10.3 Energy

10.3 Energy

A secure and resilient supply of energy is critical to a well-functioning region, being relied upon for heating, cooling, and to fuel transport, power industry, and generate electricity. With projected increases in population and economic growth, the demand for energy is set to increase in the coming years.

In the context of a move towards a more energy-efficient society and an increase in renewable sources of energy, there is a need to set a policy approach which will address an increased demand for indigenous resources and increased security of supply. Overreliance on non-indigenous supplies of energy is still a major issue for the Region. To meet our energy targets, we need to better leverage natural resources to increase our share of renewable energy. There is an established tradition of energy production in the Midland counties by state agencies, however national environmental policies are dictating the wind down of traditional fossil fuel powered stations, such as peat fired power plants in these counties. (Refer to Chapter 7 Environment and Climate in relation to renewable energy).

The Dublin Region is the major load centre on the Irish electricity transmission system. Approximately one third of total demand is located here, similarly the Eastern Region is a major load centre on the Irish transmission system. The main urban demand centres are composed of a mix of residential, commercial and industrial demand, which is expected to grow up to 2025 and beyond. Developing the grid in the Region will enable the transmission system to safely accommodate more diverse power flows from renewable generation and also to facilitate future growth in electricity demand. These developments will strengthen the grid for all electricity users, and in doing so will improve the security and quality of supply. This is particularly important if the Region is to attract high technology industries that depend on a reliable, high quality, electricity supply.

The main energy networks serving the Region are electricity and gas. Having regard to projected population growth and economic growth in the Region it is important that the existing electricity and gas networks can be upgraded to provide appropriate capacity to facilitate development of the Region. Improving energy efficiency is vital in order to reduce energy consumption while improving economic growth. The roll-out of Smart Grids to support Smart Cities development is supported to advance this sector. Increased connectivity with other grids is also needed and projects such as the North South interconnector are of great importance for the Region. See relevant policy supports in relation to Smart technologies in Chapter 6 Economy and Employment and Chapter 7 Environment and Climate.

CASE STUDY:

CODEMA

Codema is Dublin’s Energy Agency, providing advice and support for the four local authorities in the Dublin Region in ensuring their own sustainable energy use. Codema is also engaging with EU and SEAI funded energy programmes to promote innovation in the region. An increasingly important role is to increase energy awareness among citizens and energy stakeholders, thus providing a comprehensive local and regional service for energy and climate change.

The diversification of our energy production systems away from fossil fuels and towards green energy such as wind, wave, solar and biomass, together with smart energy systems and the conversion of the built environment into both generator/consumer of energy and the electrification of transport fleets will require the progressive and strategic development of a different form of energy grid. The development of onshore and offshore renewable energy is critically dependent on the development of enabling infrastructure including grid facilities to bring the energy ashore and connect to major sources of energy demand. It is also necessary to ensure more geographically focused renewables investment to minimise the amount of additional grid investment required, for example through co-location of renewables and associated grid connections.

Examples of Codema’s work include Climate Change action planning, district heating system planning, energy performance contracting, management of European projects, energy saving behavioural campaigns, and detailed energy reviews.

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Future Electricity and Gas Supply and Demand

Support for the development of a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity and the development of enhanced electricity networks as well as new transmission infrastructure projects that might be brought forward in the lifetime of this plan under EirGrid’s (2017) Grid Development Strategy will serve the existing and future needs of the Region and strengthen all-island energy infrastructure and interconnection capacity.

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GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Local authority development plans shall facilitate the provision of energy networks in principle based on the following guiding principles and considerations:

• The development is required in order to facilitate the provision or retention of significant economic or social infrastructure.

• The route proposed has been identified with due consideration for social, environmental and cultural impacts and address issues of climate resilience, biodiversity, impact on soils and water quality.

• The design is such that it will achieve least environmental impact.

• Where impacts are inevitable mitigation features have been included.

• Where it can be shown that the proposed development is consistent with international best practice with regard to materials and technologies and that it will ensure a safe, secure, reliable, economic and efficient high-quality network.

• In considering facilities of this nature that traverse a number of counties or that traverse one county in order to serve another, planning authorities should consider the proposal in light of the criteria outlined above. It is important that planning authorities are engaged in early consultation and discussion with the relevant Transmission System Operator.

• Corridors for energy transmission or pipelines should avoid creating sterile lands proximate to key public transport corridors, particularly rail routes, and in built up urban areas.

• Regard for any National or Regional Landscape/ Seascape Character Assessment.

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Regional Spatial & Economic Strategy

The following Regional Policy Objectives are outlined to ensure the development of the energy networks in a safe and secure way to meet projected demand levels, to meet Government Policy, to ensure a long-term, sustainable and competitive energy future for Ireland and enable energy service providers to deliver their statutory function.

REGIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES:
Energy Infrastructure
RPO 10.19: Support roll-out of the Smart Grids and Smart Cities Action Plan enabling new connections, grid balancing, energy management and micro grid development.	RPO 10.23: Support EirGrid’s Implementation Plan 2017 – 2022 and Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2016 and any subsequent plans prepared during the lifetime of the
RPO 10.20: Support and facilitate the development of	RSES that facilitate the timely delivery of major investment
enhanced electricity and gas supplies, and associated networks, to serve the existing and future needs of the Region and facilitate new transmission infrastructure projects that might be brought forward in the lifetime of this Strategy. This Includes the delivery of the necessary integration of transmission network requirements to facilitate linkages of renewable energy proposals to the electricity and gas transmission grid in a sustainable and timely manner subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the planning process.	projects subject to appropriate environmental assessment and the outcome of the planning process, in particular:
	• Support reinforcement of the Greater Dublin
	Area between Dunstown and Woodland 400 kV substations to increase the capacity of the often congested and highly loaded Dublin transmission network to enable the transmission system to safely accommodate more diverse power flows
	and also facilitate future load growth in the area • Support the installation of additional transformer
RPO 10.21: Support an Integrated Single Electricity
	capacity and increased circuit capacity to
Market (I-SEM) as a key priority for Ireland.	meet Dublin demand growth to strengthen the
RPO 10.22: Support the reinforcement and strengthening	network for all electricity users and improve
	the security and quality of supply
of the electricity transmission and distribution network to facilitate planned growth and transmission/ distribution of a renewable energy focused generation across the major demand centres to support an island population of 8 million people, including:	• Support the Laois-Kilkenny Reinforcement Project
	to strengthen the network in large parts of the Midlands and provide additional capacity for potential demand growth in the wider region and strengthen the Region’s transmission network
• Facilitating interconnection to Europe, particularly	by improving security and quality of supply and
the ‘Celtic Interconnector’ to France and further	ensuring there is the potential for demand growth.
interconnection to Europe/the UK in the longer term • Facilitating interconnection to Northern Ireland,	RPO 10.24: Support the sustainable development of Ireland’s
	offshore renewable energy resources in accordance with
particularly the ‘North-South Interconnector and further co-operation with relevant departments in Northern Ireland to enhance interconnection	the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources ‘Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan’ and any successor thereof including any associated
across the island in the longer term • Facilitating transboundary networks into and through	domestic and international grid connection enhancements.
the Region and between all adjacent Regions to ensure the RSES can be delivered in a sustainable and timely manner and that capacity is available at local,
regional and national scale to meet future needs • Facilitate the delivery of the necessary integration of
transmission network requirements to allow linkages of renewable energy proposals to the electricity
transmission grid in a sustainable and timely manner • support the safeguarding of strategic energy corridors
from encroachment by other developments that could compromise the delivery of energy networks.

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Infrastructure