason Hayes & Curran Barrow Street, Dublin 4 D04 TR29 Tel: 01 614 5000 Web: www.mhc.ie Email: acosgrove@mhc.ie Partner: Ailín Cosgrove

William Fry Solicitors 2 Grand Canal Square Dublin 2, D02 A342 Tel: 01 639 5000 Web: www.williamfry.com Email: info@williamfry.com Partner: Liam McCabe

Matheson 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 232 2000 Web: www.matheson.com Email: garret.farrelly@matheson.com Partner: Garret Farrelly

William Orbinson QC Senior Counsel 91 Chicester Street Belfast, BT1 3JQ Tel: 078 6024 5324 Email: william.orbinson@barlibrary.com

O’Flynn Exhams 58 South Mall, Cork Tel: 021 427 7788 Web: www.ofx.ie Email: info@ofx.ie Philip Lee Solicitors 7/8 Wilton Terrace Dublin 2, D02 KC57 Tel: 01 237 3700 Web: www.philiplee.ie Email: smccabe@philiplee.ie Partner: Siobhan McCabe Pinsent Masons LLP 1 Windmill Lane, Dublin 2 D02 F206 Tel: 01 553 8600 The Soloist Building, 1 Lanyon Place Belfast, BT1 3LP Tel: 028 9089 4800 Web: www.pinsentmasons.com Email: richard.murphy@pinsentmasons.com Partner: Richard Murphy Tughans Marlbrough House, 30 Victoria Street Belfast, BT1 3GG Tel: 028 9055 3300 Web: www.tughans.com Email: maria.oloan@tughans.com Partner: Maria O’Loan

Financial and economic advisors Accenture 3 Grand Canal Plaza Grand Canal Street Upper Dublin 4 Tel: 01 407 6000 Web: www.accenture.com AIB Group Group Headquarters Bankcentre Dublin 4 Tel: 01 660 0311 Web: www.aibcorporate.ie Contact: Eoghan O’Neill

Bedford House, 16 Bedford Street Belfast, BT2 7DT Tel: +44 (0)28 9044 3500 Goodbody Corporate Finance Ballsbridge Park, Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Tel: 01 667 0400 Web: www.goodbody.ie Email: finbarr.j.griffin@goodbody.ie Contct: Finbarr Griffin

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McCann Fitzgerald Riverside One Sir John Rogerson’s Quay Dublin, D02 X576 Tel: 01 829 0000 Web: www.mccannfitzgerald.ie Email: valerie.lawlor@mccannfitzgerald.com Partner: Valerie Lawlor

EY EY Building Harcourt Centre Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 475 0555 Web: www.ey.com/en_ie

KPMG 1 Harbourmaster Place IFSC, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 410 1000 Web: www.kpmg.com Email: mike.hayes@kpmg.com Partner and Global Head of Renewables: Mike Hayes PwC One Spencer Dock North Wall Quay, Dublin 1 Tel: 01 792 6000 Web: www.pwc.ie Contact: Ronan MacNioclais

Bank of Ireland Global Markets 2 Burlington Plaza, Burlington Road Dublin 4 Tel: 0766 244 400 Web: www.bankofireland.com/corporate

Waterfront Plaza 8 Laganbank Road Belfast, BT1 3LR Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 5454

Barclays Two Park Place, Hatch Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 618 2600 Web: www.barclays.ie Email: Ireland.corporate@barclays.com Contact: Tom Wilkinson

Surety Bonds Insurance House Main Street, Townparks Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim Tel: +353 (0)71 962 3228 Email: bonds@suretybonds.ie Managing Director: Colm McGrath

BNP Paribas 5 George’s Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1 D01 X8N7 Tel: 01 612 5000 Web: www.bnpparibas.ie Email: dublin.queries@bnpparibas.com

Ulster Bank Corporate Markets 33 College Green, Dublin Tel: 1850 211 690 Web: www.ulsterbank.ie Email: karen.doyle@ulsterbank.com Contact: Karen Doyle

Davy Corporate Finance Ltd Davy House, 49 Dawson Street Dublin 2 Tel: 01 679 6363 Web: www.davy.ie Email: dcf@davy.ie

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Importance of communities in a distributed energy future renewable energy magazine

Paul MacArtain of DkIT’s Centre for Renewable Energy discusses an allisland approach to decarbonisation through energy storage.

Many of the targets set in legislation and corporate commitments currently reference 2030 as being the date for successful achievement. So, as we seek ways to encourage/enforce decarbonisation of the heating and transport sectors and reduce emissions from agriculture in Ireland, rural communities are quickly becoming the focus of legislative and political pressure to comply.

Many citizens in rural areas are well aware of, and in agreement with, the environmental issues and have been complying with changes to farming practices for many years. Social efforts such as Tidy Towns, EU funding such as LEADER, the role of the GAA and sporting activities in communities all provide structures on which to build local sustainability efforts.

The Centre for Renewables and Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology (CREDIT) is focused on distributed and applied energy research. We are currently supported by the SPIRE 2 project funded by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body. With our colleagues in Ulster University, Queen’s University Belfast, Strathclyde University and industry partners Arbarr and Sunamp we are studying how an all-island approach to decarbonising the

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energy future through energy storage can be achieved. Energy storage in all its forms is the key to unlocking the potential of renewable technologies. We have an abundance of renewable energy and with more planned the focus shifts from generation to integration.

Distributed wind generation is prevalent in Northern Ireland and our SPIRE 2 research is contributing to IEA Wind Task 41, Enabling wind to contribute to a distributed energy future by researching how distributed wind can be best integrated through storage technologies. Many will be aware of the constraint and dispatch down issues already prevalent and as we study the future development of the grid, there are a number of ways suggested to achieve decarbonisation. Perhaps increased distributed flexible demand could help?

Our colleagues in Ulster University are leading a SPIRE 2 initiative called RULET (Rural Led Energy Transition) which will model and demonstrate heat technology operation in grid constrained parts of Northern Ireland with a view to alleviating grid issues. This addresses both electrical penetration in the heat sector and decarbonising heat technologies. One of the more interesting models they are testing is that of a hybrid heat pump, where a heat pump and fossil boiler co-exist in a heating system. This technology combination may find greater consumer buy-in in rural areas, where the tried and trusted technology, the oil boiler in reserve, is married to the decarbonising and potentially grid responsive heat

pump to achieve an outcome of consumer reassurance with decarbonisation.

Farms are also combined enterprises, with a residential component and a business component. Researching farm energy often includes a focus on domestic retrofits. We work closely with one of Ireland’s leading community based energy retrofit organisations, the Dunleer Energy Team who have supported, answered and implemented over 260 domestic premises retrofits since 2016. Their feedback is that communities are open to change and willing to spend if there is a demonstrable long-term benefit. They have more applicants than they can deliver projects for each year, which is very encouraging. Dunleer also wishes to educate its participants, and our role is to assist them to empower citizens with sufficient information to make informed decisions.

Much of the energy industry focus is from the grid level downwards and integration of renewables provides an ample resource from which to draw.

Enabling consumers through technology integration and education will have some impact but ultimately widespread adoption and embracing decarbonisation will take some time.

The good news is that all of the raw materials are in place for the island of Ireland to become a more resilient, decarbonised and more secure place where future generations can grow.

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