Eirgrid
Encyclopedia
EirGrid plc is the state-owned electric power transmission
operator in the Republic of Ireland
. It is a public limited company
registered under the Companies Acts; Its shares are held by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who appoints the board and the Minister for Finance. It is one of the state-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland
and is regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation
.
The transmission assets constitute 6,500 km of overhead line and underground cable, as well as over 100 bulk substations. The system's significance for competition is that most large independent generators connect to the transmission system and utilise it to transport their power to all regions. EirGrid also operates the wholesale power market.
In October 2008, EirGrid launched a long-term strategy for developing the transmission system, entitled Grid25. The strategy proposes doubling the capacity of the transmission grid, to support economic growth, integrating more renewable energy and regional development. It will comprise an investment of €4 billion. On 22 August 2008, EirGrid agreed to buy System Operator Northern Ireland. This was finalised in Spring 2009, following regulatory approval by NI, UK and the Irish Governments and regulators after a consultation period.
EirGrid announced in April 2010 that Grid 25 would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs in the Republic of Ireland.
As of 2011, EirGrid is constructing the 500 MW East–West Interconnector submarine cable
between Ireland and the UK.
EirGrid has its own separate board and is regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation
and its shares are held by the Irish government
. EirGrid is responsible for balancing electricity consumption and generation, for the safe, secure and economical operation of the power system, and for the planning and development of the Irish power grid. Under the Single Electricity Market, EirGrid operates the wholesale power market on the island of Ireland with SONI System Operator of Northern Ireland (SONI), which it now owns. More information on the functions of EirGrid, along with graphs of electricity demand/wind generation output updated every 15 minutes, are available on its website www.eirgrid.com. Information on the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) is also at that website.
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
operator in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is a public limited company
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
registered under the Companies Acts; Its shares are held by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources who appoints the board and the Minister for Finance. It is one of the state-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland
State-sponsored bodies of the Republic of Ireland
A State-Sponsored Body is the name given in Ireland to a state-owned enterprise , that is to say, a commercial business which is benficially owned, either completely or majority, by the Irish Government...
and is regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation
Commission for Energy Regulation
The Commission for Energy Regulation-An Coimisiún Rialall Fuinnimh is the independent body responsible for overseeing the liberalisation of Ireland's energy sector regulating the electricity and natural gas sectors in the Republic of Ireland. The CER was initially established as the Commission for...
.
History
EirGrid was established under Irish and European laws including the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000, to enable competition in the Irish power sector It took over operation of the National Power System on July 1, 2006. While the ESB currently holds ownership of the physical assets, a Government white paper on energy policy proposes transferring ownership of the transmission assets to EirGrid in order to encourage competition and benefit consumers. This has been backed up by a commitment in the Government's Framework for Economic Recovery and a statement by former Minister Eamon Ryan that he is establishing a process for this transfer.The transmission assets constitute 6,500 km of overhead line and underground cable, as well as over 100 bulk substations. The system's significance for competition is that most large independent generators connect to the transmission system and utilise it to transport their power to all regions. EirGrid also operates the wholesale power market.
In October 2008, EirGrid launched a long-term strategy for developing the transmission system, entitled Grid25. The strategy proposes doubling the capacity of the transmission grid, to support economic growth, integrating more renewable energy and regional development. It will comprise an investment of €4 billion. On 22 August 2008, EirGrid agreed to buy System Operator Northern Ireland. This was finalised in Spring 2009, following regulatory approval by NI, UK and the Irish Governments and regulators after a consultation period.
EirGrid announced in April 2010 that Grid 25 would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs in the Republic of Ireland.
As of 2011, EirGrid is constructing the 500 MW East–West Interconnector submarine cable
Submarine cable
Submarine cable may refer to:*Submarine communications cable*Submarine power cable...
between Ireland and the UK.
Role
EirGrid's primary purposes are the daily management of the Irish national grid, the operation of the wholesale power market, and the development of high voltage infrastructure to serve Ireland's economy. The high voltage transmission system has been likened to "motorways for power" or "broadband power" providing electricity in high quality and in bulk to all regions. Transmission is seen as a key factor in facilitating inward investment by bodies like the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) and the development body Forfas. It is also seen as critical to increased renewable energy by organisations like Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA). EirGrid is currently developing a large number of major transmission projects. It is working with the regulator in line with Irish Government policy to develop a second major transmission line to Northern Ireland and a 500 MW East West Interconnector linking the Irish power system to Great Britain. EirGrid will own that interconnector after it is developed, under the Irish Government decision.EirGrid has its own separate board and is regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation
Commission for Energy Regulation
The Commission for Energy Regulation-An Coimisiún Rialall Fuinnimh is the independent body responsible for overseeing the liberalisation of Ireland's energy sector regulating the electricity and natural gas sectors in the Republic of Ireland. The CER was initially established as the Commission for...
and its shares are held by the Irish government
Irish Government
The Government of Ireland is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland.-Members of the Government:Membership of the Government is regulated fundamentally by the Constitution of Ireland. The Government is headed by a prime minister called the Taoiseach...
. EirGrid is responsible for balancing electricity consumption and generation, for the safe, secure and economical operation of the power system, and for the planning and development of the Irish power grid. Under the Single Electricity Market, EirGrid operates the wholesale power market on the island of Ireland with SONI System Operator of Northern Ireland (SONI), which it now owns. More information on the functions of EirGrid, along with graphs of electricity demand/wind generation output updated every 15 minutes, are available on its website www.eirgrid.com. Information on the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) is also at that website.