Political opponents obstructing electricity development initiatives

Ireland's ambitious plans to transition to renewable energy and secure electricity supplies are encountering significant hurdles, as outlined in a recent discussion.

Noel Cunniffe, the chief executive of Wind Energy Ireland, highlighted the ongoing opposition to Eirgrid's north-south interconnector, a project that has successfully navigated all planning hurdles. This opposition is not unique, as both Daíl deputies and councillors tend to oppose electricity projects at the local level, Mr. Cunniffe added.

EirGrid, for its part, is planning to invest in 29 critical projects, according to Siobhán O'Shea, EirGrid's chief infrastructure officer. Meanwhile, ESB Networks is considering spending €11.6 billion up to 2030 on boosting the infrastructure that distributes electricity. These investment plans align with Government policy, including reaching the legally binding greenhouse reduction target.

However, the path to these goals is fraught with challenges. Variable renewable generation and system reliability are key concerns. Ireland’s energy scenarios involve heavy reliance on wind and solar power, necessitating alternatives to fill supply gaps during periods when these sources may not be readily available. Options under consideration include renewable generation paired with battery storage, full hydrogen conversion of gas networks, carbon capture and storage (CCS) on thermal plants, and bioenergy plants with CCS. Each alternative presents unique challenges related to infrastructure costs and feasibility.

Hydrogen infrastructure investment risks are another challenge. Hydrogen is a strategic element for energy security and long-term storage but has highly variable demand from the power sector. This variability makes hydrogen infrastructure a risky investment financially, complicating the timely development of hydrogen systems required to support green energy transitions.

Moreover, missed emissions targets and interconnector delays are causing concern. Recent data suggests that Ireland and Northern Ireland are on track to miss their 2030 power emissions targets by over 20 percentage points. A critical €350 million North-South Interconnector project has experienced a three-year delay, significantly undermining progress toward renewable integration and emissions reductions for Northern Ireland, affecting the overall grid’s ability to support climate goals.

Grid investment and cost pressures also loom large. There is a shortage of sufficient investment in grid infrastructure, threatening Ireland’s ability to fully capitalize on increasing generation capacity from renewables. Rising global energy prices and supply chain issues have further increased electricity costs in Ireland, driven partly by infrastructure-related cost recovery.

Lastly, planning and consent inconsistencies pose regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. Conflicting guidance about whether planning consent or grid connection should be prioritized delays projects and creates uncertainty. These procedural obstacles hinder the efficient deployment of new renewable capacity and related infrastructure.

Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensure that grid projects can deliver on the targets for carbon reduction and secure electricity supply. EirGrid and ESB Networks must navigate these complexities to achieve Ireland’s climate and energy security goals.

In line with Ireland's ambitious renewable energy plans, EirGrid is investing in 29 critical projects to secure electricity supplies, but the path to these goals is faced with challenges, such as variable renewable generation and system reliability.
Key concerns involve heavy reliance on wind and solar power, necessitating alternatives to fill supply gaps during periods when these sources may not be readily available, options under consideration include renewable generation paired with battery storage, full hydrogen conversion of gas networks, carbon capture and storage (CCS) on thermal plants, and bioenergy plants with CCS.
Hydrogen infrastructure investment risks are another challenge, as hydrogen has highly variable demand from the power sector, making it a risky investment financially and complicating the timely development of hydrothon systems required to support green energy transitions.
Missed emissions targets and interconnector delays are causing concern, recent data suggests that Ireland and Northern Ireland are on track to miss their 2030 power emissions targets by over 20 percentage points, and a critical €350 million North-South Interconnector project has experienced a three-year delay.
Lastly, planning and consent inconsistencies pose regulatory and bureaucratic challenges, conflicting guidance about whether planning consent or grid connection should be prioritized delays projects and creates uncertainty, these procedural obstacles hinder the efficient deployment of new renewable capacity and related infrastructure.