Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

EirGrid

EirGrid plc is the state-owned (TSO) for the , responsible for planning, developing, operating, and maintaining the national high-voltage electricity transmission grid to deliver a secure, reliable, and efficient power supply. Established in 2006 pursuant to EU directives requiring the unbundling of transmission operations from generation and distribution activities previously handled by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), EirGrid assumed control of grid management to foster competition and investment in the sector. As Ireland pursues ambitious renewable energy targets, EirGrid has prioritized grid enhancements to accommodate variable wind and solar generation, notably through the DS3 Programme, which advanced system stability techniques to enable up to 40% instantaneous non-synchronous renewable penetration without compromising reliability. The organization collaborates with SONI, the TSO for Northern Ireland, under the EirGrid Group to operate the all-island Single Electricity Market, facilitating cross-border power flows and coordinated planning out to 2030. EirGrid's projects, however, have encountered substantial , exemplified by protests against overhead pylons for interconnectors like the North-South line, which highlighted tensions between , visual amenity, and landowner rights, ultimately prompting shifts to underground cabling despite elevated expenses.

Overview

Establishment and Mandate

EirGrid , a wholly state-owned , was established in 2006 as the independent (TSO) for the , taking operational control of the national high-voltage grid from the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). This handover, originally planned earlier but delayed by five years, implemented Ireland's commitments under directives, separating transmission operations from generation and supply to promote competition and efficiency. The company was incorporated pursuant to the European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 445/2000), which transposed Directive 96/92/EC into Irish law to foster an internal energy market. EirGrid's statutory mandate, designated by the Irish Government and regulated by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), centers on developing, managing, and operating the to guarantee secure, reliable, and cost-effective supply across . Key responsibilities include real-time balancing of generation and demand, maintaining grid stability and frequency control, and planning infrastructure expansions to accommodate growing integration, with targets such as 80% by 2030. As Market Operator, it jointly administers the all-island with SONI Ltd—the TSO for , acquired by EirGrid in 2009—overseeing wholesale trading, capacity auctions, and cross-border flows via interconnectors like the East-West link to . The Government has further designated EirGrid as Transmission Asset Owner (TAO) for Ireland's offshore grid, extending its role to submarine cable projects and interconnections, such as the planned Celtic Interconnector .

Organizational Structure and Governance

EirGrid operates as a state-owned , with all shares held by the Irish Government via the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. As Ireland's , it functions independently from asset ownership but under strict regulatory oversight by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which approves revenue models, investment plans, and compliance with operational standards through periodic price reviews, such as the Price Review 6 framework for 2026–2030 investments exceeding €14 billion. The governance structure follows the for the Governance of State Bodies (2016), prioritizing board independence, accountability, and risk oversight to align with objectives. The , limited to 10 members and appointed by the for the , and Communications for terms up to eight years, establishes the company's strategic direction, values, and purpose while monitoring the Chief Executive's execution of operations. Predominantly non-executive, the board ensures separation from daily management, approves annual budgets and risk frameworks, and conducts performance evaluations, with conflicts addressed via a Directors' . Supporting the board are dedicated committees: the Audit and Risk Committee supervises financial reporting, internal audits, and ; the Committee sets compensation for the Chief Executive and senior executives in accordance with pay policy; the Grid Projects Committee reviews major transmission developments; the Power System and Markets Development Committee advises on operational and market strategies; and the Offshore Committee focuses on submarine grid initiatives. Executive leadership, led by Chief Executive Marley since his appointment, includes key roles such as Chief Governance Officer and Company Secretary Martin Corrigan, Michael Behan, and heads of operations, planning, and commercial functions, reporting directly to the CEO. The broader organizational structure divides into the EirGrid Group, incorporating wholly-owned subsidiary as Northern Ireland's TSO for all-island coordination, with functional departments spanning finance and legal, and , external affairs, system operations, development, and market services to execute and balancing. This setup facilitates independent system operation while enabling regulatory and ministerial accountability, including annual reports to the CRU and scrutiny.

Historical Development

Founding and Early Operations (2000–2010)

EirGrid was established as Ireland's independent (TSO) pursuant to the (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations 2000 (S.I. No. 445/2000), enacted on 8 December 2000 to transpose EU Directive 96/92/EC into Irish law. These regulations mandated the functional separation of from , supply, and asset ownership to promote , non-discriminatory third-party to , and secure supply. EirGrid was incorporated as a state-owned under the Companies Acts to fulfill this role, with statutory obligations including system planning, , maintenance coordination, and compliance enforcement. In its initial operations from 2001 onward, EirGrid assumed responsibility for real-time management of the high-voltage transmission network (operating at 400 kV, 220 kV, and 110 kV), previously handled internally by the Electricity Supply Board (ESB). This included dispatch of generation, frequency control, voltage regulation, and emergency response, while ESB retained asset ownership and construction duties under a regulated framework. EirGrid developed and implemented the Irish Grid Code, first published in 2000 and revised iteratively, to standardize technical requirements for grid connection, operation, and metering, ensuring system stability amid growing integration of independent power producers. From 2000 to 2010, EirGrid's activities centered on accommodating Ireland's rapid , with demand increasing by approximately 50% over the decade due to , industrialization, and emergence. Key efforts included annual transmission forecasting statements under Section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, identifying reinforcement needs such as new 400 kV lines and substations to alleviate constraints in high-load areas like and the southeast. EirGrid initiated planning for major interconnections, including the North-South 400 kV line (development approved in 2007) and the East-West Interconnector to (construction started 2007, targeting 500 MW capacity). In 2007, it co-launched the all-island Single Market (SEM) with Northern Ireland's SONI, facilitating cross-border wholesale trading and market coupling while maintaining separate system operations. These steps addressed supply security challenges, including variable wind generation , which rose from negligible levels to over 1,000 MW connected by 2010.

Expansion and Renewable Focus (2011–2020)

In 2011, EirGrid initiated the implementation phase of its Grid25 strategy, a comprehensive plan to upgrade Ireland's electricity transmission grid through reinforcements, new substations, and high-voltage lines to support and connections. The Grid25 Implementation Programme 2011–2016 prioritized over 100 projects, including the development of 400 kV infrastructure in eastern regions and enhancements to accommodate projected demand increases of up to 50% by 2025. This expansion addressed constraints identified in earlier assessments, such as bottlenecks in the and southeast, where limited capacity hindered generator connections. Concurrently, EirGrid launched the DS3 Programme in , titled "Delivering a Secure Sustainable System," in partnership with SONI to integrate higher levels of variable renewable generation while maintaining stability. The initiative responded to Ireland's national target of 40% renewable electricity by 2020, focusing on managing non-synchronous sources like wind through enhanced system services, flexibility requirements for conventional plants, and operational tools. By 2016, interim arrangements for 11 system services were procured, with enduring tariffs and performance scalars implemented by 2018 to incentivize generator participation. The DS3 Programme enabled instantaneous renewable penetration to reach 65% by 2018, a milestone for systems dominated by inverter-based generation, through innovations like faster and management. By 2020, renewable sources accounted for 43% of Ireland's , exceeding the 40% target amid challenges from wind variability and limited interconnections. These efforts, supported by the Transmission Development Plan 2012–2022, reinforced grid capacity for renewables while prioritizing security criteria under the European Grid Code.

Recent Developments and Restructuring (2021–Present)

In November 2021, EirGrid published the Shaping Our Electricity Future , outlining network, market, and operational transformations required to achieve 80% renewable penetration by 2030, building on prior consultations and evolving from an initial target of 70%. This initiative emphasized grid modernization, including enhanced system operations for high renewable integration, such as advanced forecasting, flexibility markets, and management without synchronous generation. The has since evolved through updates, with SOEF 1.1 refining strategies for the elevated 80% goal amid increasing demand and variable renewable output. EirGrid's Network Delivery Portfolio anticipates over 350 reinforcement and connection projects between 2021 and 2030 to support renewable expansion, with 26 projects energized in 2024 alone, including advancements in the program and 110 line. In its 2024 , EirGrid recorded a pre-tax of €9.8 million, a record of 5,557 MW, and renewables contributing 41.7% of generation, reflecting accelerated connections of nearly 1.5 GW of new capacity during the year. To facilitate offshore wind scaling, EirGrid announced a €1 billion procurement plan in April 2025 for infrastructure along Ireland's east and south coasts, aligning with broader investments totaling €3.4 billion across the island by 2030, including an additional €236 million in the latest roadmap revision. Regulatory frameworks under the Commission for Regulation of Utilities' PR5 period (2025–2029) have driven operational policy reviews, including multi-year plans for imperfections, constraints, and services, with EirGrid committing to evolve policies on frequency reserves and voltage management to reduce reliance on conventional plants. DSO-TSO coordination has intensified, featuring structured like weekly project meetings to integrate and upgrades. These adaptations address system security amid rising non-synchronous penetration, with EirGrid's 2025/2026 Winter Outlook forecasting improved reliability compared to prior years due to enhanced renewable dispatch and temporary emergency generation.

Core Operations

Transmission System Management

EirGrid, as Ireland's (TSO) established in 2006, holds statutory responsibility for the safe, secure, and economic operation of the high-voltage , including management of power flows from sources to demand centers. This involves continuous monitoring and dispatch instructions to generators and interconnectors to maintain system stability, with EirGrid forecasting and mitigating operational constraints such as transmission limits that could lead to balancing costs recovered via market imperfections charges. Operational control is centralized at the National Control Centres (NCCs) located in and , where teams operate the grid 24 hours a day to balance on a minute-by-minute basis, ensuring frequency stability at 50 Hz and preventing blackouts across the island of . EirGrid issues binding instructions under the Grid Code, which governs connection, operation, and compliance for all connected parties, enforcing standards for power quality, voltage control, and reactive power support to sustain grid integrity during normal and stressed conditions. Transmission system management extends to long-term and , where EirGrid assesses future needs through documents like the Transmission Development Plan, incorporating reinforcements to accommodate growing renewable generation and demands projected to increase from 5 in 2020 to over 8 by 2030. In 2021, EirGrid was designated as both operator and asset owner for Ireland's offshore transmission system, overseeing submarine cables and substations to integrate wind projects targeting 5 by 2030. To address reliability, EirGrid implements security measures including inertia management from synchronous generators, contingency planning for N-1 security criteria (ensuring no single failure causes outage), and emergency protocols that may involve demand disconnection as a last resort during supply shortages, as demonstrated in historical events like the 2003 where rapid restoration minimized impacts. Recent enhancements include power flow control technologies deployed since 2023 to optimize existing , reducing curtailment of renewables by dynamically redirecting flows without new lines.

Market Operations and System Balancing

EirGrid, as Ireland's Transmission System Operator (TSO), jointly operates the Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) with SONI, the TSO for Northern Ireland, through the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO), to facilitate wholesale electricity trading across the island. The I-SEM, which replaced the original Single Electricity Market and fully launched on October 1, 2018, encompasses ex-ante energy markets, including day-ahead auctions operated by SEMOpx—a subsidiary of SEMO—where generators submit bids and offers for energy delivery the following day, closing at 11:00 AM daily. Intraday markets, also managed by SEMOpx, feature three continuous trading auctions per day to allow adjustments closer to real-time delivery, promoting competition and efficient resource allocation while integrating interconnectors like the East-West Interconnector (operational since 2012) and upcoming projects such as Greenlink (2025) and the Celtic Interconnector (expected 2026). System balancing in the I-SEM addresses deviations between scheduled and actual or supply, primarily through the balancing administered by SEMO, where EirGrid and SONI nominate balancing actions to minimize costs and ensure grid stability. EirGrid's System Operations Centre continuously monitors grid conditions and issues binding dispatch instructions to generators, interconnectors, and demand-side units every minute to resolve imbalances, enforcing compliance with the Grid Code and recovering associated costs via imperfections charges levied on participants. Participants submit energy offers, bids, and bids to SEMO up to gate closure (one hour before delivery), after which SEMO selects and dispatches economically efficient actions, with EirGrid prioritizing security over pure pricing in cases of constraints or emergencies. The Balancing Market Principles Statement (BMPS), jointly prepared by EirGrid and SONI and last updated in August 2025 (version 9.0), outlines objectives such as achieving efficient balancing at least cost, providing price signals for flexibility, and accommodating renewables through mechanisms like the DS3 Programme, which procures ancillary services for frequency control and to handle . Under DS3, EirGrid has expanded procurement of fast-response services, enabling up to 75% instantaneous renewable penetration as of 2023, with targets rising to 95% by 2030 via enhanced market incentives for battery storage and . Balancing costs, including those from operational constraints, are forecasted and socialized across the system, with EirGrid responsible for their management to prevent undue burdens on consumers.

Interconnections and Cross-Border Coordination

EirGrid manages key electricity interconnectors linking the Republic of Ireland's grid to , facilitating cross-border power flows for and market integration. The East-West Interconnector (EWIC), a 500 MW (HVDC) operational since 2012, spans approximately 260 km from Woodland in , Ireland, to Deeside in , . Owned by EirGrid Interconnector DAC, it enables bidirectional electricity exchange, supporting import of up to 500 MW during and export of surplus renewable generation. The Moyle Interconnector, another 500 MW HVDC link operational since 2001, connects to western but is coordinated by EirGrid alongside SONI for all-island impacts. This 63 km subsea cable from Ballycronan More, , to Auchencrosh allows to import power from the larger , with EirGrid and SONI jointly managing ramp rates and outage responses to maintain synchronous area stability. In April 2025, the Greenlink Interconnector—a 500 MW HVDC cable of 190 km—entered operation, linking Poolbeg in to Pembroke in , further enhancing capacity to 1,500 MW total between and and enabling greater renewable exports. Looking ahead, the Celtic Interconnector, a planned 700 MW HVDC link to , will connect East , , to in , , via a 575 km route, with marine cable laying commencing in October 2025 and full operation targeted for 2027. Jointly developed by EirGrid and RTE, it aims to integrate into the broader grid for diversified imports and enhanced security, funded partly by mechanisms. Cross-border coordination involves operational protocols with SONI, the TSO, and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) in the UK to enable efficient trading and balancing. Under the (SEM), EirGrid and SONI implement Business Process Specification (BPS) SO 11.2 for cross-border balancing trades across EWIC and Moyle, allowing real-time adjustments via coordinated third-party mechanisms to optimize flows and minimize costs. They jointly adhere to Load Frequency Control Block Operational Agreements, limiting aggregate ramp rates to 10 MW/min to preserve and . EirGrid collaborates with NGET on Coordinated Security Analysis () methodologies, as mandated by , to assess capacity and risks across interconnectors, with draft proposals developed in 2023-2024. Membership in Coreso since 2017 supports regional coordination for adequacy and security, while future ties will extend protocols to RTE under ENTSO-E frameworks. These efforts prioritize empirical grid data for dispatch decisions, ensuring reliability amid variable renewables without assuming source neutrality in market projections.

Technical Framework

Grid Infrastructure and Assets

EirGrid manages Ireland's high-voltage electricity transmission system, which interconnects power generation facilities with networks and major centers. The network operates primarily at 400 for the main inter-regional backbone, supplemented by 220 and 110 circuits for sub-transmission and regional . This infrastructure consists of overhead lines, underground cables, and substations equipped with transformers and to step down voltages and enable power flow control. Onshore assets, totaling approximately 9,500 km of lines excluding certain Dublin-area 110 circuits, are owned by ESB Networks as the transmission asset owner, with EirGrid responsible for operation, planning, and development. The includes nearly 300 substations and over 6,800 km of circuits, predominantly overhead lines spanning 6,700 km, facilitating bulk power transfer across the . Recent enhancements, such as uprating 152 km of circuits, aim to increase capacity for growing demand and renewables without full reconstruction. Since December 2021, EirGrid has assumed ownership of transmission assets as part of the Offshore Electricity Grid designation, including submarine cables, platforms, and export cables to onshore substations. These assets support emerging projects, such as those awarded under the ORESS 1 in May 2023, which secured 3,074 MW of capacity requiring dedicated high-voltage (HVAC) or (HVDC) links.

Grid Code, Standards, and Compliance

The Grid Code establishes the technical and operational rules for connecting to, operating, and maintaining Ireland's electricity transmission system, ensuring its security, reliability, and efficient development. Issued by EirGrid as the transmission system operator (TSO), it specifies requirements for generators, users, and other connected parties, including performance standards for frequency control, voltage regulation, and fault ride-through capabilities. The code aligns with European directives, incorporating elements from the Requirements for Generators (RfG), Demand Connection Code (DCC), and High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) guidelines to facilitate cross-border interoperability. Key standards within the Grid Code mandate compliance for conventional generation units and power park modules (PPMs), such as and farms, requiring capabilities like active , reactive power support, and synthetic provision to address low- conditions from high renewable penetration. For PPMs with registered of 5 MW or more, EirGrid and the distribution system operator (DSO) enforce joint testing protocols to verify grid-forming abilities and system services delivery. policies further define acceptable standards for new connections, including conductor ratings, substation designs, and schemes, to minimize outages and support expansion. Compliance is verified through rigorous testing regimes, including pre-connection simulations, factory tests, and on-site commissioning trials, with non-compliant units barred from until rectified. EirGrid oversees services testing for ancillary provisions like fast and ramping capabilities, essential for balancing in a renewables-heavy grid. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) regulates enforcement, approving modifications proposed via a involving stakeholders, with Version 13 effective from January 30, 2024, reflecting updates for enhanced resilience.

System Security, Inertia, and Reliability Measures

EirGrid maintains system security through adherence to the Grid Code, which mandates Security Planning Standards, ensuring the network withstands credible contingencies such as the loss of the largest generating unit or (N-1 criterion) while preserving supply to customers. These standards incorporate deterministic reliability criteria, including and voltage limits, with EirGrid required to plan for secure operation under normal and post-disturbance conditions as outlined in Grid Code section PC.7. To address declining system from the displacement of synchronous generators by inverter-based renewables, EirGrid has deployed s, which provide rotational without active power generation. The Moneypoint , commissioned in 2022, delivers 4,000 megawatt-seconds (MWs) of alongside reactive power support and fault level contribution. In November 2024, EirGrid awarded contracts for additional s totaling 6,963 MVA-seconds of , enhancing in low- scenarios where renewable can exceed 75%. Complementary measures include the Delivering a Secure Sustainable (DS3) Programme, which procures system services like fast and augmentation to enable secure operation at high renewable levels, achieving 75% instantaneous by 2022. Reliability is bolstered by mandatory frequency control reserves, including primary, secondary, and reserves, which EirGrid dispatches to restore deviations within specified bands (e.g., 49.5–50.5 Hz under normal conditions). The Low Carbon Inertia Services (LCIS) framework, launched in 2023, incentivizes non-synchronous sources such as batteries to emulate through rapid power adjustments, with procurements ensuring minimum thresholds during peak renewable output. Ongoing system studies under the Shaping a System Fit for 2040 initiative refine operational metrics like System Non-Synchronous Penetration (SNSP) limits and minimum floors, while black-start protocols enable grid restoration from using designated units. These measures collectively mitigate risks of , with EirGrid and SONI continuously assessing supply security amid variable renewable integration.

Renewable Integration and Energy Transition

Strategies for High Renewable Penetration

EirGrid's strategies for high renewable center on enhancing system flexibility and to accommodate variable non-synchronous generation from and , which currently lack the inherent and dispatchability of conventional synchronous plants. The DS3 Programme, initiated to meet Ireland's 40% renewable electricity target by 2020, procures specialized system services—such as primary control, fast post-fault active power recovery, and reactive power—via competitive tenders to mitigate risks from and low . This has enabled instantaneous non-synchronous of up to 75%, a level achieved as a world first by March 2022, up from 50% previously, while maintaining and voltage within secure limits. To push toward a 95% instantaneous renewable by 2030, EirGrid integrates low-carbon alternatives to traditional sources, including synchronous condensers that emulate the physical properties of rotating generators without . In November 2024, four contracts were awarded for such installations in Counties Sligo, Kerry, , and , collectively delivering 6,963 MVA.s of synchronous , alongside reactive power and short-circuit contributions, with operational start targeted for 2027–2028. These reduce the minimum synchronous requirement from 5 units to 4, with further planned reductions by 2027–2028, allowing greater displacement of gas-fired generation during high renewable output periods. Grid reinforcement forms another pillar, involving targeted upgrades to transmission infrastructure—such as new overhead lines, substations, and underground cables—to minimize curtailment and facilitate renewable connections, as outlined in the Shaping Our Electricity Future framework aiming for 80% renewable electricity by 2030. Enhanced cross-border interconnections, including the existing 500 MW East-West Interconnector with and planned expansions, enable export of surplus and import of balancing power during low-generation events. Complementary measures incorporate demand-side response, where loads adjust consumption in , and emerging battery storage to provide rapid-response reserves, collectively addressing variability without over-reliance on backup thermal capacity. These approaches, evolved from DS3 into successor frameworks like FASS for enduring service procurement, prioritize empirical testing of stability limits through operational trials.

Key Initiatives and Technologies

EirGrid's DS3 Programme, launched in , establishes a framework for procuring system services to maintain grid stability amid increasing renewable penetration, enabling secure operation with up to 75% instantaneous renewable output as of 2020, with targets to reach 95% by 2030. The programme emphasizes technologies such as synthetic from turbines, primary control, and ramping capabilities from variable renewables, procured through competitive tenders to address without relying on traditional fossil fuel-based reserves. In offshore renewable development, EirGrid's Powering Up Offshore - South Coast initiative, announced in , plans to construct offshore substations and undersea cables to connect up to 5 of fixed-bottom off Ireland's southeast coast by the early 2030s, supporting national targets for 5 offshore by 2030. This includes marine surveys commencing in July 2025 for geotechnical and environmental data, alongside a €1 billion procurement for substations and high-voltage (HVAC) cables, integrated with onshore grid reinforcements. The Celtic Interconnector project, a 320 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine cable linking Ireland to France, set for commissioning in 2027, facilitates renewable energy export and import to balance variability, with a capacity of 700 MW and annual exchange potential of up to 2 TWh. Complementing this, EirGrid's Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap outlines technologies like advanced forecasting for wind and solar, dynamic line rating for existing infrastructure, and battery energy storage system integration to achieve 80% renewable electricity by 2030, incorporating over 22 GW of new capacity including 8.4 GW solar and 3 GW storage. Additional technologies under EirGrid's innovation efforts include fast-acting system services evolving from DS3, such as voltage control and capabilities from renewables, with the 2024 highlighting awards for system integration advancements in congestion management and renewable dispatch.

Challenges in Intermittency and Dispatch

The intermittency of renewable sources such as and photovoltaic poses significant operational challenges for EirGrid, as their output fluctuates unpredictably with weather conditions, complicating real-time supply-demand balancing on the Irish transmission system. This variability necessitates advanced tools and rapid response mechanisms, yet inaccuracies in predictions—stemming from meteorological uncertainties—can lead to either excess requiring curtailment or shortfalls demanding immediate dispatch of backup capacity. In 2023, experienced dispatch down equivalent to 10.7% of its available energy, reflecting the system's struggle to absorb variable output without compromising . Dispatch challenges arise primarily from the priority dispatch status of renewables under regulations, which mandates their utilization before conventional sources, but constraints often force EirGrid to curtail excess production to prevent overloads or voltage issues. Constraint-related dispatch down across the all-island reached 6.1% of in 2023, up from 5.0% the prior year, driven by transmission limitations and rising renewable penetration. By 2024, overall renewable dispatch down climbed to 8.8%, with curtailment in more than doubling year-over-year to peaks of 11.2% in certain months, underscoring the escalating pressure from variability and insufficient flexibility. These curtailments, compensated to generators, represent economic losses and inefficient resource use, as curtailed energy could otherwise contribute to but is instead "dispatched down" for security. Compounding intermittency is the non-synchronous nature of inverter-based renewables, which provide minimal inherent inertia compared to traditional synchronous generators, heightening risks of frequency instability during sudden imbalances. EirGrid has progressively raised system non-synchronous penetration limits to 75% from 50% over the past decade to integrate higher renewables, but this demands compensatory measures like fast frequency response services and synchronous condensers to emulate inertia and maintain reliability. Low-inertia conditions amplify the dispatch complexity, as rapid wind ramps or solar drops require instantaneous adjustments that gas-fired plants—still key for flexibility—must provide, though their phasing aligns with decarbonization goals exacerbates backup shortages during prolonged low-renewable periods. Ongoing procurement of inertia-mimicking technologies, including four synchronous condenser contracts awarded in 2024, aims to address these gaps, yet sustained high variability forecasts indicate persistent dispatch risks without expanded storage or interconnections.

Achievements and Economic Impact

Milestones in Grid Performance and Renewables

The DS3 (Delivering a Secure Sustainable ) programme, initiated in 2011, marked a foundational in enhancing performance to accommodate higher renewable , developing services and operational tools that enabled non-synchronous generation—primarily wind—to integrate without compromising stability. By 2018, EirGrid achieved a world-first instantaneous non-synchronous of 65%, primarily from wind, demonstrating management through innovative services like active power control and synthetic . Subsequent advancements built on this foundation, with instantaneous renewable penetration reaching 70% in 2021 and a landmark 75% in March 2022—the first global instance of operating an interconnected system at such levels while maintaining stability and avoiding curtailment beyond operational norms. This trial underscored EirGrid's progress in system services procurement, including fast and ramping capabilities, which mitigated risks. By 2020, the programme met its initial target of 40% annual renewable , actually delivering 43%, and supported overall grid reliability with transmission availability exceeding 99.5% in subsequent years. In 2023, renewables accounted for 42% of Ireland's consumption, reflecting sustained integration amid growing variable output, while EirGrid's metrics—covering availability, security, and —outperformed 75% of European TSO peers. For the fiscal year ending September 2024, renewable share stood at 41.7%, bolstered by grid enhancements like synchronous condensers, with four contracts awarded in November 2024 to provide and short-circuit power for higher renewable scenarios. A generation record of 750 MW was set in 2025, advancing toward the 80% renewable target by 2030 without reported stability incidents. These milestones, validated through operational trials and peer-reviewed system analyses, highlight EirGrid's causal focus on augmentation and to counter renewable variability, enabling Ireland's to operate securely at levels unattainable a decade prior. recognition followed in for DS3-derived technologies that facilitated all-island renewable dispatch.

Contributions to Ireland's Energy Security and Economy

EirGrid enhances Ireland's energy security by managing the high-voltage transmission grid to integrate variable renewable sources, enabling the system to operate with up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030 while maintaining reliability amid intermittency. This includes deploying technologies like synchronous condensers to provide grid inertia and stability, as evidenced by contracts awarded in November 2024 for such equipment to support high renewable penetration. Additionally, the Celtic Interconnector project, a high-voltage direct current link to France set for completion by the late 2020s, will deliver up to 1,500 MW of import/export capacity, directly bolstering security of supply by diversifying sources beyond gas imports during disruptions. Government allocations underscore EirGrid's role, with €3.5 billion committed in Budget 2026 to ESB and EirGrid for grid reinforcement, explicitly aimed at strengthening and accelerating renewable deployment. These efforts build on prior resilience assessments, such as the 2018 EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland study evaluating gas disruption scenarios, which informed strategies to mitigate supply risks in an island system historically vulnerable to single-fuel dependencies. Economically, EirGrid's multi-billion euro investment programs in transmission infrastructure drive job creation and regional development, as seen in initiatives like Powering Up the North West, which includes new 220 kV circuits to support industrial growth and attract investment in underserved areas. By facilitating renewable connections—such as 900 MW from offshore wind on the south coast—EirGrid enables lower long-term energy costs and supports high-demand sectors like data centres, which consumed nearly 25% of Ireland's electricity in recent years, contributing to GDP through tech exports despite straining capacity. The National Development Plan's emphasis on transmission funding, welcomed by EirGrid in July 2025, highlights how grid upgrades underpin broader economic resilience by averting supply shortages that could otherwise halt manufacturing and services.

Controversies and Criticisms

Public Opposition to Infrastructure Projects

Public opposition to EirGrid's infrastructure projects has primarily centered on proposed overhead high-voltage transmission lines and substations required for grid reinforcement and integration, with protesters citing visual blight, potential health risks from electromagnetic fields (EMFs), property value depreciation, and disruption to farmland. campaigns, often led by affected landowners and rural communities, have mobilized thousands through petitions, sit-ins, and blockades, arguing that underground cabling—though more expensive—is feasible and preferable to pylons spanning hundreds of kilometers. The North-South Interconnector, a 138 km 400 kV project costing approximately €350 million to link Ireland's and Northern Ireland's grids, has encountered sustained resistance since planning began in the early , including over 100 landowners in protesting compulsory land acquisition and environmental impacts. Despite An Bord Pleanála approval and Supreme Court upholding of permissions, the project faced a fresh legal challenge in April 2025 from local groups in and over pylon construction across 34 km, potentially delaying energization beyond initial 2024 targets. Protests escalated with blockades and judicial reviews, reflecting 97% landowner opposition in some areas, though EirGrid maintains are essential for technical and cost reasons. Similarly, the Grid Link project, aimed at a 400 kV connection from in to in , drew over 35,000 public submissions during consultations, leading to its partial shelving in favor of alternatives after community outcry in , Laois, and . Opposition groups like highlighted farming disruptions and scenic despoilment, prompting government intervention for feasibility studies on cabling. The related Grid West initiative, connecting to , was abandoned in 2017 following analogous protests and 38,000 consultation responses rejecting overhead options. More localized actions include a 2023 blockade by landowners at the Coolnabacky 400 kV substation site near , Laois, halting construction amid claims of inadequate consultation, and earlier 2010 protests in , against an interconnector cable route. These disputes have delayed EirGrid's Grid25 program, originally targeting 2025 completion, by years and increased costs, with critics attributing persistence to perceived deficiencies in early public engagement despite later reforms like dedicated teams established in 2021. Political figures have echoed concerns, amplifying rural discontent over urban-centric renewable priorities.

Regulatory Disputes and Procurement Failures

In August 2022, EirGrid publicly criticized the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) procurement system for new electricity generation capacity as a "failure" and "not fit for purpose," arguing that it had repeatedly failed to deliver required projects despite EirGrid's warnings and requests for intervention. The operator highlighted that market mechanisms under CRU oversight had not attracted sufficient investment in power plants, contributing to persistent supply shortfalls projected through the decade, with EirGrid having escalated concerns to the CRU since at least 2016 without adequate response. A key procurement lapse involved EirGrid's failure to acquire emergency backup generators as directed by the CRU, despite explicit orders to mitigate winter risks; this omission, revealed in 2022, left vulnerable to supply disruptions amid rising demand from data centers and . Regulatory tensions escalated in grid connection auctions, where in late 2024, EirGrid excluded three companies bidding on projects worth €1 billion—comprising gas plants and a battery storage facility—from participation without providing reasons, prompting lawsuits against EirGrid and the CRU in January 2025 for alleged procedural unfairness and blocking viable capacity additions. Further disputes arose over contract enforcement, as in October 2025 when LNG obtained a against EirGrid and the CRU to halt demands for €10.6 million in performance security related to a project, stemming from allegations of default under a 2013 agreement amid delays in grid connection approvals. These incidents reflect broader regulatory friction, including CRU determinations on compensatory payments for curtailed renewable output only from the 2024/2025 period, which EirGrid and generators contested as insufficient to incentivize investment amid connection bottlenecks. Historical precedents, such as a 2013 threat of legal action by Lumcloon Energy against EirGrid for potential breaches of in power plant tendering, underscore recurring challenges in aligning rules with timely infrastructure delivery.

Northern Ireland Demerger and Operational Conflicts

In 2009, EirGrid plc acquired SONI Limited, the for , integrating it into the EirGrid Group structure to facilitate coordinated operation of the all-island electricity system under the . This arrangement allowed joint management of grid operations, including dispatch and planning, but raised concerns over SONI's independence as all board members were appointed by EirGrid, potentially limiting accountability to consumers. The for , tasked with protecting local consumers, initiated a review of SONI in July 2019, culminating in a statutory consultation in 2022. On August 30, 2022, UR decided to modify SONI's (TSO) licence via new Condition 42, effective October 26, 2022, mandating a of sufficiently directors (SIDs) on SONI's board by June 1, 2023, and requiring managerial and operational separation from EirGrid by December 1, 2024, unless a was approved. The modifications aimed to address a "" in , where integrated structures obscured cost allocation, staff resources, and policy priorities, risking biases toward interests—such as higher charges for consumers or misaligned SEM participation—without evidence of actual overcharging but based on structural vulnerabilities. EirGrid and SONI contested the changes, arguing no demonstrable conflicts of interest or harm had occurred since , with EirGrid having invested £458 million in SONI to support operations amid financial losses. They highlighted the benefits of shared expertise for all-island challenges like renewable , claiming UR's proposals were unbalanced, unclear, and costly—potentially £100 million for IT separation alone—while failing to account for efficiencies in joint operational policies, such as the 2022 Operational Policy Roadmap for 2030. Operational conflicts under the prior structure were primarily perceived rather than realized, centering on risks in TSO coordination: for instance, integrated management could obscure -specific needs in dispatch constraints or grid planning, potentially complicating balancing amid differing regulatory pressures post-Brexit. Despite this, EirGrid and SONI maintained collaborative dispatch via control centers and joint reports on system margins, with no documented instances of dispatch failures attributed to governance overlaps. The process, initiated in January 2023 with consultant procurement for design and implementation, requires separate premises, IT systems, and staff for SONI, alongside agreements for ongoing inter-TSO functions, though applications were permitted until November 30, 2023. As of September 2023, separation efforts continued in compliance, with potential annual cost impacts of £7-£8 per consumer from enhanced governance measures. The changes carry "significant implications" for the , as separation could strain all-island coordination in areas like flows and renewable dispatch, though emphasized benefits for regulatory oversight and Northern Ireland's autonomy. EirGrid has not divested ownership but focused on operational , preserving strategic alignment while addressing UR's mandate to mitigate asymmetric information and ensure SONI's board effectively represents local stakeholders.

Future Outlook

Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap

The Shaping Our Electricity Future outlines EirGrid's to adapt Ireland's electricity transmission system for increased renewable integration, targeting 80% renewable electricity generation by 2030 as mandated by the government's Climate Action Plan. Initially developed for a 70% renewable target under the 2021 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act, the roadmap was revised upward in response to accelerated decarbonization policies, emphasizing a decade-long of system operations, grid reinforcements, and market mechanisms to handle surplus renewables and intermittency. Core components focus on enhancing flexibility through technologies and operational shifts inherited from the DS3 Programme, which achieved its secure operation targets for variable renewables by 2020 and exceeded them by 2022, setting the foundation for 2030 requirements. This includes dynamic management to curtail excess renewable output during high-generation periods, projected to reach up to 8 GW of surplus by 2030, alongside incentives for demand-side response and storage integration. Network expansions prioritize onshore and offshore wind development, with plans for 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 plus an additional 2 GW allocated for to export surplus . Market evolution recommendations in version 1.0 advocate for reformed pricing signals, capacity auctions, and zonal locational marginal pricing to optimize dispatch and incentivize generation siting, such as directing data centers to western and southern regions with abundant wind resources. The roadmap supports a 56% reduction in energy-related emissions by 2030 as a pathway to net-zero by 2050, incorporating benefits like micro-generation and post-project to facilitate acceptance. An advisory council, established for input, reviews progress on these elements, including public consultations launched in 2021 to refine implementation amid delays in prior grid projects like those under the Grid25 strategy. Jointly developed with SONI for all-island coordination, it underscores the need for interconnectors and regulatory alignment to maintain security during peak renewable curtailment scenarios.

Projected Challenges and Risks

EirGrid's projections indicate a 45% rise in demand from 2023 levels by 2034, driven primarily by of heating via heat pumps (projected to increase from 3% penetration in 2025 to 10% by 2034) and transportation through electric vehicles (from 1% to 8% over the same period), alongside sustained growth from data centers. is expected to grow by 24%, exceeding 7,000 MW by 2034 compared to 6,024 MW recorded in 2025. This demand surge poses risks to supply adequacy, with tight balances anticipated: shortfalls requiring emergency in 2025–2027, a 600–800 MW gap under challenging conditions from 2028–2032, and additional 100–1,000 MW capacity needs by 2032–2034 across scenarios. Achieving adequacy will necessitate capacity market auctions and a diversified mix, including gas-ready plants for flexibility, as renewables alone cannot guarantee dispatchable supply during periods of low or output. Integrating 80% renewable electricity by 2030 under the Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap introduces technical risks, particularly from and reduced system due to the displacement of synchronous generators by inverter-based renewables like and . Low heightens frequency instability risks, including rapid rates of change of frequency (RoCoF), necessitating new services such as synthetic and fast , for which EirGrid has awarded contracts to low-carbon projects as of November 2024. Infrastructure expansion to support renewables faces delays from regulatory hurdles, supply chain constraints, and public opposition to overhead lines and substations, potentially exacerbating curtailment of renewable output and increasing reliance on fossil fuels during transitions. Economic risks include elevated electricity prices from grid reinforcements and balancing costs, compounded by the need for battery storage and interconnectors like the Celtic Interconnector to mitigate short-term gaps.

References

  1. [1]
    EirGrid Group | About Us
    Established in 2006, EirGrid is the electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) for Ireland. As TSO, we manage the flow of power on the electricity grid.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
  2. [2]
    Eirgrid: Home
    EirGrid develops, manages and operates the electricity grid in Ireland, making sure everyone has electricity when and where they need it.Careers · About Us · Contact Us · Real Time System InformationMissing: overview | Show results with:overview
  3. [3]
    EirGrid takes over national grid from ESB - The Irish Times
    Jul 1, 2006 · A statutory instrument was introduced back in 2001 on the back of an EU directive to set up EirGrid as a separate entity from the ESB. But ...
  4. [4]
    DS3 Programme - Delivering a Secure Sustainable Electricity System
    The DS3 programme aimed to increase the amount of renewable energy on the Irish power system. We set our sights on 40% of electricity from renewable sources on ...
  5. [5]
    Networks | Shaping Our Electricity Future | EirGrid
    The networks strand describes how the transmission network in Ireland and Northern Ireland could evolve out to 2030.Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  6. [6]
    Kenny calls for 'rational' debate in pylon controversy - The Irish Times
    Dec 11, 2013 · Taoiseach Enda Kenny has called for "a degree of common sense and rational discussion'' on the Eirgrid plan to erect pylons.Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  7. [7]
    Board and Committees | Corporate Governance | EirGrid
    1. EirGrid plc is a commercial State company established under European Communities (Internal Market in Electricity) Regulations, 2000 S.I. 445/2000 as amended ...
  8. [8]
    State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Climate, Energy ...
    Jun 23, 2020 · EirGrid aims to deliver quality services to all electricity customers. It manages power generation capacity to meet customer demand, which ...
  9. [9]
    What We Do | About Us - Eirgrid
    EirGrid develops, manages and operates the electricity grid in Ireland. The grid supplies electricity for our homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and farms.Missing: mandate | Show results with:mandate
  10. [10]
    Price Review 6 Draft Determination - CRU.ie
    Jul 3, 2025 · Draft Determination on Price Review 6 Framework will underpin record investment in Ireland's energy infrastructure from 2026-2030.Missing: oversight | Show results with:oversight
  11. [11]
    [PDF] Offshore Revenue Model – EirGrid
    Sep 3, 2024 · Greater oversight of EirGrid by the CRU and its Shareholder is required on behalf of the Irish customer, who will ultimately pay for the ...
  12. [12]
    Corporate Governance | About Us | EirGrid
    Board and Committees. Our board, supported by committees, provides leadership and oversight of the effective management of EirGrid, ensuring that all activities ...
  13. [13]
    Our Leadership - Eirgrid
    Our Leadership · EirGrid plc Board of Directors · Brendan Tuohy · Tom Coughlan · James Nyhan · Rosa M. Sanz García · Ivan Schuster · Pauline Walsh · Deirdre Merriman.
  14. [14]
    [PDF] Utility Regulator SONI TSO Governance Consultation Paper EirGrid ...
    EirGrid plc was established under Irish Statutory Instrument 445/2000. EirGrid plc. is the licensed. Transmission System Operator (“TSO”) and Market Operator (“ ...
  15. [15]
    [PDF] EirGrid Group Organisation Structure Pre and Post Feb 1 2020
    Feb 1, 2020 · EirGrid Group Organisation. Structure Pre and Post Feb 1 2020. Page 2. Finance &. Legal. HR & Corporate. Services. External Affairs.
  16. [16]
    Privacy Notice | EirGrid
    Sep 4, 2024 · managing the safe, secure and reliable operation of the electricity transmission system;; planning and developing the electricity transmission ...Missing: mandate | Show results with:mandate
  17. [17]
    [PDF] Campaign ID 25216706 Appointments to the Board of EirGrid plc
    EirGrid plc is a company incorporated under the Companies Acts pursuant to Regulation 34 of S.I. No. 445/2000 – European Communities (Internal Market in ...<|separator|>
  18. [18]
    [PDF] 30 Years of Policies for Wind Energy: Lessons from Ireland - IRENA
    The TSO does not own the lines, and the transmission owner. (now called EirGrid) was to carry out the construction and maintenance. Renewable electricity ...
  19. [19]
    [PDF] Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Obligations
    The responsibility to ensure operational security is also provided for in national legislation, namely: (for Ireland) Regulation 8 of S.I. No 445/2000 European ...
  20. [20]
    [PDF] Energy in Ireland 1990 – 2010 - Teagasc
    The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland was established as Ireland's national energy authority under the. Sustainable Energy Act 2002. SEAI's mission is to ...
  21. [21]
    EirGrid Transmission Forecast Statement 20102016 | PDF - Scribd
    Transmission FORECAST STATEMENT 2010-2016 has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
  22. [22]
    Former Associations - entso-e
    ​The Association of the Transmission System Operators of Ireland was established in June 1999 for the coordinated activities between EirGrid and System Operator ...
  23. [23]
    [PDF] GRID25 Implementation Programme 2011 - 2016
    Under the provisions of the Planning and. Development Acts 2000–2010, the major electricity transmission infrastructure development being carried out by EirGrid ...
  24. [24]
    [PDF] TRANSMISSION DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2012 – 2022
    The Programme Management Office of EirGrid includes experienced professional planning and ecological consultants to assist in the development of transmission ...
  25. [25]
    [PDF] Shaping our electricity future - | Soni
    Feb 10, 2021 · EU-SysFlex, a Horizon 2020-funded project led by EirGrid, has innovation at its core, utilising research, technology trials and ...
  26. [26]
    Shaping Our Electricity Future | EirGrid
    EirGrid's roadmap aims to make the grid ready to carry 80% of Ireland's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and to modernize the grid's capability.SOEF Engagement · Evolution of SOEF · Electricity Markets · Network InfrastructureMissing: 2021-2025 | Show results with:2021-2025
  27. [27]
    System Operations | Shaping Our Electricity Future - Eirgrid
    The Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap includes system operations. It is divided into four main work streams.Missing: 2021-2025 | Show results with:2021-2025
  28. [28]
    Evolution of Shaping Our Electricity Future - Eirgrid
    In order to achieve the 16% target for energy, we aimed for 40% of electricity to come from renewable sources on the island of Ireland by 2020. A big focus of ...Missing: integration 2011-2020
  29. [29]
    Network Delivery Portfolio (NDP) | Grid Information - Eirgrid
    To place the NDP in context, between 2021 and 2030, we anticipate over 350 projects being completed to reinforce the system and connect Industry ...Missing: expansion 2011-2020
  30. [30]
    EirGrid Group publishes its 2024 Annual Report
    Jun 11, 2025 · EirGrid Group, responsible for operating, developing and enhancing the electricity grid in Ireland, has released its 2024 Annual Report.
  31. [31]
    Ireland unlocks €1bn offshore grid investment to scale up wind ...
    Apr 14, 2025 · Ireland's grid operator EirGrid has unveiled a €1bn procurement plan to build offshore infrastructure along the east and south coasts.
  32. [32]
    Ireland's Energy Transition: Eirgrid launches revised roadmap to 2030
    EirGrid Group plans to invest EUR3.4 billion across the island by 2030 including an additional EUR236 million under the latest plan. Key drivers. The key driver ...
  33. [33]
    [PDF] PR5 - TSO Imperfections and Constraints - EirGrid Consultation Portal
    The TSO plans to review the Operational Policy Roadmap in Q4 2024 to take account of recent developments and consider how best to evolve operational policy ...Missing: restructuring | Show results with:restructuring
  34. [34]
    [PDF] DSO/TSO Multi-Year Plan 2025 - 2029 - EirGrid Consultation Portal
    Jun 28, 2024 · This governance structure includes weekly project management meetings, as well as monthly management meetings and quarterly executive meetings, ...Missing: organizational | Show results with:organizational
  35. [35]
    Minister O'Brien welcomes EirGrid's Winter Outlook which forecasts ...
    Oct 16, 2025 · Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien has welcomed the publication of the 2025/2026 Winter Outlook from EirGrid.
  36. [36]
    [PDF] Draft Annual Electricity Transmission Report 2024 - NET
    Aug 20, 2025 · In December 2021, EirGrid was designated as TSO and Asset Owner of the. Offshore Electricity Grid. ESB is the Transmission Asset Owner (TAO) and.
  37. [37]
    Operational Constraints | Customer Information - Eirgrid
    The Transmission System Operators are responsible for forecasting and managing Dispatch Balancing Costs. The costs are recovered through the Imperfections ...
  38. [38]
    National Control Centres | The Grid - Eirgrid
    The National Control Centres (NCCs) make sure the lights stay on throughout the island of Ireland. A team of staff operate the grid from NCCs in Dublin and ...
  39. [39]
    EirGrid's PR6 Business Plan outlines its ambition to transform the ...
    Jul 3, 2025 · EirGrid has worked closely with ESB Networks to understand what investment is needed to deliver on Government and CRU targets. The CRU's Draft ...Missing: oversight | Show results with:oversight
  40. [40]
    Grid Codes and Compliance | The Grid - Eirgrid
    The Grid Code sets out the rules for operating the tranmission system. It establishes how we maintain and develop the system, and how we govern the actions of ...
  41. [41]
    Did you know? - Eirgrid
    EirGrid is Ireland's TSO, which stands for 'Transmission System Operator'. We plan, manage and develop Ireland's high-voltage electricity grid for a ...Missing: history timeline
  42. [42]
    [PDF] 1.0 EirGrid's Function - Kerry County Council
    Dec 1, 2023 · As Transmission System Operator (TSO),. EirGrid has sole responsibility for operating, managing, and developing a safe, secure, and reliable.<|separator|>
  43. [43]
    Resilience and Emergency Planning | Grid Information - Eirgrid
    EirGrid are responsible for the safe, secure operation of Ireland's electricity system. In an electricity supply emergency, it may be necessary to restrict ...Our Role In The Grid · Resilience For The Future · Demand Control And Emergency...
  44. [44]
    Ireland's EirGrid introduces power flow control tools | Enlit World
    Feb 28, 2023 · Irish TSO EirGrid has collaborated with Smart Wires on power flow solutions to increase the renewable capacity of its networks.<|separator|>
  45. [45]
    How the Market and Grid Interact | EirGrid
    A balancing market: balances real-time supply and demand for electricity. ... Single Electricity Market Operations (SEMOpx) operate the day-ahead and ...The Electricity Grid And... · The Integrated Single... · Role Of Semo
  46. [46]
    [PDF] Balancing Market Principles Statement - SEMO
    Aug 12, 2025 · This Balancing Market Principles Statement (BMPS) has been prepared by EirGrid and SONI in accordance with their respective Transmission System ...
  47. [47]
    Our Strategy 2020-2025 | EirGrid
    EirGrid has a unique role to play in transforming the power system and making Ireland renewable ready. Our 2020-25 strategy is our plan for progress. It is ...Missing: mandate responsibilities
  48. [48]
    Interconnection | Industry | EirGrid
    Interconnection connects our grid to neighbouring grids. This page gives details of the HVDC Interconnection on the island of Ireland.Missing: major | Show results with:major
  49. [49]
    East West Interconnector | Hitachi Energy
    The East West Interconnector runs between Deeside in north Wales and Woodland, County Meath in Ireland. Approximately 260 km in length.
  50. [50]
    Greenlink Interconnector to boost Ireland and UK energy resilience
    Apr 18, 2025 · Greenlink's 504MW interconnector is transferring power between Ireland and the UK following connections into the electricity transmission ...
  51. [51]
    Minister O'Brien welcomes new electricity interconnector as it begins ...
    Apr 16, 2025 · Ireland-UK interconnection route​​ The Greenlink Interconnector is a 190km-long 500MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) submarine power cable ...
  52. [52]
    Celtic Interconnector | Projects - Eirgrid
    Irish Rural Link (IRL), formed in 1991, is a national network of organisations and individuals campaigning for sustainable rural development in Ireland and ...Missing: history | Show results with:history
  53. [53]
    CEF Energy: Celtic Interconnector reaches major milestone with ...
    Oct 7, 2025 · EirGrid established the Celtic Interconnector Community Benefit Fund ... Celtic Interconnector, but there is still a long way to go.
  54. [54]
    Celtic Interconnector, connecting the electricity grids of Ireland and ...
    The Celtic Interconnector project, led by RTE and EirGrid, aims to create an electricity interconnection between France and Ireland to allow the exchange of ...
  55. [55]
    [PDF] BP_SO_11.2 Cross Border Balancing Trading between EirGrid ...
    Jul 1, 2024 · EirGrid and SONI support the provision of information to the marketplace by publishing operational data, processes, methodologies and ...
  56. [56]
    [PDF] BP_SO_11.4 Coordinated Third- Party Trading
    Jul 1, 2024 · EirGrid and SONI support the provision of information to the marketplace by publishing operational data, processes, methodologies and ...<|separator|>
  57. [57]
    [PDF] Schedule 2: LFC Block Operational Agreement (LFCBOA)
    Dec 1, 2024 · EirGrid and SONI acting prudently may restrict the aggregate ramp rates of all interconnectors between IE/NI and another synchronous area to a ...
  58. [58]
    European Integration Consultations - Eirgrid
    19 The CRU and Utility Regulator published their Decision on the proposed Title 2 methodologies of the SAOA and LFCBOA which can be found here and here. 26.08.Missing: oversight | Show results with:oversight
  59. [59]
    New shareholders EirGrid and SONI - Coreso
    Dec 15, 2017 · Eirgrid and SONI, the two grid operators on the island of Ireland have joined and become a shareholder in Coreso, the coordinating body for ...Missing: cross- border
  60. [60]
    [PDF] Grid Implementation Plan 2023 - 2028 - EirGrid Consultation Portal
    Sep 27, 2023 · In 2021, EirGrid was designated as the system operator and asset owner of Ireland's offshore electricity transmission system, with ownership ...<|separator|>
  61. [61]
    [PDF] Grid Connection - SEAI
    EirGrid are developing new transmission infrastructure to increase the capacity of the existing system to accommodate new generation. However, in certain.
  62. [62]
    Transmission Policies and Standards | Grid Information - Eirgrid
    EirGrid plans, manages, develops and operates the national electricity transmission grid. As part of this, we manage Transmission Investment Policies.Missing: overview | Show results with:overview
  63. [63]
    Eirgrid TSO and TAO Report - LR5 | PDF | Electric Power Transmission
    The transmission system includes almost 300 substations, over 6,800 km of circuits, and over 6,700 km of overhead lines. EirGrid and ESB Networks work ...Missing: length | Show results with:length
  64. [64]
    [PDF] Transmission Development Plan
    Mar 3, 2023 · • Twenty uprates were completed, three of them in circuits totalling 152 km of transmission lines uprated. The other uprates were ...
  65. [65]
    [PDF] Annual Electricity Transmission Performance Report 2023
    This report covers EirGrid's operation, development, and maintenance of the transmission system in 2023, including renewable generation and new projects.  ...
  66. [66]
    The Grid Code - Eirgrid
    The Grid Code is a technical document that forms the rules around operating, maintaining and developing the transmission system.
  67. [67]
    Power Park Modules | Grid Codes and Compliance - Eirgrid
    The TSO and the DSO have an agreed compliance testing approach for Controllable Power Park Modules with a registered capacity of 5MW or more.
  68. [68]
    Conventional Generation | Grid Codes and Compliance - Eirgrid
    The European Network's Requirements for Generators (RfG) sets standards for connecting to the grid. Under this, EirGrid Code has been updated to version 8.
  69. [69]
    Grid Code Compliance Testing | The Grid | EirGrid
    Grid Code Compliance & Testing. Units controlled by EirGrid must comply with technical rules in the Grid Code. See how the testing and compliance process works.
  70. [70]
    System Service Testing | Grid Codes and Compliance | EirGrid
    The following list provides the different testing documentation, both generally and specific to your unit technology type.System Services Testing · Testing Documents · Ds3 System Services Based On...
  71. [71]
    Grid Code Modifications - Eirgrid
    It was agreed with IWEA that the TSO will issue a Grid Code clarification note along with guiding principles to be used when assessing Grid Code compliance.<|separator|>
  72. [72]
    Moneypoint synchronous condenser: Ireland's great grid stabilizer
    Nov 30, 2022 · Currently, Ireland's grid gets its inertia ... “Together, the flywheel and the synchronous condenser have an inertia of 4,000 megawatt-seconds,” ...
  73. [73]
    EirGrid awards four contracts for new renewable integration ...
    Nov 7, 2024 · The contracts awarded to build synchronous condensers will together provide 6,963 MVA.s of synchronous inertia, as well as reactive power ...
  74. [74]
    [PDF] Potential Solutions for Mitigating Technical Challenges Arising from ...
    Dec 22, 2021 · EirGrid and SONI continue to assess the security of supply situation, while monitoring the different uncertainties discussed previously, along ...<|separator|>
  75. [75]
    Powering Up Offshore South Coast - Eirgrid
    EirGrid develops, manages, and operates Ireland's electricity grid. We are responsible for the safe, secure and reliable supply of Ireland's electricity. Our ...
  76. [76]
    EirGrid to conduct marine and coastal surveys as it progresses ...
    Jul 15, 2025 · EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, will begin marine and coastal surveys in the coming weeks across Ireland's south coast.
  77. [77]
    EirGrid announces €1 billion procurement programme for offshore ...
    Apr 10, 2025 · In addition, EirGrid is also today commencing another procurement initiative in relation to their Powering Up Offshore - South Coast Enduring ...
  78. [78]
    [PDF] 1. Foreword - EirGrid Consultation Portal
    We are delighted to publish our report on the innovation and research we have carried out across EirGrid and SONI in 2023.
  79. [79]
    System and Renewable Data Reports | Grid Information - Eirgrid
    The System and Renewable Data Reports keep you updated with our progress. They show data relating to renewable energy use in our electricity system.
  80. [80]
    Emerging Challenges of Integrating Solar PV in the Ireland and ...
    This paper discusses emerging operational challenges associated with the integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) in the All-Island power system (AIPS) of Ireland ...
  81. [81]
    A review of frequency-control techniques for wind power stations to ...
    This paper provides an overview of the current active power control requirements for wind power stations in Ireland and Northern Ireland
  82. [82]
    [PDF] Article 13 Clean Energy Package Redispatching Annual Report - 2023
    The level of all-island dispatch-down attributable to constraints (rather than curtailment) was 6.1% in 2023, which was higher than the 5.0% constraint levels ...
  83. [83]
    Solar curtailment doubles in Northern Ireland in 2024
    Mar 20, 2025 · EirGrid's report indicates that while in 2023, 4.8% of solar generation was curtailed, this figure has risen to 11.2% in some months of 2024.Missing: down | Show results with:down
  84. [84]
    [PDF] Wind Dispatch Tool Constraint Group Overview
    Feb 28, 2020 · Wind and solar generation is treated as priority dispatch (per SONI and EirGrid licences, SEM ... variability in wind production, the.
  85. [85]
    Frequency stability services to compensate for low inertia in ...
    The shift towards non-synchronous generation reduces system inertia, creating operational challenges in power systems worldwide.
  86. [86]
    Collaboration is Key to Accelerating the Energy Transition in Ireland ...
    Jan 8, 2024 · Some of the key DS3 Program activities included: Introducing a range of new and enhanced system services, and greater incentivization for ...
  87. [87]
    [PDF] The dawning era of digital inertia on the Island of Ireland. - everoze
    As the maximum amount of non-synchronous generation allowed on the grid increases, inertial response is eroded – increasing the threat to system security which ...
  88. [88]
    Ireland's EirGrid awards four contracts for synchronous condensers
    Nov 11, 2024 · The contracts awarded to build synchronous condensers will together provide 6,963MVA.s of synchronous inertia, as well as reactive power support ...
  89. [89]
    Power System Evolution - How Ireland Is Leading The Way - VIOTAS
    Oct 7, 2018 · Previously, EirGrid could not operate the grid with more than 60% of power being delivered from non-synchronous renewable energy sources. This ...<|separator|>
  90. [90]
    EirGrid Achieves 75% Variable Renewable Energy Generation Trial ...
    Oct 27, 2022 · The Ireland and Northern Ireland power system is the first in the world to reach this landmark level of renewable generation while overcoming ...Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
  91. [91]
    Ireland's EirGrid awards contracts for renewables integration ...
    Nov 8, 2024 · Irish electricity grid operator EirGrid has awarded four contracts for renewables integration technologies, specifically synchronous condensers, to support ...
  92. [92]
    Solar record in Ireland: electricity grid hits 750 MW of generation in ...
    Apr 21, 2025 · Operating at high renewable penetration​​ Ireland's grid can currently operate with up to 75% of electricity from non-synchronous sources—such as ...
  93. [93]
    Innovative system services for facilitating the integration of high ...
    Mar 25, 2021 · EirGrid and SONI are currently working to deliver the last aspect of the DS3 programme which involves developing or reviewing a range of ...
  94. [94]
    EirGrid and SONI recognised for renewable integration
    Nov 30, 2023 · EirGrid and SONI have been internationally recognised for delivering an innovative technology solution to integrate more renewable energy onto the all-island ...Missing: 2011-2020 | Show results with:2011-2020
  95. [95]
    EirGrid's positive impact is powering Ireland's journey to a cleaner ...
    Mar 26, 2025 · EirGrid was the title sponsor of this year's Positive Impacts, the country's top event for business leaders guiding their companies to net zero.
  96. [96]
    EirGrid awards integration contracts - reNews
    Nov 7, 2024 · EirGrid has awarded four contracts for renewables integration technologies, called synchronous condensers to support Ireland's energy transition.
  97. [97]
    €3.5bn to ESB and Eirgrid to strengthen Ireland's energy security ...
    Oct 7, 2025 · €3.5bn to ESB and Eirgrid to strengthen Ireland's energy security and accelerate the transition to renewable energy. #Budget2026. Budget 2026 ...
  98. [98]
    [PDF] Energy Security in Ireland 2020 Report - SEAI
    In 2018, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) and EirGrid examined Ireland's resilience to a gas disruption using these standards. Their work concluded that, at the time ...
  99. [99]
    Powering Up the North West - Eirgrid
    Powering Up the North West is a proposed programme of works designed to enable the integration of more renewable energy sources into the grid and enable the ...<|separator|>
  100. [100]
    EirGrid appoints Turner & Townsend
    Oct 13, 2025 · Turner & Townsend has been appointed by EirGrid as a key delivery partner for a multi-billion euro investment programme.
  101. [101]
    Eirgrid warned of possible mass exodus of data centres - Reddit
    Aug 7, 2024 · Almost 25% of Ireland's electricity is used by data centers, and it has contributed to the 2nd highest priced electricity in the world. Will ...
  102. [102]
    EirGrid welcomes National Development Plan and says investment ...
    Jul 23, 2025 · EirGrid has welcomed the announcement by the Government indicating investment in Ireland's transmission system as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).Missing: 2021-2025 | Show results with:2021-2025
  103. [103]
    Rural Ireland rises up against EirGrid plans for pylon network ...
    Nov 16, 2013 · Grid Link is one of three major new elements of EirGrid's overall €3.2 billion "Grid 25" plan to upgrade and reinforce the national grid by 2025 ...<|separator|>
  104. [104]
    Listen: underground power lines not an option – EirGrid chief
    Amy Nora Fitzgibbon sat down with Fintan Slye, chief executive of EirGrid, to discuss plans for the North South Interconnector as well as protests from ...
  105. [105]
    Explainer: What's happening with electricity pylons and why is it ...
    Jan 18, 2014 · Protests against Eirgrid's plans are escalating with more than 50 pylon protesters staging a sit-in at the EirGrid information offices in ...
  106. [106]
    EirGrid climbdown on GridLink project - Free - Irish Farmers Journal
    The proposed GridLink project had encountered significant opposition, with community groups expressing concern over the erection of new pylons between Kildare ...
  107. [107]
    Legal challenge to cross-border electricity interconnector - RTE
    Apr 11, 2025 · A long-planned €350 million project to connect the electricity grids on both sides of the border is facing another legal challenge.
  108. [108]
    Evidence on Electricity Sector in Northern Ireland: Follow-up
    As EirGrid push forward with plans to begin work on the North South interconnector later this year, around 100 landowners in Co. Monaghan led by Chair of the ...<|separator|>
  109. [109]
    Ireland-Northern Ireland transmission link faces legal challenge over ...
    Apr 8, 2025 · A plan to connect Northern Ireland's and the Republic of Ireland's grids via a 400kV transmission line is facing opposition from local campaigners.
  110. [110]
    Armagh group opposed to interconnector to protest outside High Court
    Apr 9, 2025 · Protesters opposed to the construction of over 100 towering pylons along a 34 km stretch of the Armagh and Tyrone countryside to facilitate a North-South ...
  111. [111]
    Supreme Court upholds North-South pylon plan despite opposition ...
    Despite opposition from residents, the Supreme Court has upheld An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission for the North-South Interconnector.
  112. [112]
    INTERCONNECTOR OBJECTIONS - Michael Fisher's News
    Jun 30, 2015 · “This project, despite 97% landowner opposition, is the only EirGrid ... Grid Link (GL) and Grid West (GW) projects. While the North South ...<|separator|>
  113. [113]
    Eirgrid say they will co-operate with the Government appointed ...
    The GridLink and GridWest projects have come up against fierce opposition, with over 35 thousand submissions to Eirgrid on the 400KV power line to run from Cork ...
  114. [114]
    South East Pylon Protest - Facebook
    We are a small community from Ballyroebuck working for the people against EirGrid using Pylons and Cables on the D2 Grid Link.
  115. [115]
  116. [116]
    [PDF] EEE0008 - Evidence on Electricity Sector in Northern Ireland
    On foot of 38,000 submissions during public consultation, proving there was no public acceptance of pylons, EirGrid shelved the project and stated that they ...
  117. [117]
    Landowners blockade construction site of 400kw Eirgrid substation
    The construction of a new 400kw substation at Coolnabacky, southeast of Portlaoise, has been subject to major local protests this week.
  118. [118]
    Protest against EirGrid power work | Irish Independent
    Nov 23, 2010 · Residents in Rush are set to protest against an EirGrid scheme which will see a power line built through their town. Tue 23 Nov 2010 at 08:06.
  119. [119]
    Public engagement practice for electricity grid system change
    Protests against Grid25 gained considerable momentum and caused various delays in the implementation of projects. One such project is the North–South ...
  120. [120]
    [PDF] EirGrid Reflections on Public Engagement: Practice and Strategy
    These include the development of a six-step strategy in 2016, establishing a dedicated public engagement team in 2021, and staging the first energy citizen ...
  121. [121]
    Political opposition hindering electricity projects - The Irish Times
    Jul 16, 2025 · Political opposition continues to hinder projects designed to guarantee electricity supplies and aid the Republic in hitting climate targets ...
  122. [122]
    Eirgird says CRU procurement system 'not fit for purpose' - RTE
    Aug 26, 2022 · The grid operator goes on to state that it had "highlighted to the CRU the failure of the market mechanism to deliver" and had asked the ...
  123. [123]
    Eirgrid declares Utilities Commission system a 'failure' - The Journal
    Aug 27, 2022 · EIRGRID HAS LAUNCHED a stinging attack on the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) declaring its system a “failure” and “not fit ...
  124. [124]
    Failure to lure new power plant investment behind electricity squeeze
    Jan 30, 2024 · A failure to lure new power plants is behind the squeeze on electricity supplies facing the Republic through this decade, according to Mark Foley.
  125. [125]
    Eirgrid warns minister of risk firms will pull data centres out of Ireland
    Aug 7, 2024 · The presentation said Eirgrid had been warning of pressures on power supply since as early as 2016 and had escalated the matter to the Minister ...
  126. [126]
    Exclusive: Ireland faces blackouts as Eirgrid didn't buy emergency ...
    Aug 14, 2022 · Consumers face blackouts this winter despite regulator ordering State energy firm to purchase backup power.
  127. [127]
    Energy firms sue Eirgrid and energy regulator after projects worth ...
    Jan 12, 2025 · The companies behind three gas plants and a battery project worth a combined €1 billion have launched legal action against the energy regulator and Eirgrid
  128. [128]
    Eirgrid had no duty to explain exclusion of companies from grid ...
    Dec 4, 2024 · EirGrid had “no duty” to provide reasons for why it excluded three companies from an “electricity auction” where companies bid to be allowed ...
  129. [129]
  130. [130]
    High Court Sets out Declaratory Reliefs for Constrained/Curtailed ...
    Jul 24, 2024 · The Decision provided, among other things, that the compensatory payments associated with Article 13(7) would only be implemented from the year 2024/2025.
  131. [131]
    Irish power plant builder threatens legal action against EirGrid
    Aug 27, 2013 · "If EU competition law is breached, EirGrid will be exposed to substantial fines and claims for damages," Lumcloon Energy said. Reporting by ...
  132. [132]
    [PDF] DETERMINATION OF MERGER NOTIFICATION M/08/028 - CCPC
    EirGrid/SONI. Section 21 of the Competition Act 2002. Proposed acquisition by EirGrid plc of SONI Limited (System Operator for Northern Ireland Limited).<|separator|>
  133. [133]
    None
    Below is a merged summary of the key decisions and details from the SONI TSO Governance Licence Modifications, consolidating all provided segments into a single, comprehensive response. To maximize density and clarity, I’ve organized the information into tables where appropriate, followed by narrative sections for qualitative details. All information from the summaries is retained, with duplicates reconciled and specific dates, quotes, and URLs compiled systematically.
  134. [134]
    EirGrid starts to demerge Northern Ireland unit after stinging criticism ...
    Jan 31, 2023 · The regulator also claimed that consumers may have been overcharged for their electricity because SONI was not independent of the Irish semi- ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
  135. [135]
    All-island electricity market faces 'significant implications' as ...
    Mar 31, 2023 · All-island electricity market faces 'significant implications' as demerger proceedings launched. March 2023. EirGrid, the Republic of Ireland's ...
  136. [136]
    EirGrid continues to work with SONI to implement new governance ...
    Sep 29, 2023 · EirGrid will continue to work with SONI to de-merge the businesses in compliance with the new licence condition.
  137. [137]
    Northern Ireland system operator set for demerger from parent
    Jan 30, 2023 · EirGrid and the transmission system operator (TSO) in Northern Ireland (SONI) are set to demerge, on instruction from Northern Ireland's Utility Regular.
  138. [138]
    Eirgrid Industry Consultation: Shaping our Electricity Future
    The Chamber welcomes the clarity of purpose provided by the legal commitment to achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030, within the recent Climate Action Act.
  139. [139]
    [PDF] Shaping our electricity future - SONI Consultation Portal
    The EirGrid and SONI corporate strategies are shaped by climate change and the need for a secure tran- sition of the electricity sector to low-carbon, renewable ...<|separator|>
  140. [140]
    [PDF] Shaping our electricity future - | Soni
    Delivering a cleaner, efficient and secure power system in 2030, is at the heart of the Shaping our electricity future project. SONI, as part of EirGrid Group, ...
  141. [141]
    New EirGrid plan to transform Ireland's electricity system by 2030
    Nov 10, 2021 · The Shaping Our Electricity Future roadmap proposes placing data centres near major towns in the west and south, with more windfarms on ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  142. [142]
    Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap - Community Power
    Jun 4, 2024 · Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap provides an outline of the key developments to support a transition to a net zero by 2050.
  143. [143]
    Shaping our Electricity Future Advisory Council - Eirgrid
    The advisory council engages on the issues, challenges and activities set out in the Shaping Our Electricity Future Roadmap.
  144. [144]
    Public Consultation: Shaping Our Electricity Future
    EirGrid's Grid 25 strategy set out to deliver increased grid capacity but has been unsuccessful in delivering large scale strategic projects.
  145. [145]
    New EirGrid analysis examines the balance between electricity ...
    Mar 26, 2025 · EirGrid is cognisant of the fact that this data freeze predated the formation of a new government in December 2024 and the publication and ...Missing: establishment mandate
  146. [146]
    Powering the Future: Modernising Ireland's Energy Infrastructure
    Apr 14, 2025 · Without a significant expansion of domestic renewable capacity and greater grid resilience, Ireland risks becoming less attractive to energy- ...