The benefits of the interconnector are clear, not only that it will improve security of supply and reduce energy costs for consumer but crucially will allow Northern Ireland to increase its capacity to handle renewable energy, which currently accounts for around two-thirds of all electricity generated.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, nobody in Ireland or the UK has thought to re-evaluate the need for the North South Interconnector given recent developments. The same lines are still being trotted out. I will deal with each below.
1) Security of Supply - According to Eirgrid the recent capacity auctions were designed by the electricity regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland to ensure sufficient capacity is secured to meet demand across the island. So therefore, Northern Ireland already has sufficient capacity. Also, electricity demand is now reduced due to the covid pandemic so what exactly is the supply issue?
2) Renewables - If renewables currently accounts for around two thirds of electricity in Northern Ireland, then they are very close to meeting their target of 70% so why is there a need for such significant investment at all to increase renewable energy if they are 94% of the way to achieving their target without it ? Furthermore, if both the North and South of Ireland are well on track to meet their 2020 renewables targets as is being publicised, then surely there is no need for sending renewable energy across the border, given that maintaining synchronous, ie non intermittent, generation is the priority during periods of high levels of renewable energy.
3) Savings - the figure of €20m (all-island) is consistently quoted. This is roughly €5m (£4.5m) for NI. These figures were based on a number of assumptions from at least 6-7 years ago. A lot of things have changed since then. Even if the figure is still correct, to put it into context, the Utility Regulator of NI gave kilroot a side deal worth £14m in a single year after the power station lost out in the first auction process. So the significant sums of money could be put to better use i.e. upgrading power stations and implementing measures that would reduce demand and consumption.
The problem with claims that we collectively are close to meet our renewables target is that they NOT TRUE. They are using what is called the Danish Conn. They equate wind output with internal market supply. It is possible to generate large amounts of electric for a relatively short few years using wind turbines. The problem they have is selling it all in the domestic market.The real reason for the north south Interconnectors is to enable the closure of coal driven generation in the North of Ireland. Without the Interconnectors the Hertz could go down as far as 48 Hertz.Blowing the grid. With the collapse in demand caused by the COVID Hoax the proper reaction commercially would be to close down about 20% wind capacity. Basic common sense tells you that having massive capacity producing output not correlated with demand that a massive % of that output, essentially junk, will have to be either curtailed or in Ireland's case dumped on to the U.K. market. So claims that we met our targets are essentially propaganda.
ReplyDeleteOther than the COVID Hoax comment, I mostly agree with above post. The blog lacks understanding of the technical reasoning. The problem with renewable enthusiasts is that they do not address grid stability and the market need for synchronous generation both in future investment and current profit making business models. They are generally ideologists. The starting point always is supply stability and reliability.
ReplyDeleteCOVID is a hoax. HSE said 1.5m Irish would be infected. 99.7% of the tests are negative, the infected according to the HSE have mild infections,nose nose colds. There is no test that can specifically detect COVID_19 as a separate corona virus.If you cannot detect it it does not exist. I agree with you on the issue of grid stability . right now the grid is totally unstable and could collapse at any time. Eirgrid engineers are try their best ,in a situation not of their choosing , with a totally absurd energy policy. But on balance I would in my opinion tend towards the opinion that a grid collapse is inevitable sooner or later.
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