The pathway towards the decarbonisation of modern societies will inevitably drive unprecedented step increases in our electricity consumption. The power system in Ireland will be no different.
This is likely to involve more than a doubling of electricity consumption in a short period of time– driven by the widespread electrification of heat and transport, as well as the expected growth in large energy users (LEU) that will facilitate the growth in our usage of data-based technologies. Uncertainty surrounds how this change will exactly materialise – but irrespective of advances in demand reduction innovations and efficiency gains, the kind of demand growth that has taken nearly a century to materialise will need to be accommodated again in the next two to three decades.
The Ireland transmission network as of 2025 has been developed to manage a modest historical growth in demand – reaching today’s average demand of approximately 3.5GW and a typical peak load of about 6GW. The capability of the National Control Centre (NCC) has been enhanced in recent years with better means of power system control. However, it was never envisaged to operate a power system with a peak demand of the scale of a decarbonised system – in particular, at a time when the strategic grid capacity that was put in place throughout the last century has been largely exhausted.
A more flexible and maintainable transmission network throughout the island, complemented by the adoption of new technologies, are at the forefront of change to manage a high-demand power system scenario and maintain our current levels of reliability. The scale and rapid pace of this transformation introduces both uncertainty and potential risks. Currently, no single off-the-shelf technology or solution stands out as a ‘silver bullet’ capable of fully decarbonising the power system. Some limitations are context-dependent, meaning certain solutions may be effective in some regions but not others – for example, due to grid capacity needs.
The path to achieving our net zero objective will require a diverse blend of technologies, innovative solutions and of course immediate action. We acknowledge that Ireland’s future power system will have unique and specific needs, many of which are shaped by the characteristics of a relatively small power grid.
TNEI supports Wind Energy Ireland and our clients. We are determined to break barriers, challenge conventions, and drive progress to Accelerate to Net Zero.
TNEI will be exhibiting at the Wind Energy Ireland Conference in Dublin on the 16th and 17th January 2025. If you are attending come over and shoot the breeze with us!
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