MaresConnect welcomes the publication on 10 June 2022 by the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC) on Electricity Interconnection Policy.
The consultation paper focuses on interconnection between Ireland and the EU and Great Britain, and is a key action coming out of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2021 (CAP21). CAP21 builds on Ireland’s 2020 Programme for Government which sets out a commitment to strengthen the existing policy framework for electricity interconnection to incentivise further interconnection and to commence planning for future interconnection with neighbouring countries.
In the consultation paper DECC recognises Ireland’s increased energy ambitions, in particular a target that up to 80% of Irish electricity consumption will originate from renewable sources by 2030, with 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity, up to 2.5GW of grid scale solar and up to 5GW of onshore wind. DECC is seeking stakeholder views regarding the potential contribution of increased interconnection towards meeting Ireland’s 2030 and post 2030 climate and energy objectives.
Further interconnection capacity with its neighbours will address Ireland’s pressing challenges of ensuring security of electricity supply and avoiding costly curtailment of further renewable resources, in particular, onshore and offshore wind.
The consultation paper can be found here. The closing date for submissions is 5:30pm 10 August 2022. Submissions can be sent by email to SMBX.OffshoreWind@decc.gov.ie.
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