Ireland’s Grid Development Strategy...on Ireland’s Grid Development Strategy. That review...
Transcript of Ireland’s Grid Development Strategy...on Ireland’s Grid Development Strategy. That review...
Ireland’s Grid Development
StrategyYour Grid, Your Tomorrow
Technical Report
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TableofContentsChapter1:Introduction........................................................................................................................4
Chapter2:DriversofGridInvestment..................................................................................................6
ChangesinDemandforElectricity.....................................................................................................6
RegionalDemandGrowth..............................................................................................................8
ForecastingDemand......................................................................................................................8
PopulationChange.........................................................................................................................9
ChangingGenerationPatterns...........................................................................................................9
RenewableGeneration...................................................................................................................9
ConventionalGeneration.............................................................................................................10
BalancewithNorthernIreland.....................................................................................................11
InterconnectiontoEurope...............................................................................................................11
Chapter3:TechnologyandInnovation...............................................................................................13
Technologicalchanges.....................................................................................................................14
ReactivePower.............................................................................................................................14
SystemInertia...............................................................................................................................15
HarmonicDistortion.....................................................................................................................15
Technology–Availablenow.............................................................................................................16
HighTemperatureLowSag(HTLS)overheadlineconductors.....................................................16
ACundergroundcabletechnologyanditsuse.............................................................................16
LinearHVDCandDCtransmission................................................................................................17
SeriesCompensation....................................................................................................................18
DynamicLineRating.....................................................................................................................18
ReactivePowerManagementDevices.........................................................................................18
Technology–ReadyforTrialUse.....................................................................................................19
PowerLineGuardianandRouter.................................................................................................19
VoltageUprating..........................................................................................................................20
NewOverheadLineStructures/NewPylonDesigns.....................................................................21
Technology–Research&DevelopmentStage.................................................................................22
ComplexDCNetworks..................................................................................................................22
NewVoltageUpratingStrategies.................................................................................................22
OtherSmartGridConcepts..............................................................................................................23
Tomorrow’sEnergyScenarios..........................................................................................................23
Chapter4:StrategyforGridDevelopment..........................................................................................25
Strategy1.....................................................................................................................................25
Strategy2.....................................................................................................................................26
Strategy3.....................................................................................................................................26
Impactoftechnologicalchoice.........................................................................................................26
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GridDevelopmentStrategy..............................................................................................................26
Chapter5:RegionalDevelopmentandMajorProjects........................................................................29
BorderRegion...................................................................................................................................33
TheNorth-SouthInterconnector..................................................................................................35
TheNorthwest..............................................................................................................................36
WestRegion.....................................................................................................................................38
TheGridWestProject..................................................................................................................40
Mid-WestRegion..............................................................................................................................42
TheMoneypoint–NorthKerryProject........................................................................................44
Moneypoint400/220/110kVSubstation.....................................................................................45
South-WestRegion...........................................................................................................................46
NewKnockanure,BallynahullaandBallyvouskill220/110kVSubstationProjects......................48
NewKilpaddoge220/110kVSubstationProject..........................................................................48
MidlandsRegion...............................................................................................................................50
Laois-KilkennyReinforcementProject.........................................................................................52
South-EastRegion............................................................................................................................53
TheRegionalSolution(formerlytheGridLinkProject)................................................................55
Mid-EastRegion...............................................................................................................................57
ReinforcementoftheGreaterDublinAreabetweenDunstownandWoodland400kVSubstations...................................................................................................................................59
New220kVSubstationnearClonee,Co.Meath.........................................................................60
DublinRegion...................................................................................................................................61
NewBelcamp220/110kVSubstationProject..............................................................................63
NewWestDublin220/110kVSubstationProject........................................................................64
Published January 2017
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Chapter1:IntroductionEirGrid’srole,asastate-ownedcompany,istomanageandoperateIreland’snationalgridtoensureasafe,securesupplyofelectricitytohomes,businessesandindustry.InordertoimplementGovernmentenergypolicy,weneedtodeveloptheIrishelectricitytransmissionsystemtoguaranteeasecuresupplyofelectricityfortodayandforfuturegenerations.
In2008wepublishedourlong-termstrategytodevelopthegrid–Grid25–whichsetouthowwewouldseektomeettheseresponsibilities.TheGrid25StrategyoutlinedtheinvestmentrequiredtodevelopthetransmissionnetworkinordertofutureproofIreland’selectricityneeds.Itwouldfacilitatemoresustainable,competitive,andsecurepowersuppliesinsupportofeconomicandsocialdevelopment,andreachingIrishrenewableenergytargets.
InMarch2015wepublished“YourGrid,YourViews,YourTomorrow.”ADiscussionPaperonIreland’sGridDevelopmentStrategy.Thatreviewrespondedtofeedbackreceivedfromthepublicoverrecentyears.Itwaspartofourrenewedeffortstoencouragemoreparticipationinourdecision-makingprocess.Italsoreflectedanupdatedeconomiccontextandourgrowingexperienceofnewtechnologies.
WethankthosewhoprovidedfeedbacktoYourGrid,YourViews,YourTomorrowduringourpublicconsultation.Wehavepublishedaseparatereportonthisconsultationalongsidethisdocument.
Indraftingthis,ourupdatedgriddevelopmentstrategy,wetookaccountofthisfeedback.WealsotookintoaccounttheGovernment’sEnergyWhitePaper,publishedinDecember2015.
WewerefurtherguidedbytheActionPlanforJobsandtheIDA’s2015-2019strategy,whichincludesambitiousregionaltargets.
Ourgriddevelopmentstrategyisbasedonavailableinformationatthetimeofpublication,andisaninformedviewofourfutureneedsinthecomingyears.However,wewillcontinuetoreviewitonaregularbasis.Thisistoensurethatourstrategycontinuestobeuptodate,andfitforpurposeinachangingIreland.
TheUnitedKingdom’sJune2016referendumonEUmembershiphasintroducednewconsiderations.However,mostissuescoveredbyourgriddevelopmentstrategyrelatetotheRepublicofIrelandonly,andsoareunaffected.
RegardlessoftheUKleavingtheEU,therewillalwaysbemanysharedbenefitsofworkingcloselywithournearestneighbours.WeaimtomaintainastrongrelationshipbetweenIreland,NorthernIrelandandGreatBritainonenergymatters.
ThisincludestheNorthSouthInterconnector.ThisprojectisneededtoimprovethesecurityofsupplyacrosstheislandofIreland.Itwillreducecostsandultimatelysavemoneyfortheelectricitycustomer.
Thisdocumentprovidesmoreinformationonsomeofthetechnicalmattersunderpinningthereview.Chapter2providesbackgroundtothedriversforgriddevelopment.Chapter3exploresthevarioustechnologiescurrentlyavailableforuseonthetransmissionsystem,andothersinearlierstagesofresearchanddevelopment.ThestrategyisdescribedinChapter4witharegionalbreakdownofthemainprojectsoutlinedinChapter5.
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WecommissionedLondonPowerAssociatestocarryoutatechnicalpeerreviewofourdraftstrategy.
Indeconeconomicconsultantscarriedoutaneconomicreviewofthedraftstrategy.
Thesereportswerepublishedasappendicestoourdraftstrategydocumentin2015andareavailableonlineatwww.eirgridgroup.com.
Theiranalysiswasreflectedinthedraftstrategyanditisalsoreflectedintheupdatedstrategy.
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Chapter2:DriversofGridInvestmentWherethereissignificantgrowthindemandforelectricity,changesingenerationornewinterconnectors,thistendstoalterthepowerflowsacrossthetransmissiongrid.Inaddition,transmissionassetshaveafinitelifespan.
Thetransmissionsystemmustmeetcertainstandards,identifiedintheTransmissionSystemSecurityandPlanningStandards1(TSSPS),whichsetoutwhatthegridneedstobeabletodoandarepublishedatwww.eirgridgroup.com.Wherethesystemisnotcapableofmeetingthosestandards,reinforcementisoftennecessary.
Inthecaseofassetcondition,investmentisprimarilydrivenbyfactorssuchastheageoftheasset,obsolescenceanditscondition.
Themaindriversofgridinvestmentare:• Changesindemandforelectricity;• Changinggenerationpatterns;• Interconnectiondevelopment;and• Assetcondition.
ChangesinDemandforElectricityThereisarelationshipbetweeneconomicgrowthandelectricityconsumption.Duetomoreefficientenergyusethisrelationshipischanging–proportionallylessenergyisnowrequiredeventhoughtheeconomyisgrowing.Inadditionmanynewindustries,suchasdatacentres,havedisproportionatelyhighpowerdemands.
ElectricitydemandinIrelandislinkedtorecenteconomicfluctuations.Followinga7.1%fallindemandbetween2008and2012,electricitydemandthengrewagain.In2013,2014and2015itincreasedby1.1%,0.5%and2.9%respectively.Thisrelatestogrowthof3.4%2,7.3%3and5.7%4inIreland’sGrossNationalProduct(GNP)between2013and2015.Thedemandforelectricityisnowexpectedtogrowonaverageby2.0%everyyearuntil2025.
Insummary,theeconomicdownturnreducedelectricitydemand.However,recenttrendsnowpointtosteadygrowthintheeconomyandinelectricityuseupto2025.
Our demand forecasts are based on the Economic and Social Research Institute’s (ESRI)short-termandlong-termforecastofeconomicactivityandareupdatedannuallyintheAllIslandGenerationCapacityStatement5(GCS)whichisavailableonourwebsite.
Since2008Irelandandtheglobaleconomyhavebeenthroughtheworstrecessioninmanydecades.Therehavebeenconsiderablechangesinfuturedemandforecasts.
Figure2-1illustratesthe2008,2015and2016peakdemandforecastsupto2025.Since2008wehavescaledbackourpeakdemandforecastfor2025.The2016forecastfor2025isapproximately5,500MW,comparedto8,000MWthatweforecastedin2008.Thecurrent2016forecastfor2025hasincreasedbyapproximately400MWcomparedtothe2015
1 Formerly the Transmission Planning Criteria (TPC). 2 Modified GNP figure provided by the ESRI. 3 Modified GNP figure provided by the ESRI. 4 This is the CSO’s GNP figure. 5 Formerly the Generation Adequacy Report (GAR).
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forecastpublishedinourdraftgriddevelopmentstrategyin2015.Areasonforthisincreaseistheexpectedconnectionofadditionallargedatacentres.
Figure2-1ActualDemandandForecastDemandto2025
Oneofthegovernment’smainprioritiesforcreatingasustainableenergyfutureistheareaof energy efficiency. A successful energy efficiency campaign will improve performanceacross all energy sectors, including in electrification of transport and heat, and smartmetering,detailsofwhichare in theNationalEnergyEfficiencyActionPlan (NEEAP)6andtheNationalRenewableEnergyActionPlan(NREAP)7.Thesemeasureshavebeenfactoredintothe2016forecastsoutto2025,andwewillcontinuetofactorthemintoourannualAllIslandGenerationCapacityStatement.
Thepreviouslyanticipatedincreaseintheuseofelectricvehiclesby2020looksunlikelytobeachievedwithintheanticipatedtimeframe,althoughgovernmentpoliciesandimprovementsinbatterytechnologymaychangethisoverthenextdecadeandbeyond2025.
TherolloutofsmartmetersthroughtheNationalSmartMeteringPlanisexpectedtodeliverafundamentalchangetodemandsideusagepatterns.8Thistechnologyisinthedevelopmentphaseandanumberofmetertrialshavetakenplace.
6 http://www.dccae.gov.ie/energy/en-ie/Energy-Efficiency/Pages/National-Energy-Efficiency-Action-Plan-(NEEAP).aspx 7 http://www.dccae.gov.ie/energy/en-ie/Renewable-Energy/Pages/Action-Plan.aspx 8 http://www.cer.ie/electricity-gas/smart-metering
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Microgeneration,includingsolarphotovoltaicandsmall-scalewind,willalsohaveaninfluenceondemandpatterns.Wewillcontinuetomonitorprogressandtechnologydevelopmentsinthesekeyareas.
Takentogether,theconsequenceofallthesedevelopmentsisthatthetraditionallinkbetweeneconomicgrowthandelectricitydemandwillbecomeweaker.
RegionalDemandGrowthAsoureconomyreturnstogrowth,therenewalandexpansionoftheelectricitytransmissionsystembecomesevenmorecriticaltosupportingjobcreation,regionaleconomicdevelopmentandeconomiccompetitiveness.Developinga21stcenturytransmissionsystemwilldeliverconcretesocial,economicandenvironmentalbenefitstoeverypersoninIreland.
Inparticular,onlybyinvestinginasecuretransmissiongridcanweopenuplargeareasofthe country to investment from the types of high-tech industries currently clustered, bynecessity, around our larger cities. In this way, developing the transmission grid is animportantpartofsupportingtheGovernment’sdrivetocreatejobsintheregions.9
Irelandisapremiumdestinationtohostdigitalassetsforavarietyofreasonsincluding:• Fasttranscontinentalfibrelinks;• Asecure,reliablepowersupply;• Favourablefinancialarrangementsincludingtaxation;• Economicstabilityandapro-businesslegislativeenvironment;• StrongsupportfromtheGovernmentandassociatedbodies;and• Availabilityofaskilledlocalworkforce.
Currentlyanumberofdatacentreoperatorsareeithercontractedtoconnecttothegridorareintheprocessofbeingissuedanofferforconnectiontothegridinvariouspartsofthecountry.Theseproposalsrepresentasubstantialincreaseindemandconnectingby2020resultinginasignificantstepincreaseindemandpredictions.Inadditiontherecontinuestobefurtherexpressionsofinterestinlocatinglarge-scaledatacentresinIreland.Ifthesecurrentexpressionsofinterestweretomaterialisefurtherstepincreasesindemandwouldalsooccur.
Dependingonthefinalnumberandscaleoftheseprojectsthataredevelopednewtransmissionsolutionsadditionaltothoseinthegriddevelopmentstrategyarelikelytoberequired.
ForecastingDemandAsnotedabovetherearesignificantchangesexpectedovertheshorttomediumterm(e.g.demandsideresponse,electrificationofheatandtransport,newlargedemandsites-datacentres)whichisleadingtoincreaseddifficultyinforecastingshort,mediumandlong-termdemand.However,weareactivelyandprudentlymonitoringthesechangestoensureonlyefficientandeconomicinvestmentsinthetransmissionnetworktakeplace.
9 See the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs at https://www.djei.ie/en/
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PopulationChangePopulationgrowthmustalsobeconsideredwhenplanningthetransmissionsystem.AsthepopulationofIrelandgrows,demandforelectricitycanalsoincrease.
Accordingtothe2016census,ourpopulationwas4.76million,up3.7%from2011.
TheCentralStatisticsOffice(CSO)projectionssuggestthepopulationwillgrowbyuptoanaverageof1%ayearfrom2011to2026.Thisisatotalincreaseof734,000peopleoverthesameperiod.10
Inconsideringhowtoapproachthedevelopmentofthetransmissionsystem,wemustensurethatthegrowingdemandforelectricityfromourincreasingpopulationcanbesecurelymet.
ChangingGenerationPatterns
RenewableGeneration
Ireland is in a strong position to meet the Government’s renewable energy target ofmeeting40%ofelectricitydemandfromrenewableenergyby2020.11Alargeproportionofthisrenewableelectricitywillcomefromwindpower.
InIreland,theGroupProcessingApproachor‘Gate’Processisthemeansbywhichmostgeneration,includingrenewablegeneration,iscurrentlycontractedtoconnecttothegrid.Todatetherehavebeenthree‘Gates’inwhichapplicationsforconnectionswereprocessedinbatchesratherthansequentially.
IntheGate1and2connectionofferprocessesin2004/5and2006/7respectivelyatotalofaround1,700MWofconnectionofferswereissuedbyESBNetworksandEirGridandacceptedbyrenewablegenerators.
Approximately4,000MWofrenewablegenerationcapacityreceivedconnectionoffers inthe Gate 3 process. The uptake of Gate 3 offers is particularly high with 83% of offersaccepted,1%underconsiderationandonly16%havebeendeclined.
ThishighrateofacceptanceisinlinewiththeoriginalGrid25assumptionsin2008.Thismeansweexpectagreaternumberofsmaller,intermittent,generatorsconnectingindispersedareas,remotefromtraditionalloadcentres.
Aspeakdemandandenergyforecastshavebeenscaledback,thissuggeststhattherequiredwindpowercapacitytoassistinmeetingthe40%renewabletargetwillbebetweenapproximately3,800and4,100MW.
Thisisanincreaseintherequirementforwindcapacitysincetheforecastin2015.Thisisduetotheincreaseinourforecastsoftheoveralldemandforelectricity.
Thisbandofpossiblewindcapacityrequirementstomeetthe2020renewabletargetisillustratedinFigure2-2below.
10 CSO Population and Labour Force Projection 2016-2046 (2013) http://www.cso.ie/en/media/csoie/releasespublications/documents/population/2013/poplabfor2016_2046.pdf 11 In 2008 the Government increased the target from 33% to 40%. http://www.dccae.gov.ie/
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Thisanalysisconcludesthatthisisunlikelytohappenasplannedandthatgenerationwillcomefromconventionalandrenewablegenerationlocatedinthewest,southwestandsoutheast.Thiswillonlyservetoincreasethemainpowerflowsfromtheselocations.Therefore,thepowerflowassumptionsin2008arestillvalid.
BalancewithNorthernIrelandInthepastIrelandbenefitedfromelectricityimportsfromNorthernIrelandtobalancesupplyanddemandandtomaintainsecurityofsupply.InrecenttimesthegenerationportfoliohaschangedwiththecommissioningofnewandmoreefficientplantsinIreland.ThisisexpectedtochangefurtherbecauseofanticipatedplantretirementsinNorthernIreland.
ItisthereforelikelythatinthenextdecadeNorthernIrelandwillneedtoimportmorepowerattimesofhighdemandtoensureasecuresupplyofelectricity.FormoredetailedanalysisseetheAllIslandGenerationCapacityStatementwhichisavailableonourwebsite.
InterconnectiontoEuropeInterconnectionbetweenjurisdictionsisheavilysupportedbybothnationalandEuropeanlegislationandpolicies.Interconnectioncontributestomarketintegrationandfurtherscompetition,enhancessecurityofsupplyandfacilitatestheincreasedpenetrationofrenewableenergysources,therebyreducingcarbonemissions.
ThereisalsoagreaterfocusoninterconnectionprojectsfollowingEURegulation347/2013Guidelinesfortrans-EuropeanEnergyInfrastructure,finalisedin2013,whichidentifiesEuropeanProjectsofCommonInterest(PCIs).
TheseareprojectswhichhavesignificantbenefitsforatleasttwoMemberStates,includingcontributingtomarketintegration,enhancedsecurityofsupplyandtheintegrationofrenewableenergy.
WholesaleenergypricesontheislandofIrelandremainabovethoseinGreatBritainandcontinentalEurope.In2008weenvisagedatleastoneadditionalinterconnector,betweenthetransmissionnetworksofIrelandandGreatBritainorFrance,by2025.13Thispotentialinterconnectioncapacitywillprovideaccesstowiderelectricitymarkets.Theseinterconnectorassumptionsremainvalid.
Weareundertaking,withtheFrenchtransmissionsystemoperator(TSO),ReseaudeTransportd’Électricité(RTÉ),ajointprojecttoinvestigatethedevelopmentofaHighVoltageDirectCurrent(HVDC)interconnectorbetweenIrelandandFrance,knownasthe“CelticInterconnector”.
TheresultsofpreliminaryfeasibilitystudiesshowtherearebenefitsforelectricitycustomersinIrelandandFranceintermsofbothelectricitycostsandsecurityofsupply.
InMarch2014,thetwoTSOssignedanagreementtoproceedtothenextstageoftheproject.Thisincludedcarryingoutamarinesurvey.Thesurveyrouteisover500kmlongandextendsfromthesouthcoastofIrelandtonorthwestBrittany.
InJuly2016EirGridandRTÉagreedtoprogresstheprojecttothenextphaseofitsdevelopment,InitialDesignandPre-Consultation.Thislatestphasewilltaketwoyearsand13 In addition to the East West Interconnector (EWIC) which was completed in 2012.
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comprisesanin-deptheconomicassessmentoftheproject;technicalstudiesandinitialtechnicaldesignspecifications;environmentalstudies;andpre-consultationinpreparationforpermitgrantingproceduesinFranceandIreland.ItwillalsoincludetheinvestigationoflandingpointsforasubseacableandconnectionpointstotheelectricitytransmissiongridsinFranceandIreland.TheInitialDesignandPre-Consultationphaseisacontinuationofpreviousstudies,anddoesnotrepresentacommitmenttoconstructtheinterconnector.
InadditiontherearecurrentlyotherthirdpartydevelopersconsideringinterconnectionprojectsbetweenIrelandandGreatBritain.
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generators,itisimportantthatsufficientreactivepowerreservesareavailablefromrenewablegeneratorsandthetransmissionsystemtoreplacethatpreviouslyprovidedbyconventionalthermalgenerators.Thisisparticularlyimportanttomaintaintransmissionsystemvoltagestabilityandcomplywithtransmissionplanningstandards.
Inaddition,weareworkingwithESBNetworks,theDistributionSystemOperator,toensurerenewablegenerationconnectedtothedistributionnetworkprovidesreactivepower.Thisreducesthepotentialforreactivepowertobedrainedfromthetransmissionsystemtothedistributionsystem.
ThisworkisextremelyimportanttooptimisecapitalexpenditureonreactivepowerdevicestomaintainvoltagestabilityontheIrishtransmissionsystem.Wearedevelopingastrategytoensuretransmissionsystemvoltagestabilityuptoandbeyond2025.
SystemInertia
Systeminertiamostlycomesfromthestoredrotatingenergyonthetransmissionsystem.Conventionalthermalgenerationnormallyconsistsoflargerotatingmasseswithhighinertia.Thisisincontrasttorenewablegeneration,whichpossesseslittleornoinertiaandisincreasinglyconnectedviapowerelectronicdevices.
Considerabletechnologicalchangeshavealsooccurredonthedemandside.Newindustrial,andlargecommercial,demandconnectionstendtobeconnectedusingpowerelectronicdevices,whichprovideflexiblecontrol.Demandcharacteristicshavealsochanged.Forexample,traditionalfilamentlightbulbsarebeingreplacedwithlowenergyalternativesandthereareincreasingamountsofpersonalelectronicdevicesinhouseholds.
Attimes,thesegenerationanddemandchangeshaveledtoalowerinertiasystemwithdifferentdemandcharacteristics.Thiscanleadtoanumberofchallengesfortheoperationofthesystemincludinglessdampeningofchangesinsystemfrequency,lesssuppressionofharmonicdistortionandshort-termvoltagefluctuations.Theriskoffrequencyinstabilityisrecognisedandaddressedbyourworld-leadinginitiative“DeliveringaSecure,SustainableElectricitySystem”(DS3programme)andoftenmitigatedbyoperationalmeasures.Youcanfindoutmoreaboutthisinitiativeonourwebsite.
HarmonicDistortion
Harmonicdistortiononthetransmissiongridcanresultinthedistortionofboththecurrentandvoltagewaveforms.Thiscanleadtopoorpowerqualityforconsumers.Harmonicdistortiontendstobeintroducedontothepowersystembymodernelectronicdevices,suchasmotorstarters,variablespeeddrives,computersandotherdevices.Thishasledustoinvestconsiderableresourcesincarryingoutdetailedharmonicmodellingandanalysisduringtheconnectionandplanningprocess.
Theharmonicdistortionissuehasbeenexacerbatedbygreaterthanexpecteduseofundergroundcablestoconnectgeneratorstothetransmissionsystem.Harmonicdistortionisoftenmagnifiedbytheintroductionofhighvoltagecableontotransmissionnetworksandthismustbecarefullymodelledandassessed.
Wehaveinvestigatednetworkdevicescapableofreducingharmonicdistortiontoacceptableinternationalstandardsandwillcontinuetomonitortheprogressofindividualgenerationprojectsastheyadvancetotheconnectionstage.
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Technology–Availablenow
HighTemperatureLowSag(HTLS)overheadlineconductors
Thecapacityoftransmissioncircuitscanbeincreasedbyreplacingtheexistingconductorswithhighercapacityconductors.Thisgenerallyrequiresreinforcingthestructureswhichsupportthelines.
Thehighercapacityconductorscanoperateathighertemperatureswithlowersagcharacteristics;ensuringcriticalclearancesfromtreesetc.aremaintained.WeintroducedHTLStechnologytotheIrishtransmissionsystemin2011.ThesefirstgenerationHTLSconductorshavebeenusedsuccessfullybyEirGridandESBNetworks,achievinga60%increaseincapacityonapproximately600kmofexisting110and220kVoverheadlines.
Weareconstantlylookingatwaysoffurtherincreasingconductorcapacity.RecentlydevelopedsecondgenerationHTLSconductorsusingnewermaterials,forexamplecompositeratherthanmetalliccores,coulddoublelinecapacity.Thesearecurrentlyundergoingfieldtrials.Shouldtheyprovesuccessful,theymaybecomeavailableinadvanceof2025,althoughtheirapplicationislikelytoberestrictedtovoltagelevelsgreaterthan110kV(exceptinverylimitedcircumstances)wheretheincreasedsystemlossesarenotprohibitive.
ACundergroundcabletechnologyanditsuseWehaveusedundergroundcabletechnologyformanydecades,forexample:• inurbanareas;• ontheapproachintosubstationswherethereisamultiplicityofexistingoverhead
lines,and;• underdeepandwideexpansesofwater.
Thepowercarryingcapacityofundergroundcablescontinuestoincrease,whichcreatesgreateropportunitiesforconsideringcablesasalternativestooverheadlines.
The obvious advantage of underground cable circuits is the potential for reduced visualimpact compared to overhead line technologies. This must be balanced against thepotential impacts on sensitive environmental and ecological areas from what can besignificant civil engineering works. This is addressed in considerable detail in the reportcommissioned by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources(DCENR) on the Study on the Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity TransmissionLinesVersusUndergroundCables.15
Inaddition,thecapitalcostofinstallingacableismorethanthecostoftheequivalentoverheadlineand,onaverage,cablesuffersfromahigherperiodofunavailabilityduetofaultsandmaintenancerequirements.
Wecommissionedareport in2009byTokyoElectricPowerCompany(TEPCO)whichhasconsiderableexperienceoftransmissioncablenetworks.16Thisstudy,togetherwithfurther15 http://www.eirgridnorthsouthinterconnector.ie/media/3B_5)Ecofys(2008)ComparativeMeritsofOHElectricityTransmissionLinesvsUGCables.pdf 16 http://www.eirgridnorthsouthinterconnector.ie/media/3B_39)Tokyo%20Electric%20Power%20Co%20TEPCO%202009%20Assessment%20of%20Tech%20Issues%20%20EHV%20UGCs.pdf
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EirGrid technical analysis, has shown that long lengths of 400kV AC cables presentsignificanttechnologicalproblemsandoperationalrisks.ThisgreatlyrestrictstheiruseonindividualcircuitsandontheIrishnetworkasawhole.
Consequently,400kVACcablesmayonlybeusedsparingly,forexample,whenconsideringthepartialundergroundingofatransmissionproject.
Wehavecontinuedtoexaminetheperformanceofcablesandtheirtechnicalimpactonthenetwork.
Ourrecentanalysishasidentifiedthat,duetoitsrelativesizetoothernetworks,IrelandisatgreaterriskofissuesarisingfromtheuseofACundergroundcables.Wehaveconcludedthatanumberoftechniquesexistthatcouldreduce,butnotavoid,theseissues.
WewillcontinuetoassesstechnologicaldevelopmentsinthisareatoensurethefullcapabilityofthistechnologyisavailableforuseontheIrishgrid.
LinearHVDCandDCtransmission
ThetransmissiongridinIreland,similartootherEuropeanandinternationalgrids,useshighvoltagealternatingcurrent(HVAC).Wherepoweristobetransferredoverlongdistancesitmaybecosteffectiveandtechnicallypossibletodosousinghighvoltagedirectcurrent(HVDC).ThisrequirestheconversionofHVACtoHVDC,andviceversa,inlargeconvertersubstationsateachendofacircuit.
HVDCisamaturetechnologythatisavailableforintegrationontheIrishtransmissionsystem.Wehaveincludedthistechnologyinanumberofrecentprojectevaluationsandconsidersitsuse,whereappropriate.
In2009,wecommissionedaseparateinvestigationintotheuseofHVDCcircuitsintheIrishtransmission network.17 This workwas completed by TransGrid, a Canadian consultancyspecialising in HVDC. It concluded that HVDC is used mainly in specialist applications.These include, forexample, longtransmissioncircuitsorsubsea links. In thesecases theelectricalpropertiesofHVDCmakeitamoresuitable,oreventheonly,choiceandoffsetthe much greater cost of the conversion between Direct Current (DC) and AlternatingCurrent(AC).
WeselectedHVDCasthebesttechnologyfortheEastWestInterconnector(EWIC)currentlyoperatingbetweenIrelandandWalesfortheseveryreasons.TheconclusionsoftheTransGridstudyareconsistentwiththoseoftheInternationalExpertCommission(IEC)reviewinrespectoftheuseofHVDCintransmissionnetworks.18
FollowingonfromthisworkwehavecontinuedtoexaminetheperformanceofHVDCanditstechnicalimpactonthenetwork.
ThemostrecentreportcommissionedbyuswasanexternalinvestigationbyPowerSystemsConsultantsintotheuseofHVDCfortheGridWestProject,discussedinChapter5.
17 http://www.eirgridnorthsouthinterconnector.ie/media/3B_40)%20TransGrid%20Solutions%20Inc%202009%20Investigating%20Impact%20of%20HVDC%20Schemes.pdf 18 http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/Published-Report-on-Meath-Tyrone-Interconnector-14-June-2012.pdf
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ThisreportidentifiedanumberofdifferentapplicationstoprovidesuitableHVDCcircuitstomeettheneedsoftheproject.ItconcludedthataHVDCsolutionwaspossibleandthataVoltageSourceConverter(VSC)ratherthanaLineCommutatedConverter(LCC)technologywasmoreappropriate.
Atpresentthematurityofmulti-terminalHVDCtechnologyissuchthatthisreviewhasonlyconsideredpointtopointlinks.
SeriesCompensationAstheuseoftheexistingnetworkismaximised,powertransfersandtheirassociatedlosseswillriseandbecomemorefrequent.OverheadlinesandpylonsinIrelandarephysicallydesignedandconstructedtoaccommodatethetypicalpowertransferthatwouldbeexpectedoverthelifeofthatline.However,ifduetochangesinthenetworkthepowertransferonthelinebecomesmuchhighertheelectricalperformancewillbeimpacted.
Consequentlyalthoughthelinesareinprincipleratedformuchhigherpowertransfers,inpractice,wherethesepowertransfersoccur,thesystemcannotsupplythenecessaryreactivepower.
Wehaveinvestigatedseriescompensationwhichisamaturetechnologythathasbeenextensivelyusedinternationallyinsimilarsituations.Seriescompensationchangestheelectricalperformanceofacircuitonwhichitisinstalled.Itcompensatestheneedforthesystemtoprovidereactivepower.TheiruseinIrelandwouldbeanewapplicationwiththerelatedchallengestoanetworkofitssizeandstrength.
Theneedandbenefitofthistechnologyvarieswitheachapplicationbutitcanprovidesignificantbenefitbyincreasingthepracticaltransfercapabilityofthesystem.Toincreasethetransfercapacityfurtheradditionalseriescompensationcanbeaddedtomeetfutureneeds.
DynamicLineRatingTheratingofanoverheadlineisinfluencedbymeteorologicalconditionssuchasambienttemperature,windspeedandwinddirectionetc.DynamicLineRatinginvolvestheinstallationofmonitoringdevicestoexaminemeteorologicalconditions.
Bycombiningthislocalinformationwithlinedesigndata,itispossibletoderivearatingthatvariesinrealtime.
Undercertainconditions,itmaythenbepossibletoincreasethelineratingandtotransferadditionalpowerontheline.Thistechnologycannowbeintegratedontothegridwhereconditionsaresuitable.
However,asthevariationinmeteorologicalconditionsisdifficulttopredictmanyyearsahead,theenhancedratingsarenotusedforlong-termsystemdevelopment.Instead,itisexpectedthatthetechnologywillbeusedinshorteroperationaltimeframestoreducepotentialnetworkconstraintswhileawaitingdeliveryofgriddevelopmentprojects.Wewillcontinuetomonitortechnologicaldevelopmentsinthisarea.
ReactivePowerManagementDevicesReactivepowermanagementtechnologieshavebeenincreasinglyusedinrecentyearstomakebetteruseofexistingassets.
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However,aspreviouslydiscussed,newsourcesofreactivepowerprovisionandmanagementarerequiredtosupporttheincreaseduseofrenewableenergy.Thesesourcesmustnotonlyprovidethenecessaryscaleofreactivepowerbutmustalsobeabletoadjustthispowerprovisionadequatelytomaintainvoltageswithintheirlimits.
Manypartsofthenetworkareexpectedtosimultaneouslyhandlehigherpowertransfers.Highertransfersincreaselossesandvoltagedropalongcircuits.Thiscreatesnewchallengesinvoltageandoperationalmanagement.Duetotheintermittentnatureofpowerproductionandconsumption,rapidchangestothesepowertransferscanbeexpectedandthiswillincreasereal-timeoperationalmanagementissues.
Together,theseneedsrequireanewgenerationoffastactingflexiblereactivepowermanagementdevicesforuseinIreland.Themanneroftheirapplicationwill,insomeinstances,beuniqueinternationally.
Consequently,besidestheuseoffixedpermanentreactivepowercompensationtypicalinlong-termnetworkdevelopment,theneedfortemporarydevicestodeferlongertermreinforcement(mainlynewcircuits)isexpectedtoincrease.
Anewneedisalsoenvisagedforveryshort-termdevices(coveringaperiodofafewweekstomonths)toassistmaintenanceandconstructionactivities,asthescaleofnetworkdevelopmentincreasesandoutagesbecomemoredifficulttoschedule.
FixedReactivePowerManagementDevices
Wearecurrentlyconsideringtheintroductionofstatcomdevices,butwithnewtechnologicalcharacteristicsprovidinghighershort-termoperationalvoltageranges.Thesedeviceswillbenecessarytocoverthegreatervolatilityinsystemvoltagefromhighlevelsofrenewablesinweakerpartsofthenetwork.
DemandSideManagementandResponse
DemandSideManagementandResponsehasbeenusedinIrelandformanyyears,primarilyatthelargerindustriallevel.Itworkswhencustomersreducetheirelectricityconsumptiononrequest.Thishelpsustooperatethegridmoresecurely.
InthefutureitisexpectedthatresidentialcustomerswillalsotakepartinDemandSideManagementandResponse,throughinitiativessuchasPowerOffandSave,andtheRealValueProject.Thisisexpectedtohelpustomaximisetheuseoftheexistinggridandpotentiallydelayoravoidinvestmentinthegrid.Detailsonourinnovationprogramme,includingthePowerOffandSave,andtheRealValueprojectsareavailableonourwebsite.
Technology–ReadyforTrialUse
PowerLineGuardianandRouterWeareinvestigatingtheuseofmodularpowerflowcontroltechnologiesthatmayenableustomakebetteruseoftheexistingtransmissionnetwork.Twotypesofmodularpowerflowcontrollerareunderinvestigation,thePowerLineGuardianandtheRouter.ApilottrialiscurrentlyunderwayforthePowerLineGuardian.PowerLineGuardianscanberapidlydeployedontoexistingoverheadlineconductors.Individually,theyprovideasmallchangetothereactiveinductanceofaline.Byincreasingtheirnumberalongindividual
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spansofheavilyloadedlines,itmaybepossibletodivertloadontolineswithsparecapacity.
Thesedevicescaneasilybefittedorremovedtochangethedegreeofpowerflowmanagement.Thisprovidesahighlevelofflexibility.Theycanalsobeindividuallycontrolled,allowingforarangeofresponseswhichwouldenhancebothvoltageandpowerflowcontrol.
Theyofferarapid,lowcost,replacementforbothfixedandtemporaryreactivecompensationorpowerflowcontrolforlong-termnetworkreinforcement.
Theirspeedofdeploymentalsomakesthemanoptiontoassistinreactivepowermanagementinfacilitatingnetworkoutagesfordevelopmentandmaintenance.
Ifthetrialissuccessfulitmaybeadoptedasamaturetechnology.
WestartedatrialoftheRoutertechnologyin2016.ThistechnologybuildsonthecapabilitiesofthePowerLineGuardian,addingfurtherflexibilitytomakebetteruseofexistingnetworkcapacity.TheRoutermayalsobeadoptedasamaturetechnologyifthetrialissuccessful.
Figure3-2:PowerLineGuardians
VoltageUprating
Voltageupratingoffersarapidincreaseofpowertransfercapacity,whilstsimultaneouslyreducingassociatedlossesbyusingtheexistingoverheadlineroute.
Thescaleoftheincreaseisapproximatelyproportionaltotheincreaseinvoltageandaconversionfrom220kVto400kVcanincreasecapacitybyover80%.
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Thestandardapproachtoupgradinganexisting220kVlineto400kVinvolvesthecompletedismantlingofthe220kVlineandrebuildingitasa400kVline,generallyonthesamealignment.
In2008,thelengthyoutagesofkeytransmissioncircuitsandthenegativeimpactonsystemsecuritythatwouldberequiredforuprating,wasconsideredtomakethistechniqueimpracticalandunfeasible.
Sincethen,newdevelopmentsinelectricalcompositeinsulatorshaveintroducedthepossibilityofconvertingsomeexisting220kVpylonsto400kVpylons.Thisisachievedbyreplacingtheheadofthe220kVpylonwiththatofa400kVdesign.Itwouldincorporatespecialisedcompositeinsulators,butretaintheexistingfoundationsandbaseofthepylon.
Consequently,thiswouldpermitalowercostandfasterconversionofanexisting220kVcircuitto400kVwhileretainingtheexistinginfrastructure.
Voltageupratingmayallowhighercapacitiesonexistingroutesandprovideasolutionifthereisaneedtoincreaseacircuit’scapacity.However,ifthereisarequirementforanadditionalcircuittoallowforcircuitoutagesthisapproachwouldnotbeasolution.
Thistechnologyiscurrentlyinthedevelopmentphaseandhaspassedinitialmodellingtestsforthelatestgenerationofpylons.Itnowrequiresrigorousphysicalexaminationandtrialstorefineandtestperformance,beforeadoptingitasamaturetechnologyoption.
Figure3-3:Prototypevoltageupratetechnologyusingcompositeinsulators
(left,newexample400kVsinglecircuitdesign;right,newexample400kVdoublecircuitdesign)
NewOverheadLineStructures/NewPylonDesigns
Inmostcasesoverheadlinetechnologyremainsthemostreliableandleastexpensiveoptionfordevelopingnewcircuits.Weareactivelyconsideringnewpylondesignsand
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othermitigationmeasuresinordertominimiseadverselandscapeandvisualimpacts,seeFigure3-4forsomeexamples.Thegoalistouselessvisuallyintrusiveoverheadlinepylons,particularlyinsensitiveareas.Thesemitigationmeasureswereoutlinedina2008GovernmentsponsoredreportissuedbyEcofysonTheComparativeMeritsofOverheadElectricityTransmissionLinesVersesUndergroundCables.
WewillalsotaketheNationalLandscapeStrategyintoaccount.
Figure3-4:Examplesofnewpylondesigns
Technology–Research&DevelopmentStage
ComplexDCNetworksHVDCisanestablishedtechnologyfortransmittingpowerfrompointtopoint.
However,largescalemesheduseofHVDCrequiressignificantadvancesintechnologytoenablemoreadvancedcontrolstrategiesandtheeffectiveisolationoffaultsbeforeitcanbecomecommonplaceinnetworkdevelopment.
Aspowerelectronicdevicesbecomemorecosteffectiveandmoredevicesutilisepowerelectronicstheneedtounderstandtheseinteractionsincreases.
Wewillcontinuetomonitordevelopmentsinthisarea,whichisattractingsignificantinternationalinterest.
NewVoltageUpratingStrategiesThetechnologiesavailabletouprateoverheadlinesandequipmentareconstantlydeveloping.
Wehaveinvestigatedandidentifiedtechnologicalsolutionswhichmayavoidtheneedforcompletereplacementoftheexistingstructuresforthehighervoltage220kVand400kVoverheadlines.Thesetechnologiesareprogressingtowardstrials.FurtherinformationisprovidedintheVoltageUpratingsectioninTechnologyReadyforTrialUse.
However,forthelowervoltage110kVlines,duetotheexistingnon-metallicsupportstructuresthesetechnologiesarenotlikelytoprovesuccessful.Wethereforearecontinuingtoinvestigateothertechniquesandmoreconceptualtechnologiesthatmayprovideamoreviablesolutionforthesecircuits.
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OtherSmartGridConceptsArevolutionarydevelopmentininformation,communicationandtelecommunication(ICT)hasoccurredinrecentyears.Transmissionanddistributionequipmenthasbecomeprogressivelymoreintelligentandresponsive.
AsICTdevelopmentcontinues,andmoredatacanbecommunicatedonthestatusandneedsofthenetworkanditsusers,theinfluenceSmartGridswillhaveonbothmarketandnetworkoperationanddevelopmentwillincrease.
ThemovetoaSmartGridisdrivenbythechangingneedsofnetworkusers.TheSmartGridisthenetworkthatenablessuchchangestohappen.Fromauserperspective,thecontinuedintroductionofrenewablegeneration,andtheuncertaintyinthelocationandsizeoftheseindividualgenerators,willbemitigatedbyadvancesinSmartGridtosomedegree.IncreasingICTwillmakethecontrolofthesesmallergeneratorsmorepracticalandcosteffective.
Tomorrow’sEnergyScenariosThemajorityofgriddevelopmentprojectsaredrivenbychangesinhowthegridisused.Toplannewgriddevelopmentprojects,wefirsthavetounderstandwhatthefutureusageofthegridmaylooklike.
Todothis,wethinkaboutchangesinthewaypeopleandbusinessesuseelectricityandchangesinthewayinwhichelectricityisproduced.Weaskourselves:“Whatfactorswilldrivethesechangesandhowwillthesechangesplayoutovertime?”.
Forexample,weknowthatinresponsetoaglobalcommitmenttotackleclimatechange,theenergyindustryismovingtowardsalowcarbonenergyfuture.
Thiswillleadtochangesinthetype,sizeandlocationofpowerstationsconnectingtothegrid.
Itmayalsoleadtomorecommunity-basedpowerandheatingsystemsbeingbuiltwhichwouldmeangreaterefficiencyinhowelectricityisusedinthehomeandinbusiness.
Itisimportantthatwelookatallthefactorsthatinfluencechangesintheusageofthegridinthefuture.GovernmentandEUpolicyarekeyinfluencesbutsocialtrends,changesintechnology,changesintheeconomy,changesinagriculturalandindustrialdevelopmentallhavearoletoplay.
Overthepasttenyears,wehavelearnedthatthelevelofuncertaintyoverthefutureusageofthegridisincreasing.
Tocaterforthis,wearechanginghowweplanthegrid.Ournewapproachinvolvesdevelopingarangeoffuturescenarios.Wewilltestwhetherthegridoftodaycansupportthesefuturescenariosoriffurtherdevelopmentofthegridisrequired.
Thesefuturescenarioswillreinforceourgriddevelopmentplans.Itisvitalthatwegatherawiderrangeofstakeholderopinionsandviewsearlyoninthescenariodevelopmentprocess.
Therefore,whenwecreateourscenarios,wewillaskkeypolicymakersandindustryexpertshowtheyseethingschangingovertime.Wewillthenpublishourscenariosandinvitecommentsfromeveryone.
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Thescenarioswillbereviewedeverytwoyearsinthiswayandanyothernewinformationavailabletousontrends,changesintheindustry,andotherrelevantfactorswillbeincluded.Thistwo-yearcycleof‘reviewandrenew’willbeongoing.
Wewillusethesescenariosthroughoutourplanninganalysistoassesstheneedsofthefutureelectricitysystem.Wewillalsousethemtotestthepracticalityandmeritsofnetworkreinforcementoptions,andproposesolutionsforanyproblemsweuncover.
Wealreadyuseaversionofthisapproachforindividualprojects.Weaskvarious‘whatif’questionswhenwearelookingforaspecificdevelopmentsolution.Thistestsrobustness,durabilityandtechnicalperformance.Thisensureswechoosethemostappropriatesolution.
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Chapter4:StrategyforGridDevelopmentToensuretransmissionsystemreliabilityandsecurity,theperformanceofthenetworkiscomparedwiththerequirementsoftheTransmissionSystemSecurityandPlanningStandards(TSSPS)whichareavailableatwww.eirgridgroup.com.Ourlicensespecificallyrequiresustoensurethemaintenanceofthetransmissionsystemand,ifnecessary,todevelopit.
Thetransmissionsystemisrequiredtoremainstableandsecureforavarietyofcriticalcontingenciesincludingoutagesasaresultoffaultsormaintenance.Thenetworkisassessedforawidevarietyofnetworkconditions,suchas:diversedemandlevelsandgenerationdispatches,differentinterconnectionpowertransfers,generationclosures,networkstabilityandassetcondition.Projectsareregularlyreviewedaspartoftheon-goingprocessofprojectdevelopmentanddelivery.
Thedriversfornetworkinvestmentresultinaseriesofprojectstoreinforcethesystem.Theneedfortheseprojectscanresultfrominter-regionalpowerflow,localconstraintssuchasthermalandvoltageissues,connectionofdemandorgeneration,interconnection,andassetcondition.
Historicallytheprimarygridreinforcementneedsweretheneedtohandlerisingdemandforelectricityandtofacilitategenerationconnectionstothetransmissiongridortheaggregateeffectofmultipleconnectionstothedistributionsystem.
InthepastIrelandhasbeenparticularlysuccessfulinattractingmanyhigh-techindustriescentredaroundourlargercities.Asoureconomyreturnstogrowthitisessentialthattransmissiongridinvestmentcontinuestosupporteconomicgrowthandjobcreation,andtoencouragemorebalancedregionaldevelopment.
Aswellasthelargerurbanareasontheeasternseaboard,ourdevelopmentplanscoverallareasofthecountry.ThisgridinvestmentisessentialifbroaderregionaleconomicgrowthistobeenjoyedthroughoutIreland.
Ourstrategystatementsare:
Strategy1Inclusiveconsultationwithlocalcommunitiesandstakeholderswillbecentraltoourapproach.
Weacknowledgethesensitivitiesassociatedwithmajortransmissioninfrastructuredevelopment.Inresponsetomajorprojectconsultationfeedback,andtofollowthroughonourGrid25Initiativesannouncedin2014,weundertooktocarryoutathoroughinternalandexternalreviewofourconsultationprocess.InDecember2014wepublished“ReviewingandImprovingourConsultationProcess”.Thereviewcontained12commitmentsaimedatachievingamorecommunity-focusedapproachtogriddevelopment.Wearemakingsignificantprogressinmeetingthesecommitments.Oneofthe12commitmentswasareviewofourProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap.Asaresultofthatreview,wehavedevelopedanewprojectdevelopmentframework.Thisclearlyand
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transparentlyoutlinesthestepswetakewhendevelopingthegrid,andhowcommunitiescanhavetheirsay.
OurnewframeworkreplacesthepreviousProjectDevelopmentandConsultationRoadmap.
Wearecommittedtoenhancingpublicparticipationandcommunityengagementaspartofthisprocess.
Strategy2Wewillconsiderallpracticaltechnologyoptions.
Oneofthethemesraisedinsubmissionsduringrecentconsultationswastheneedtoconductacomprehensiveundergroundanalysisforourlargelinearprojects.
Wehavealwaysconsideredundergroundtechnologyduringinitialprojectresearchandtechnicalanalysis.Wearecommitedtoengagingwiththepublicbeforeweidentifyapreferredtechnology.Thisconsultationwillexplainthetransmissiontechnologyoptions,andthenseekfeedbackfromstakeholders.
Thiswillassistusindeterminingthebesttransmissiontechnologyforfutureprojects.Wearecommittedtolookingforalternativeoptionsthatmayavoid,orreduce,thenecessityfornewoverheadlines.
Strategy3Wewilloptimisetheexistinggridtominimisetheneedfornewinfrastructure.
Wewillcontinuetomaximisetheuseoftheexistingtransmissionnetwork.Wherewecanincreasethecapacityofexistinginfrastructure,orusenewtechnologies,thismayremovetheneedtoconstructnewlines.Thisstrategylowerscostsandensuresthattherewillbepotentiallylessimpactontheenvironmentandonlocalcommunities.
ImpactoftechnologicalchoiceTransmissiondevelopmentprojectscanusearangeoftechnologiesthatdeliveravarietyofbenefitstothesystem.Astheassumptionsindemandandgenerationchange,thebenefitsmayincreaseordecreaseforeachinvestmentoptionunderconsideration.
Forexample,inanenvironmentofrapidlyincreasingdemandandassociatedgenerationdevelopment,theoptimumsolutionmaybeaclearcutneedforadditionalcircuitcapacitytoservethemediumtolong-termnetworkreinforcementneeds.
Ontheotherhand,ifdemandgrowthwasmoremoderate,thiscouldmeanfuturereinforcementneedsmaybebetterservedbyoptimisingtheexistingnetwork.
Thiscouldbeachievedbyupratingexistingcircuitsorinstallingequipmenttooptimisepowerflowsonthenetwork.
Thesereinforcementmeasuresmayprovidesufficientnetworkcapacitytonegatetheneedfortheconstructionofnewtransmissioncircuits.
GridDevelopmentStrategyOurgriddevelopmentstrategyhasbeendevelopedinlightofthestrategystatementsandtheupdateddriversandavailabletechnologiesdescribedinthisdocument.
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Theoriginal2008estimatedcostofthedeliveryofGrid25was€4bn;thisestimatewasscaledbackin2011toanestimatedcostof€3.2bn.Thiswasmadepossiblebyfallingexpectationsoffuturedemandandthroughtheuseofnewtechnologies.
Formanyoftheprojects–suchaslineupratesandnewsubstations–theavailabletechnologiesfallwithinarelativelynarrowcostrange.
However,fornewtransmissioncircuits,thereareawiderangeofcostsamongthedifferenttechnologiesthatmaybeusedandthismakesitdifficulttoestimatecostsuntilfinaldecisionsaremade.
Theoverallestimatedcostforourgriddevelopmentstrategyhasbeenrevised,weexpectittofallwithintherangeof€2.6to€2.9billion.ThisalsoincludesthecostforthesouthernportionoftheNorthSouthInterconnector.ThiscostwasnotincludedintheoriginalGrid25.
Thepotentialreductioncanbeexplainedbyanumberoffactors,including:
• Thecostofcircuitupratesislowerthananticipatedin2008.AtthetimeofthelaunchofGrid25,itwasstandardpracticetoachievehigherratingsonoverheadlinesbyusingheavierconductors.Thisoftenrequiresacompletere-buildoftheline.AsoutlinedinChapter3,weadoptedtheHTLSconductorforupratinglineswhereverfeasible.Thisconductorprovidesanincreaseincapacityofabout60%,withoutexcessiveincreasesinconductorweight.Thisnegatestherequirementtochangethesupportstructures,thussignificantlyreducingthecostofuprates.
• Areductioninthescope,orinsomecasesadeferral,ofanumberofprojectsduetothelowerforecastdemanddescribedinChapter2.Thishashadasignificantimpact,particularlyevidentinnetworkssupplyingmajortownsandcities.
• Oneofthekeystrategiesforthefutureistooptimisetheuseofthetransmissionnetwork.Thiswouldminimisetherequirementfornewinfrastructure.Theextensiveuseofvariousupratingandcompensatingtechnologiestomaximisethecapacityofexistingcircuitsandsubstationshasprovensuccessfulinreducingtheneedforgriddevelopment.
Figure4-1belowcomparesthequantityoftransmissioncircuitsproposedintheoriginalGrid25Strategyin2008andwhatisnowproposedinthisupdatedgriddevelopmentstrategy.
Theimpactofthesuccessfulimplementationofnewtechnologiescanbeseenastheproportionofcircuitstobeupratedormodified,asopposedtobuildingnewlines,hasincreasedfrom66%to86%.Simultaneouslytheamountofnewinfrastructurehasdramaticallyreducedduetothegreateruseofnetworkoptimisation.Thisequatestoarounda73%reductioninthetotallengthofnewbuild.Thehighlevelofcircuitupratingwillbemaintained,considerablyreducingtheneedfornewinfrastructure.
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Figure4-1Comparisonoflengthofuprateandnewbuildcircuits
1,150
2,300
310
2,000
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
NewBuild Uprate
km 2008
2017
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Chapter5:RegionalDevelopmentandMajorProjectsWehavereviewedthemanyassumptionsanddriversformajorgridinvestment.Thereisasignificantdifferenceinthecapitalinvestmentrequirementsbetweentheoriginalgriddevelopmentstrategy,estimatedat€4billionin2008,andtheestimatedcostoftheupdatedstrategy,rangingbetween€2.6bnand€2.9bn.Itisnecessarytoprovideacostrangetoallowfortheincreasingvarietyoftechnologieswhichmaybeselectedforaproject.Toprovidegreatertransparencyandaclearerunderstandingoftheconsequencesofourstrategy,theplanisbrokenupintoeightindividualregions19.Figure5-1belowillustratesthebroaddistributionofthiscapitalinvestmentacrosstheeightregions.ThemapinFigure5-2showstheoutlineoftheeightregions.Eachregionismadeupofthefollowingcounties:
• Border:Donegal,Sligo,Leitrim,Cavan,MonaghanandLouth;• West:Mayo,GlawayandRoscommon;• Mid-West:Clare,LimerickandNorthTipperary;• South-West:CorkandKerry;• Midlands:Longford,Weathmeath,OffalyandLaois;• South-East:SouthTipperary,Waterford,Wexford,KilkennyandCarlow;• Mid-East:Wicklow,KildareandMeath;and• Dublin.
Mid-West11%
West18%
Border21%
Midlands4%
Mid-East14%
Dublin6%
South-East7%
South-West18%
€2.6 - €2.9billion
€0.2 billion
€0.2 billion
€0.4 billion
€0.5 billion
€0.4 - €0.6 billion
€0.5 - €0.6 billion
€0.1 billion
€0.3 billion
Figure5-1Regionalbreakdownofinvestment
19 We have updated the regions to align with those used by Government and Government bodies e.g. the IDA. Previously we used regions we developed ourselves.
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WESTREGION
Midlands
West
South-West
South-East
Border
Mid-West
Dublin
Mid-East
Figure5-2MapShowingOutlineofRegions
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Eachregionissummarisedindividuallybelow.Ineachregionalsummaryadetailedmapisprovidedshowingalltransmissioncircuitsandsubstations,theiroperatingvoltagesandgenerationsources.Majorgriddevelopmentsarehighlightedandcategorisedasnewassets,upratedormodifiedassets,orareasofcontinuinginvestigation.Eachregionalsummaryisaccompaniedbyaregionalsummarytable.Thistabledescribes:
• theforecastregionalgenerationanddemandbalance;• themainregionaldemandcentres,andtheforecastdemandandadditional
availablecapacityatthedemandcentres20;• thenumberofprojects;• circuitlengths;and• totalprojectedregionaldevelopmentcost21.
Themajornewregionaldevelopmentsarelistedandahigh-leveldescriptionoftheregionaldevelopmentplanisprovidedforeachregion.Wheretherearemajorprojectswithinthatregion,amoredetaileddescriptionofthesekeyprojectsisprovided.Figure5-3providesanationalsummary.
FordetailsonprojectsthathavealreadybeencompletedseetheTransmissionDevelopmentPlanwhichisavailableonourwebsite.
Whilecertainprojectsareidentifiedinthisstrategy,thesewillallbesubjecttoprojectlevelscreeningforEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentandAppropriateAssessment,inaccordancewiththegoverninglegislation.Inaddition,ourgriddevelopmentstrategy,includingthisTechnicalReport,willprovidethefoundationforournextImplementationPlanandStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment(SEA),thepreparationofwhichhascommenced,andwhichwillbepublishedin2017.
InourgriddevelopmentstrategywesetoutourviewonthemajorinvestmentprojectsnecessarytomeetIreland’sneeds.ThisstrategyrelatesonlytoIreland,butitconsiderstheall-islandenergymarket.Inparticular,itrespondstotheurgentneedtosecureelectricitysupplyinNorthernIreland.
20 Although capacity is shown at the demand centre, it is indicative of the available capacity for the surrounding general area. 21 For projects within the grid development strategy only, for example new assets that physically connect generation to the transmission network are excluded.
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BORDERREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres23
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)24
Drogheda25 75 100
Dundalk26 73 40
Letterkenny 60 40
Sligo 54 50
Summary of Development Projects27
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 2 68 €0.5-€0.6 billion Uprate circuits 17 565
New substations 0 N/A Major Regional Projects
• SecondNorthSouthInterconnectorbetweenTurleenan,Co.Tyrone,andWoodland,Co.Meath,
substations
Other Notable Regional Projects
• NorthwestNeeds–reinforcementofthegridinthenorth-westisrequired.Thesolutions,
technologyandtimingofthisworkarecurrentlybeingreviewed
• ReconfigurationandrefurbishmentatLouth275/220/110kVsubstation
• UprateofArva–ShankillandArva-CarrickonShannon110kVcircuits
• UprateofCarrickonShannon–ArignaT–CorderryandCorderry–Srananagh110kVcircuits
• Reactivepowersupportrequiredtostrengthensystemvoltage
23 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 24 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 25 Transmission substation is Drybridge. 26 Transmission substations are Dundalk and Mullagharlin. 27 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
1,390MW
510MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheBorderregionhassignificantrenewableenergyresources.Thereisanexcessofgenerationinthe
area.
Demandintheregion,includingthemainurbancentres,isexpectedtogrowupto2025andbeyond.
Theexistingtransmissionnetworkiscomposedofboth110kVand220kVcircuits.Theexistinglocal
transmissionnetworkfacilitateslimitedinterareapowerflowsbetweenNorthernIrelandandIreland
viatheexisting275kVTandragee–Louthinterconnector.
ThemajorprojectinthisregionistheproposedNorthSouthInterconnectorbetweenTurleenanand
Woodlandsubstations.
Wearealsoinvestigatingtheneedtoreinforcethegridinthenorth-west.
TheNorth-SouthInterconnectorAspartoftheoriginalGrid25Strategy,wecarriedoutanassessmentoftheregion.Thereporthighlightedtheneedforgridreinforcementandidentifiedcosts,benefitsandtheconsequencesofnon-action.OneofthekeyreinforcementsassumedwastheNorth–SouthInterconnector.
Inthere-examinationofassumptionscarriedoutinchapter2ofthisupdate,therequirementforincreasedpowertoflowbetweenIrelandandNorthernIrelandinfutureyearswasconfirmed.Thisismainlydrivenbychangestothefutureall-islandgenerationportfolio,plantretirementsandtherelativeoperationalcostsofgenerationplantsineachjurisdiction.
ThecapacityforpowerflowsbetweenIrelandandNorthernIrelandislimitedbytheexistinginfrastructure.Inparticular,thereisariskthatasingleeventcouldtaketheexistinginterconnectoroutofserviceleadingtoasystemseparationofIrelandandNorthernIreland,requiringeachsystemtoinstantlyadjusttoachieveanewdemand-supplybalance.TheNorthSouthInterconnectorwillremovethisriskofsystemseparationandsignificantlyincreasecross-bordertransmissioncapacity.
Thecombinedvalueofthesebenefitshasbeenassessedcollectivelytodeliverarangeofbenefitsoftheorderof€20mperannumin2020risingtobetween€40m-€60mperannumfrom2030,by:
• Improvingcompetitionandeconomicoperationofgeneratorsbyremovingconstraintsonpowerflowsacrosstheborder;
• Improvingsecurityofsupplybyallowinggreatersharingofgenerationacrosstheisland.DuetotheexistinglimitedtransmissioncapacityavailablebetweenNorthandSouth,generationsourcesinIrelandcannotbefullyutilisedtohelpalleviateanticipatedshortfallsinNorthernIrelanduntilthesecondNorth-SouthInterconnectorisconstructed;and
• Providingtherequiredflexibilityforrenewablegeneration.
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TheNorthSouthInterconnectorwilladditionallyensurethelong-termsecurityofsupplyfortheNorthEastpartofthenetworkinIreland.
Becauseofthelengthandcapacityoftheinterconnectorcircuit,itisnotpossibletouseACundergroundcablesfortheentirelengthnor,wereitpossible,wouldthistechnologyprovideasefficientandreliableoption,comparedtotheproposedsolution.
Inaddition,whileundergroundcablesusingHVDCtechnologywouldbefeasible,theiruseonthisprojectwouldintroducehighercoststotheconsumer,wouldnotfacilitatefuturegridconnectionsandreinforcementsalongtheroute,anddoesnotcomplywithbestutilitypractice.
TheprojectwasdesignatedaProjectofCommonInterest(PCI)bytheEuropeanCommissioninOctober2013.ItwasreaffirmedasaPCIinthesecondPCIlist,whichwaspublishedinNovember2015.
ProjectsofCommonInterestareenergyinfrastructurepriorityprojectsdeemedbytheEuropeanCommissiontobeofstrategic,trans-boundaryimportance–inotherwords,thattheyareofvalueandimportancetomorethanonecountry.
ItisalsodesignatedasaneHighway2050ProjectbytheEuropeanUnion.Thisisaninitiativetosupportthedevelopmentof“electricityhighways”asstepstowardsthecreationofanall-Europetransmissionnetwork.
AnBordPleanála(ABP)isthedesignatedauthorityforPCIsinIreland.BetweenJune2014andApril2015,weengagedwiththePCIunitofABPinaPCIpre-applicationprocess.Whenthatwascomplete,weformallysubmittedtheplanningapplicationfiletoAnBordPleanálainJune2015.
InSeptember2015,AnBordPleanálaaskedustorespondtosubmissionsmadebythepublicinrespectoftheplanningapplication.WerespondedtothosepublicsubmissionsinOctober2015.
InMarch2016,theNorthSouthInterconnectororalhearingstartedinCarrickmacross,CountyMonaghan.Thisisaprocesswhichallowsfurtherdiscussionoftheplanningapplicationbeforeanindependentplanninginspector.Theoralhearingranforatotalof35daysandendedinMay2016.
InDecember2016AnBordPleanálagrantedplanningapprovalforthepartofproposedinterconnectorinIreland.
ThereisaseparateplanningprocessongoinginNorthernIrelandinrelationtothepartoftheproposedinterconnectorinNorthernIreland.Mostrecently,thePlanningAppealsCommissionheldapublicinquiryattheendofJune2016onlegalandproceduralissuesfortheplanningapplication.ThePlanningAppealsCommissionisduetoadvancetothemainphaseofapublichearinginearly2017.
TheNorthwest
Wecarriedout,inassociationwithSONI,anassessmentofthenorthwestregionandwesternNorthernIreland.ThisinvestigationresultedinasubmissiontotheEuropeanCommission(EC)requestingProjectofCommonInterest(PCI)statusforaprojecttitledtheRenewableIntegrationDevelopmentProject(RIDP).TheprojectwasdesignatedaProjectof
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CommonInterest(PCI)bytheEuropeanCommissioninOctober2013.ItwasreaffirmedasaPCIinthesecondPCIlist,whichwaspublishedinNovember2015.
TheneedforreinforcementispredicatedonthelevelofrenewablegenerationinbothDonegalandwesternNorthernIreland.Thesolutions,technologyandtimingofthisworkarecurrentlybeingreviewed.Wewill,intime,consultwithrelevantstakeholdersontheneeds,andtherangeofsolutionsthataddresstheseneeds.
080816 EirGrid Technical Report - Grid Development Strategy - 19.01.2017 - ALL A4 PDFX1a.pdf 37 19/01/2017 19:03
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WESTREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres28
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)29
Castlebar 26 10
Galway 71 60
Summary of Development Projects30 Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 2 125 €0.4-€0.6 billion Uprate circuits 8 236
New substations 2 N/A Major Regional Projects
• TheGridWestProject:NewcircuitfromtheBellacorickareatoFlagfordtransmissionsubstation
• SeriesCompensationontheexisting400kVoverheadlineatOldstreet400kVsubstation(partof
theRegionalSolution,seetheSouth-Eastregionsummaryformoreinformation)
Other Notable Regional Projects
• ReinforcementofthetransmissionnetworkinthevicinityofMayoandSligocomprisingtheNorth
Connacht110kVproject.Thereinforcementpotentiallyincludestheupratingofsome110kV
circuitsinthearea,forexampleCastlebar–Dalton–CashlaandCastlebar–Cloon110kVcircuits31
• UpratingofCashla–Salthill110kVcircuit
• UpratingofFlagford–Lanesboro110kVcircuit
• UpratingofBellacorick–CastlebarandBellacorickMoy110kVcircuits
• Reactivepowersupportrequiredtostrengthensystemvoltage
28 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 29 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 30 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review. 31 Based on current information and commitments we have identified a need for either Grid West or a North Connacht Reinforcement, however not both.
1,650MW
430MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheWestregionisparticularlyrichinrenewableenergyresources.Thesegenerationsourcesare
dispersedacrosstheregion,butparticularlyconcentratedalongthewesterncoastline.Thereisalsoa
largeconventionalthermalgeneratorlocatedatTynaghsubstation.Themaindemandcentresare
composedofamixofresidential,commercialandindustrialdemand,whichisexpectedtogrowupto
2025andbeyond.
Theexistingtransmissionnetworkispredominantlylowercapacity110kVwithverylittlehigher
capacity220kVand400kVtransmissioninfrastructure.Developingthegridwillenablethe
transmissionsystemtosafelyaccommodatemorediversepowerflowsfromsurplusregional
generationandalsotofacilitatefuturegrowthinelectricitydemand.
Thesedevelopmentswillstrengthenthenetworkforallelectricityusers,andindoingsowillimprove
thesecurityandqualityofsupply.Thisisparticularlyimportantiftheregionistoattracthigh
technologyindustriesthatdependonareliable,highquality,electricitysupply.
TheGridWestProjectTheamountofrenewablegenerationseekingtoconnectinthenorthwestofMayoissignificantlyinexcessofthelocaldemandandthereforeneedstobetransferredoutofthearea.Theexistinglocal110kVnetwork,evenifitisuprated,isnotcapableofcarryingtheselevelsofpowerflow.
Therefore,anothertransmissioncircuitisrequired.Wearecarefullyconsideringalternatives.
WeconductedacomprehensiveanalysisontheundergroundandoverheadoptionsfortheGridWestProject.WepresentedananalysisofthreeoptionstotheGovernment-appointedIndependentExpertPanel(IEP).Thisdetailedanalysisconsideredeconomic,technicalandenvironmentfactors.
TheIEPpublisheditsopinionthatthereportwascompleteandtheoptionswerecomparable.Subsequently,wepublishedthereportinJuly2015.
Thereport,basedonthisdetailedanalysis,considersthreeoptions:aHVDCundergroundoption,a400kVoverheadlineoption,anda220kVoverheadoptionwhichmayincorporatesubstantialamountsofundergroundACcable.
HVDCUndergroundCableOption
Thisoptioncanbesummarisedasasingle,fullyunderground,HVDCcable,approximately113kminlength.ThecableconnectsanewHVDCconverterstationclosetotheexistingFlagford220kVsubstationtoanewHVDCconverterstationnearMoygownaghto‘collect’thepowerproducedbythewindenergyinthelocalarea.Inadditionapproximately2kmof220kVACundergroundcableisrequiredtoconnectthenewconverterstationtotheexistingFlagford220kVsubstation.
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Theestimatedpresentvaluecostforthisoptionis€475m32.
400kVOverheadLineOption
Thisoptioncanbesummarisedasasingle400kVACfullyoverheadline,103kminlength.ThelineconnectsfromtheexistingFlagford220kVsubstationtoanewsubstationnearMoygownaghto‘collect’thepowerproducedbythewindenergyinthelocalarea.Inadditionapproximately8kmof220kVACundergroundcablewouldbeinstalledintothefirstsectionoftheexistingFlagford–Srananagh220kVline.
Theestimatedpresentvaluecostforthisoptionis€220m33.
220kVOverheadLineandPartialUndergroundCableOption
Thisoptioncanbesummarisedasasingle220kVACoverheadline,upto105kminlength.Thisoptionallowsupto20kmofthisoverheadlinetobeundergrounded,withtheremainderconstructedasoverheadline.ThecircuitconnectsfromtheexistingFlagford220kVsubstationtoanewsubstationnearMoygownaghto‘collect’thepowerproducedbythewindenergyinthelocalarea.Inadditionapproximately8kmand2kmof220kVACundergroundcablewouldbeinstalledintothefirstsectionoftheexistingFlagford–Srananagh220kVlineandtheapproachtoanewsubstationnearMoygownaghrespectively.Theestimatedpresentvaluecostforthisoptionis€205-250m34(dependentontotalcablelength).
IstheGridWestprojectstillneeded?
Thereisasufficientlevelofcommittedgenerationintheareatodriveanewcircuit,butthismaynotbetheGridWestproject.
Dependingonthefinalvolumeofgeneration,thesolutionmaybeamorelocalreinforcement.WhentheneedforGridWestisfullyconfirmed,wewillconsultontheinformationcontainedintheIEPreport.Wewilldothisbeforeselectingapreferredtechnologytype.
32 Source: Grid West Report to the IEP. The cost is rounded here. 33 Source: Grid West Report to the IEP. The cost is rounded here. 34 Source: Grid West Report to the IEP. The cost is rounded here.
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MIDWESTREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres35
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)36
Ennis 57 110
Limerick 77 100
Summary of Development Projects37
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 3 9 €0.3 billion Uprate circuits 7 176
New substations 0 N/A Major Regional Projects
• Moneypoint–NorthKerryProject:New220kVcablefromMoneypointtoKnockanurevia
Kilpaddoge
• NewKilpaddoge-Moneypoint220kVcable
• NewMoneypoint400/220/110kVsubstation
• Seriescompensationontheexisting400kVoverheadlineatMoneypoint400kVsubstation
(partoftheRegionalSolution,seetheSouth-Eastregionsummaryformoreinformation)
• Anew400kVsub-seacable,acrosstheShannonestuaryfromMoneypointtoKilpaddoge(part
oftheRegionalSolution,seetheSouth-Eastregionsummaryformoreinformation)
35 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 36 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 37 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
1,880MW
480MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Other Notable Regional Projects
• UpratingofEnnis–Booltiagh–TullabrackT-Moneypoint110kVcircuit
• UpratingofCauteen-Killonan110kVcircuit
• RedevelopmentofKillonan220/110kVsubstation
• Reactivepowersupportrequiredtostrengthensystemvoltage
Regional Description
TheMid-Westregionisparticularlyrichinrenewableenergyresourcesincludingwindenergyand
hydrogenerationontheShannon.Thereisalsoalargeconventionalthermalgeneratorlocatedat
Moneypointsubstation.Themainurbandemandcentresarecomposedofamixofresidential,
commercialandindustrialdemand,whichisexpectedtogrowupto2025andbeyond.Theexisting
transmissionnetworkiscomposedof110kV,220kVand400kVinfrastructure.
Theregionhasconsiderablymoregenerationthandemand,andtheexistinginfrastructurealso
facilitateshighinter-regionalpowerflowsfromthesouthwest.TheproposedMoneypoint–North
Kerryinvestmentswillenablebetteruseoftheexisting400kVcircuitsfromMoneypointtoDublin,
circuitswhichoriginallyweredesignedtofacilitatetheconnectionoflargeconventionalgenerationat
Moneypoint.
These400kVcircuitswillthereforebecomeamoreintegralpartofthebackbonetransmission
networkandwillbecomemoresoduetoourdecisiontoimplementthe‘RegionalSolution’forGrid
Linkwhichinvolvesgreateruseoftheexisting400kVcircuits.
Thesenewprojectswillenablethetransmissionsystemtosafelyaccommodatemorediversepower
flowsfromsurplusregionalgenerationandalsotofacilitategrowthinelectricitydemandacrossthe
region.
Thesedevelopmentswillstrengthenthenetworkforallelectricityusers,andindoingsowillimprove
thesecurityandqualityofsupply.Thisisparticularlyimportantiftheregionistocontinuetoattract
hightechnologyindustriesthatdependonareliable,highquality,electricitysupply.
TheMoneypoint–NorthKerryProject
TheneedfornetworkreinforcementarisesduetothelargeamountsofwindgenerationconnectingtotransmissionanddistributionnetworksinCo.Kerry,Co.CorkandwestCo.Limerick.Thisgivesrisetoariskofoverloadsontheexistingtransmissionsystem.
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Theprojectwasinitiallyconceivedasa400kV,partoverheadandpartunderwater,circuitconnectingMoneypointgenerationstationinCo.Clareandanew220kVsubstationinNorthKerry.
Subsequently,highercapacityundergroundcabletechnologybecameavailable.Thisledtoare-evaluationofthepotentialoptions.Forthisparticularprojecta220kVcablesolutionistechnicallyfeasibleasthecircuitisofarelativelyshortlengthandtherequiredcapacitycanbemetwithextrahighthermalcapacitycables.
Afteracostbenefitanalysisonthisproject,itisnowa220kVundergroundcablesolutionusinganewtypeofhigh-capacitycableforthefulllengthofthecircuit.Inothercircumstanceswherethecircuitdistancesarelonger,thistechnologymaynotbeappropriate.
Moneypoint400/220/110kVSubstationThisprojectcombinesthereplacementof400kVequipmentintheexistingMoneypointsubstationwiththeneedtoalleviatealocalconstraintonthe110kVnetworkfollowingtheconnectionofrenewablegeneration.
Thelocalconstraintwillbealleviatedbyinstallinganew220/110kVtransformerwhichwillprovideanew110kVsupplyintotheexisting110kVnetwork.
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080816 EirGrid Technical Report - Grid Development Strategy - 19.01.2017 - ALL A4 PDFX1a.pdf 46 19/01/2017 19:03
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SOUTHWESTREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres38
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)39
Cork (Trabeg) 77 90
Tralee 44 100
Summary of Development Projects40
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 2 32 €0.5 billion Uprate circuits 15 345
New substations 6 N/A Major Regional Projects
• New220/110kVsubstationsatKnockanure,Ballyvouskill,BallynahullaandKilpaddoge
Other Notable Regional Projects
• UpratingofClashavoon–KnockanureandKilpaddoge–Knockanure220kVcircuits
• NewClashavoon–Dunmanway110kVcircuit
• NewClashavoon–Macroom110kVcircuit
• UpratingofRaffeen–Trabeg110kVcircuit
• Reactivepowersupportrequiredtostrengthensystemvoltage
• ReconfigurationandextensionofKnockraha220kVsubstation
• ReconfigurationandrefurbishmentofAghada220kVsubstation
38 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 39 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 40 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
3,260MW
710MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
ThedevelopmentofthetransmissionsystemintheSouth-Westischaracterisedbytheconnectionof
highlevelsofrenewableenergyinCo.CorkandCo.Kerry.Thisresultsintransmissionnetwork
constraintsaspoweristransferredoutoftheregiontowardsMoneypointandKnockraha
transmissionsubstations.
TheregionalsohasconsiderableamountsofconventionalthermalgenerationatTarbertsubstation,
andaroundCorkwithplantsatMarina,AghadaandWhitegate.Thereisalsohydrogenerationonthe
RiverLee.Thecombinedeffectisthatthisregionhasaconsiderablesurplusofgeneration.In
addition,EirGridandtheFrenchtransmissionsystemoperator,RTÉ,areundertakingajointprojectto
investigatethedevelopmentofa700MWHVDCinterconnectorbetweenIrelandandFrancethat
wouldpotentiallyconnectalongthesouthcoast.
Theexistingregionaltransmissionnetworkiscomprisedof220kVand110kVinfrastructure.
Theprojectsdescribedabovearerequiredtosafelyandsecurelyintegratelargequantitiesof
renewableenergyontotheIrishtransmissionnetwork.Thisisachievedbyupgradingexisting
transmissioncircuitsandsubstationequipment,andbuildingnewsubstationsandcircuitswhere
necessary.
ThemainloadcentreintheregionisCork,whichhasattractedanumberofpharmaceutical
companiesaswellasotherhightechnologyindustries.Thesegriddevelopmentprojectswillenable
thenetworktosafelyandsecurelyaccommodatemorediversepowerflowsfromlocalandremote
generationandalsofacilitatefuturegrowthinelectricitydemandacrossthisregion.
NewKnockanure,BallynahullaandBallyvouskill220/110kVSubstationProjects
Knockanure,BallynahullaandBallyvouskill220kVsubstationsarecollectingpointsforwindgenerationintheirlocalities.
Eachofthese220kVsubstationswillcollectlocalrenewablegenerationvia110kVtransmissioncircuits.
The‘collector’transmissionnetworkwillbeoperatedseparatelytotherestofthe110kVexistingtransmissionnetworkintheareawhichmainlysuppliesdemandcentres.Thisensuresthatthisexistingnetworkisnotoverloaded.
NewKilpaddoge220/110kVSubstationProjectThedriverforthisprojectissecurityofsupply.Theneedforreinforcementarisesduetolocalconstraintsonthetransmissionnetwork,i.e.thephysicalcapacityofTarbert220/110kVsubstationisclosetobeingreached.
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ThenewKilpaddogesubstationisnecessarytoallowfortheessentialexpansionoftransmissionconnectionsinnorthKerryandwillreplacesomeofthefunctionalityoftheexistingTarbert220kVsubstation.
080816 EirGrid Technical Report - Grid Development Strategy - 19.01.2017 - ALL A4 PDFX1a.pdf 49 19/01/2017 19:03
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MIDLANDS REGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres41
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)42
Athlone 59 20
Mullingar 48 50
Portlaoise 37 80
Tullamore43 32 30
Summary of Development Projects44
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 2 27 €0.1 billion Uprate circuits 3 92
New substations 1 N/A Major Regional Projects
• NewLaoisKilkennyReinforcementProject:New400/110kVsubstationinLaois,withpartnew
anduprated110kVsubstation/circuittocreatenew110kVcircuitfromLaoistoKilkennyvia
Ballyragget
Other Notable Regional Projects
• NewCushaling-Thornsberry110kVcircuit
• NewKinnegad-Mullingar110kVcircuit
41 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 42 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 43 Transmission substation is Thornsberry. 44 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
910MW
300MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheMidlandsregionaltransmissionnetworkisrequiredtotransportpoweroverconsiderabledistances
toawidelydispersedrangeofdemandcentres.
Theregionhasdispersedgeneration,mainlycomposedofpeat-burningpowerstationsatLanesboro,
ShannonbridgeandCushalingstations,andrenewableenergy.
TheexistingMidlandstransmissionnetworkiscomprisedof400kV,220kVand110kVinfrastructure.
Theregionaldemandcentresandgenerationsourcesaremainlyservedbythewidelydispersed110kV
meshednetwork,withthehighcapacity400kVand220kVcircuitsmainlytransferringpowerthrough
theregion.
TheLaois-KilkennyReinforcementProjectisamajorreinforcementtoconnectintoanexisting400kV
circuitandcreateanew400/110kVsubstationandnew110kVcircuitcapacity.Thiswillstrengthen
thenetworkinlargepartsoftheMidlandsandprovideadditionalcapacityforpotentialdemand
growthinthewiderregion,andinparticularinKildare,LaoisandKilkenny.
Weareconstructingtwonew110kVcircuitsintheregion,namelyCushaling(Edenderry)–Thornsberry
(Tullamore)andKinnegad–Mullingar.
Theseprojectswillstrengthentheregion’stransmissionnetworkbyimprovingsecurityandqualityof
supplyandensuringthereisthepotentialfordemandgrowthinanumberofgatewaytownsincluding
MullingarandTullamore.
Laois-KilkennyReinforcementProjectThenew400kVsubstationinLaoiswillprovideanewhighvoltagesupplypointinLaoisthatwillsupportthevoltageandalleviateloadingonconstrainedsubstationsandcircuitswithinthearea.Diversionsoftheexisting400kVcircuitandalocal110kVcircuitintothestationarealsorequired.
TosupporttheKilkennyarea,acircuitintotheexisting110kVKilkennystationisalsopartoftheproject.
ThisisachievedbybuildingacircuitfromtheLaois400kVsubstationtotheexistingBallyragget38kVstation,combinedwiththeconversionfrom38kVto110kVofboththeBallyragget38kVstationandthelinesupplyingitfromKilkenny110kVsubstation.
080816 EirGrid Technical Report - Grid Development Strategy - 19.01.2017 - ALL A4 PDFX1a.pdf 52 19/01/2017 19:03
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SOUTHEASTREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres45
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)46
Cahir 23 50
Carlow 51 70
Kilkenny 57 30
Waterford 45 110
Wexford 51 30
Summary of Development Projects47
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 0 0 €0.2 billion Uprate circuits 17 425
New substations 0 N/A Major Regional Projects
• TheRegionalSolution(formerlytheGridLinkProject):Increasetransfercapacityfromthesouth
andsouthwesttotheDublinregion.TheGridLinkprojecthasbeenreplacedbytheRegional
Solution.
Other Notable Regional Projects
• UprateofGreatIsland–WexfordandGreatIsland–Kilkenny110kVcircuits(partoftheRegional
Solution)
• RedevelopmentofGreatIsland220/110kVsubstation
• UpratingofCauteen–Tipperary110kVcircuit
45 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 46 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 47 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
1,290MW
560MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheSouth-Eastregionhasrenewableenergyresources,andconventionalgenerationlocatedatGreat
Islandsubstation.Asaresult,theregionhasasurplusofgeneration.TheSouth-Eastalsocontainsa
numberofpossiblelandinglocationsforinterconnectors.
Themainurbandemandcentresarecomposedofamixofresidential,commercialandindustrial
demand,whichisexpectedtogrowupto2025andbeyond.Theexistingtransmissionnetworkis
composedof110kVand220kVinfrastructure.Theregionhasconsiderablymoregenerationthan
demandandtheexistinginfrastructurealsofacilitateshighinter-regionalpowerflowsfromthe
southwest.Inaddition,EirGridandtheFrenchtransmissionsystemoperator,RTÉ,areundertakinga
jointprojecttoinvestigatethedevelopmentofa700MWHVDCinterconnectorbetweenIrelandand
Francethatwouldpotentiallyconnectalongthesouthcoast.
Werecentlyinvestigatedanumberofoptionstoincreasenetworkcapacitybetweenthesouthwest
andsoutheasttothelargerdemandcentreslocatedontheeasternseaboard.Theresultisthe
RegionalSolutionwhichreplacestheprojectformerlyknownasGridLink.Thiswillenablethe
transmissionsysteminthisregiontosafelyaccommodatemorediversepowerflowsfromlocal
generation,inter-regionalpowerflowsandalsotofacilitatefuturegrowthindemandacrossthe
region.
TheRegionalSolution(formerlytheGridLinkProject)AspartoftheoriginalGrid25Strategypublishedin2008,wecarriedoutanassessmentofthesoutheastandsouthwest.ThereportidentifiedtheneedtostrengthenthegridintheseregionsandparticularlybetweenCorkandDublin.Newlargeconventionalgeneratorshaverecentlyconnectedalongthesouthcoast.SubstantialamountsofrenewablegenerationhaveconnectedandarecontractedtoconnectinKerryandCork.
Asaresult,themainflowofelectricityinthesouthernhalfoftheIrishnetworkisfromthesouthandsouthwesttowardsthehighestconcentrationofdemandintheeastandnorth.
GeneratorsclosetolargeloadcentressuchasDublinorBelfastmaynotalwaysbeavailable,noreconomicaltorun,andhencemaynotoperateattimes,furtherincreasingthelevelsofpowerflowstowardstheeast.
Theexistingnetworkcannotmanagesuchlargepowerflows.Theseflowscouldcausesignificantproblems,especiallyfollowingasystemfault.Theseproblemsincludeverylowvoltagesthroughoutthesystemandinsomecircumstances,thepotentialforwidespreadvoltagecollapse(localblackouts).
Largechangesinsystemvoltagecanalsopreventautomaticreclosingoflines.Thishasaseriousimpactoncircuitavailabilityandsystemreliability,hencereducingsecurityofsupply.Furthermore,thelargetransferofpowerfromthesouthwesttothenorthandeastofthecountryexceedsthecapabilitiesofsomecircuits.
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WeconductedacomprehensivereviewoftheneedandsolutionoptionsfortheGridLinkProject.WepresentedananalysisofthreeoptionstotheGovernment-appointedIndependentExpertPanel(IEP).Thisdetailedanalysisconsideredeconomic,technicalandenvironmentfactors.TheGridLinkreportfortheIEPisavailableatwww.eirgridgroup.com.Thereviewtookintoaccountchangingdemandforecasts,aslowerrateofgrowth,upgradeworksonexistinglinesandadvancesintechnology.
AspartofthisanalysiswereplacedtheGridLinkprojectwithwhatwecallthe‘RegionalSolution’.TheRegionalSolutionismadeupofanumberofindependentprojects.Theseare:
• SeriesCompensationontheexisting400kVoverheadlinesthatcrossthecountryfromMoneypointinCountyClaretoDunstowninCountyKildareandWoodlandinCountyMeath.Theseriescompensationdevicesareplannedfor:
o Moneypoint;o OldstreetinCountyGalway;ando Dunstown400kVstations.
• Anew400kVsub-seacableacrosstheShannonestuary.ThiswillrunfromMoneypointonthenorthernbankoftheestuarytoKilpaddoge,anewstationonthesouthernbankoftheestuary.
• UprateofGreatIsland–WexfordandGreatIsland–Kilkenny110kVcircuits.• Uprateofthebusbar(conductors)atWexford110kVstation.
TheseprojectsarerequiredtomeettheupdatedneedsidentifiedinthereviewsoftheGridLinkproject.
080816 EirGrid Technical Report - Grid Development Strategy - 19.01.2017 - ALL A4 PDFX1a.pdf 56 19/01/2017 19:03
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MIDEASTREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres48
Location Forecast Demand
(MW)
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)49
Arklow 23 60
Naas50 38 30
The generation figure in the forecast generation/demand balance includes the
East West Interconnector (EWIC) as a 500 MW generation source. EWIC can be either a generation or demand source.
Summary of Development Projects51
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 1 53 €0.4 billion Uprate circuits 5 123
New substations 1 N/A Major Regional Projects
• SeriesCompensationontheexisting400kVoverheadlineatDunstown400kVstation(partof
theRegionalSolution,seetheSouth-Eastregionsummaryformoreinformation)
• ReinforcementoftheGreaterDublinAreabetweenDunstownandWoodland400kVsubstations
• New220kVsubstationnearClonee,Co.Meath
Other Notable Regional Projects
• UpratingofMaynooth–RyebrookandCorduff–Ryebrook110kVcircuits
• New400/220kVtransformersatDunstownandWoodland400kVsubstations
• ReconfigurationandmajorrefurbishmentofMaynooth220/110kVsubstation
48 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 49 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. 50 Transmission substation is Kilteel. 51 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
840MW
570MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheMid-EastregionispartoftheGreaterDublinAreaandisamajorloadcentreontheIrish
transmissionsystem.Themainurbandemandcentresarecomposedofamixofresidential,
commercialandindustrialdemand,whichisexpectedtogrowupto2025andbeyond.
The500MWEastWestInterconnectorisconnectedtothetransmissionsystematWoodlandviathe
400kVsubstationatPortanandapumpstoragefacilityislocatedatTurloughHillinWicklow.The
existingregionaltransmissionnetworkiscomprisedof400kV,220kVand110kVinfrastructure.
Thetransmissionnetworkhastomeetanumberofdiversepowerflowsthatcanvarydependingon
thegenerationdispatch,networkdemand,interconnectorflowsandnetworktopology.Thenetwork
canbesubjecttohighinter-regionalpowertransfersfrombothnorthtosouthandsouthtonorth.
WearecurrentlyinvestigatinggriddevelopmentoptionsforconnectingtheWoodlandandDunstown
400kVsubstations,toincreasethecapacityoftheoftencongestedandhighlyloadedDublin
transmissionnetwork.Thiswillenablethetransmissionsystemtosafelyaccommodatemorediverse
powerflowsandalsofacilitatefutureloadgrowthinthearea.
Tofacilitateincreasedandnewdemandexisting110kVcircuitsneedtobeupratedandanew220kV
substationisrequirednearClonee,Co.Meath.
Theseprojectswillstrengthenthenetworkforallelectricityusers,andindoingsowillimprovethe
securityandqualityofsupply.
ThisisparticularlyimportantiftheregionistocontinuetodevelopasanICThubandattracthigh
technologyindustriesthatdependonareliable,highquality,electricitysupply.
ReinforcementoftheGreaterDublinAreabetweenDunstownandWoodland400kVSubstationsAspartofthegriddevelopmentstrategy,wecarriedoutanassessmentoftheGreaterDublinArea.ThereportidentifiedtheneedforastrengtheningofthegridinthisareabetweenWoodland,Co.Meath,andDunstown,Co.Kildare,400kVsubstations.
Theassumptionsconcerningtheconnectionofrenewablegenerationdescribedinchapter2ofthisreporthaveasignificantimpactontransmissionsystempowerflowsintothisregion.
Simultaneously,interestfromanumberoflarge-scaleindustrialcustomersintheareaisalmostcertainlygoingtodrivetheneedforfurtherreinforcementinandaroundDublinandthiswillrequirestrengtheningofthelinksbetweenthesesubstations.
Theprojectmayrequirea400kVlink,whichmaybedevelopedbyre-usingexistingassetsconvertedto400kV,thusmaximisingtheexistingassetsinlinewiththenewstrategicstatements.
Wearecurrentlyrefiningtheneedandassessingtherangeofavailabletechnologiesinpreparationforconsultationwithlocalcommunitiesandstakeholders.
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New220kVSubstationnearClonee,Co.MeathThenewsubstationisbeingbuilttofacilitatetheconnectionofanewdemandcustomer.Itwillbeconnectedtotheexisting220kVnetworkinthearea.
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DUBLINREGION Summary Table
Main Regional Demand Centres
Location Forecast Demand (MW)52
Additional Demand Capacity (MW)53
Carrickmines 397 90
Finglas 480 90
Inchicore 360 90
Summary of Development Projects54
Type of Projects No. of Projects Project kilometres Total Regional Cost
New build circuits 0 0 €0.2 billion Uprate circuits 2 36
New substations 2 N/A Major Regional Projects
• NewBelcamp220/110kVsubstationinNorthDublinandcircuitstoconnecttotheexisting220
kVnetwork
• New220/110kVsubstationinWestDublinandcircuitstoconnecttotheexisting220kVnetwork
Other Notable Regional Projects
• ReconfigurationandmajorrefurbishmentofInchicore,FinglasandCarrickmines220kV
substations
• Reactivepowersupportrequiredtostrengthensystemvoltage
52 Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2015. 53 Available capacity in the network for increased demand. Source: All Island Transmission Forecast Statement 2014. These figures will vary due to the level of large industrial demand customers that are connected, contracted and interested in connecting in the Dublin area. 54 Anticipated at the time of publication of this strategy - subject to ongoing review.
1,830MW 1,990MW
ForecastRegionalGeneration/DemandBalance
Generation Demand
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Regional Description
TheDublinregionisthemajorloadcentreontheIrishtransmissionsystem.Approximatelyonethird
oftotaldemandislocatedhere.Therearealsoconsiderablequantitiesofconventionalgeneration
connectedtothetransmissionnetworkincloseproximitytothegasnetworkandDublinportarea.
TheexistingtransmissionnetworkintheDublinregioniscomprisedof220kVand110kV
infrastructure.Theseareprimarilyfedfromtheexisting400kVsubstationsatthewesternedgeofthe
Dublinarea–WoodlandinCo.Meath,andDunstowninCo.Kildare.
Thetransmissionnetworkhastomeetanumberofdiversepowerflowsthatcanvarydependingon
thegenerationdispatch,networkdemand,interconnectorflowsandnetworktopology.Aswellas
meetingthehighdensitydemandintheareaandlocalgenerationexports,thenetworkcanbesubject
tohighinter-regionalpowertransfersfrombothnorthtosouthandsouthtonorth.
WearecurrentlyinvestigatinggriddevelopmentoptionsforconnectingtheWoodlandandDunstown
400kVsubstations,toincreasethecapacityoftheoftencongestedandhighlyloadedDublin
transmissionnetwork.ThisandotherprojectswhichsupportthenetworkintheGreaterDublinArea
arealsodetailedintheMid-Eastregion.
Underhighrenewablegenerationscenarios,wherepowerisgeneratedinremotelocationsand
transferredacrossthetransmissionsystemoverlongdistancestoDublin,therewillbelittlelocal
generationthat,hasinthepast,supportedandmaintainedthevoltagelevelintheDublinarea.We
areinvestigatinganumberofdevelopmentoptionstoresolvethisissue.
TomeetDublindemandgrowthitisnecessarytoinstalladditionaltransformercapacityandincrease
circuitcapacitytothenorth,southandwestofthecity,andintothecityitself.
Theseprojectswillstrengthenthenetworkforallelectricityusers,andindoingsowillimprovethe
securityandqualityofsupply.
ThisisparticularlyimportantiftheregionistocontinuetodevelopasanICThubandattracthigh
technologyindustriesthatdependonareliable,highquality,electricitysupply.
NewBelcamp220/110kVSubstationProjectThenewBelcampsubstationwillprovideanewhighvoltagesupplypointinnorthDublinthatwillsupplyexistingandnewload,therebyalleviatingtheloadingonconstrainedsubstationsandcircuitswithinthearea.
Consequently,thissubstationwillenhancethesecurityofsupplyforexistingcustomersandfacilitatetheconnectionofnewcustomers.
Belcampwillbeconnectedtotheexisting220kVnetworkwithnew220kVcablestoFinglasandShellybanks220kVsubstations.
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Theexistinglocal110kVcircuitswillalsobedivertedintothisnewsubstationtosupplythelocalarea.
NewWestDublin220/110kVSubstationProjectThenewWestDublinsubstationwillprovideanewhighvoltagesupplypointthatwillsupplyexistingandnewload,therebyalleviatingtheloadingonconstrainedsubstationsandcircuitswithinthearea.
Consequently,thissubstationwillenhancethesecurityofsupplyofexistingcustomersandfacilitatetheconnectionofnewcustomers.
TheprojectincorporatesthediversionoftheexistingInchicore–MaynoothcircuitsintothenewWestDublin220/110kVsubstationintheareaofGrangeCastlebusiness-park.
New110kVcircuitswillbeinstalledtoconnecttheexisting110kVnetworkandnewlarge-scaledemandcustomersintothisnewsubstation.
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The Oval, 160 Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin D04 FW28 • Telephone: 01 677 1700 • www.eirgrid.com
7241 EirGrid - Technical Appendix to 2016 Grid Review (Cover & Back Cover Proof 05).indd 4 19/01/2017 12:22