POWER PLANTS
AUGUST 2021
IN THE BALANCE: TACKLING IRELAND’S ENERGY CHALLENGE
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ational grid operator Eirgrid is currently in the process of seeking bids from electricity suppliers to build new power plants in the Republic to combat a potential shortage of energy. As Government, regulators and industry fear that growing demand will leave the Dublin area in particular vulnerable to power cuts, Paul Brickman from Crestchic Loadbanks explores the Irish energy challenge.
A changing energy mix Following the UN’s outlined environmental targets for all countries, Ireland has committed to achieving ‘net zero’ emissions in its economy by 2050. In fact, the government has pledged to source at least 70% of Ireland’s electricity supply from renewables by 2030. As part of this transition, some carbon-intensive power plants are being wound down and decommissioned. This change in the energy mix, combined with increased demand across the state, means that the electricity network will need new power stations in late 2024 and early 2025 to guarantee supplies in the longer term. Gas-fired flexible power generation is likely to play a role in delivering supplies during the switch to low carbon sources, with investment currently underway to improve Ireland’s gas supply pipelines. Billions are also being pledged to build wind farms off the coast that will ultimately supply thousands of megawatts of electricity to the national grid. However, with these projects unlikely to be in operation for some years yet, demand for power is continuing to grow. Growth in demand Changes in the way we live and work mean an increased reliance on power. With homes and businesses embracing both smart living and electrification, and a transition to electric vehicles and heat sources now underway, demand for power is continuing to grow. On top of this evolution in the way we consume power, a recent report from Eirgrid shows that data centres and other large energy users will consume 27 per cent of all electricity generated in the Republic by 2030. An unsurprising statistic, given that Ireland is known as Europe’s data centre capital, with Google, Amazon and Microsoft all present in the area. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has expressed concerns about the disproportionate impact that the prevalence of data centres is having on power consumption in Ireland, stating: “When the system cannot meet the demand required, the system operators are required to take measures which can include load shedding whereby customers could
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WORLDWIDE INDEPENDENT POWER
be without power for some time. The CRU therefore considers it necessary and proportionate to issue directions which promote and maintain the continuity, security and quality of supplies of electricity.” Securing the power: Next steps The race to address the deficit between demand and supply is on, with successful bidders likely to be notified in February or March, from when they will have until the last quarter of 2024 or early 2025 to build their plants and connect them to the electricity grid. According to a recent article in The Irish Post, industry sources warn that this is a tight deadline, particularly if any proposals meet planning or other objections. A similar auction held in January of this year attracted bids from power plants with the capacity to generate 6,138 megawatts of electricity. When existing operators were taken into account, only 25% of the power was new. With peak electricity demand in winter hitting around 5,500 megawatts an agreement to connect data centres with a requirement of 1,800 megawatts and applications in the pipeline for a further, 2,000 megawatts, there is still a shortfall. Meeting fluctuating demand In data centres in particular, as well as in other critical operations, diesel generators are a common solution to provide backup power if the standard electricity supply is interrupted. When power supplies falter, businesses that rely on power to operate can avoid costly and inconvenient downtime by investing in a backup supply. Diesel gensets are known for being robust and reliable, often sitting in a backroom - akin to an insurance policy in a drawer - waiting to be called upon should the worst happen. Therein lies the issue. While generators do indeed supply power in the event of an outage, they do need looking after. Just like a car engine, lubrication, cooling systems, fuel system and electrics all need to be tested to ensure faultless operation. Wherever a generator is installed, there is also a need for a load bank. These little-known bits of kit play a critical role in any power resilience strategy. Used to test the generator, a load bank creates an electrical load
that imitates the load that a generator would use under normal operational conditions. By applying the load to the generator, users can test the system in its entirely, ramping it up on full power to ensure that it will work in the event of a power outage. Conversely, not testing the system adequately puts the generator is put at risk of failure. With the fuel, exhaust and cooling system untested, along with the potential for embedded moisture, the system enters the very high-risk category, negating the very reason for which it was purchased. Mitigating the risk of power failures To mitigate this risk, all generators should be tested at least annually for real-world emergency conditions using a resistive-reactive 0.8pf load bank. This type of load bank provides a picture of how well an entire system will withstand changes in load pattern while experiencing the level of power that would typically be encountered under real operational conditions. Generally a stopgap measure, generators are typically installed to run as standalone alternatives to the grid to provide an alternative power source during power outages. As well as ensuring constant power in businesses and organisations operating in areas with fluctuating supplies, generators can also be used for grid balancing. With the grid requiring a constant frequency to operate, generators can be used to increase or decrease generation, correct frequency deviations and balance supply to demand - making them vital during periods of energy transition like those underway in Ireland. All around the world, the goal of a low carbon future and investment in renewables is paving the way for a cleaner, greener way of generating electricity. In Ireland, the evolving power mix is running concurrently with overinvestment in the data centre market, resulting in a need to expand capacity fast, While change is most definitely afoot, one thing is clear, the need to have access to reliable back-up is vital to ensuring continuity of supply in the years to come. For further information visit www.crestchicloadbanks.com
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