EirGrid’s new strategy outlines how it will deliver a secure, clean and affordable electricity system while managing rising demand and Ireland’s transition to renewables between now and 2030. According to chief executive Cathal Marley, it focuses on maintaining system reliability today while rapidly expanding and transforming the grid for the future.
“I’m just over a year in this role, but I’ve been working in the energy sector for the past 30 years and I’ve never seen a time of such rapid change,” he says. “There is huge growth in clean and renewable energy generation, while demand is increasing at pace due to population and economic growth and the electrification of society. EirGrid is at the centre of that.”
As the transmission system operator, EirGrid is faced with the challenging task of getting the power from where it is produced to where it is needed at a time of unprecedented increases in demand.
“We need to be able to transport that energy to where it is needed safely and securely,” he adds. “It’s a lot more complex than it was in the past. Demand for electricity is growing massively. Over the past 20 years, system demand grew by 30 per cent, from 27GW to 35GW. Over the next 20 years it is predicted to grow by a further 130 per cent. Our new strategy is coming at a very important time.”
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The strategy is designed to deliver on EirGrid’s stated purpose of powering up Ireland’s electricity grid for a clean-energy future. “This means managing the transition to a future where every home, business and community is powered by secure, clean and affordable electricity,” says Marley.
‘We are designing the grid for the future to be able to transport increasing amounts of onshore and offshore wind, battery storage and solar’
Marley notes that €18.9 billion has been allocated to EirGrid and ESB Networks – the distribution system operator – for investment in the electricity system over the next five years by the Government and the regulator. “That represents a massive step change when you consider that €7.6 billion was allocated over the last five years. We plan, design and operate the transmission system, and ESB Networks builds it.”
The EirGrid strategy is based on four key pillars – keeping Ireland powered, building the backbone, transforming for clean energy, and unlocking new frontiers: offshore and interconnection.
Keeping Ireland powered involves running the existing system safely, all the time. “The electricity system has become increasingly dynamic and complex. Security and reliability always come first,” says Marley.
The building the backbone pillar is about enabling a grid for growth. “The electricity transmission system is right at the heart of Ireland’s future growth and prosperity,” he points out. “This is not just about economic growth or providing power to the major urban centres – it is about supporting society by facilitating new housing and other developments, as well as enabling regional development by bringing power to where it’s needed throughout the country.”
This will see EirGrid engage in one of the largest infrastructure programmes in the State’s history, with 381 transmission projects planned nationwide over the next five years, including 29 identified as priority projects that will deliver the highest national benefit. “We need to deliver those projects at pace,” Marley adds.
Transforming for clean energy means building a system that is bigger, faster and more flexible. “We need to ensure the system can handle renewables at scale,” he explains. “We are designing the grid for the future to be able to transport increasing amounts of onshore and offshore wind, battery storage and solar.”
The unlocking new frontiers pillar addresses EirGrid’s role in offshore wind as well as interconnection projects. “Interconnection is a big part of this,” he notes. “The Celtic Interconnector between Ireland and France is one of the largest subsea interconnectors in Europe. Onshore works are all pretty much complete and cable laying is progressing. It connects us with Europe, which will give us resilience in the form of a new source of affordable electricity, as well as opening up the European market for potential exports of offshore wind power from Ireland.”
EirGrid also has a new role as the owner of offshore transmission infrastructure, he adds. “We are setting up a new business unit to focus on offshore wind and are working closely with the wind developers. The huge scale involved means it needs a separate focus.”
‘EirGrid is involved in a lot of community engagement activity, and we do this really well’
Marley is confident that EirGrid will deliver on the goals and targets set out in the strategy. “We have a strong core of expertise and capability built up over that time,” he says. “Over the past five years we have grown from a workforce of 500 to 1,500, and over the period of the strategy that will reach over 2,000, as we scale up to deliver.
“But we can’t do it on our own,” he adds. “It will require meaningful collaboration with all stakeholders, including local communities, customers, industry and Government. EirGrid is involved in a lot of community engagement activity, and we do this really well. There is also a need for national-level engagement on the importance of critical infrastructure for Ireland’s continued growth.”
