Feasibility study for Irish Sea power grid
published this on 10:46 am, Friday, 8th January, 2010Business| Community News| Politics| Renewable Energy | Comments (rss) | Respond | Ping |
Efforts to build an offshore electricity transmission network linking Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland have moved forward significantly. RPS Group have been awarded a contract to examine the feasibility of an offshore grid in the Irish Sea.
The study – undertaken on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment Northern Ireland and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in Ireland – will look at potential sites for renewable energy generation in coastal waters.
Part-funded by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, it will also examine technology, infrastructure, finance, environment and planning issues and develop a business case for the construction of a grid.
The national reactions
Jim Mather, Scotland’s Energy Minister and Argyll’s MSP, says: ‘Scotland has a clear, competitive advantage in developing green energy and a real desire to work with our neighbours. To realise the huge potential of the wind, wave and tidal resources at our disposal, we must develop grid infrastructure to ensure it is fit for purpose.
‘The ISLES study (Irish Scottish Links on Energy) will allow us to explore issues around an offshore transmission network in the Irish Sea and help make the case for commercial investment.
‘It will also be the first building block towards making an offshore grid a reality. It will complement the work of the Electricity Networks Strategy Group and will help inform work to achieve the European vision of an offshore supergrid. The declaration on this – the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative – was signed in December by the UK, Ireland, the Benelux countries, Sweden, Denmark, France and Germany.
‘This co-operation with Ireland and Northern Ireland is another step in our approach to strategic energy issues. Indeed our close working relationship with the Government of Ireland and the Northern Irish Assembly is also being further deepened through the grid work stream of the British Irish Council and we are developing joint working in a number of other areas’.
Arlene Foster MLA , Northern Ireland’s Energy Minister, says: ‘The appointment of RPS to undertake this innovative feasibility study demonstrates the commitment that Northern Ireland attaches to working at home and with its neighbours to fully develop the potential for renewable energy in and around our shores.
‘This project will inform the partners’ decisions as well as those of the wider energy sector on the costs and benefits of future investment in offshore renewables infrastructure. This study will make an important contribution to the European Union’s proposal for a European Super Grid for electricity to enhance security of supply’.
Eamon Ryan TD, Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, says: ‘I very much welcome the commencement of this study which will help pave the way for the development of our very significant offshore natural resources.
‘Ireland has a sea area that is around 10 times the size of its land area. Our countries location at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean ensures we share some of the best wind and wave resources in Europe. By working in partnership with each other, we can utilise these resources to generate carbon free renewable electricity to meet our future energy requirements’.
Commenting on the project, Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, which manages the INTERREG IVA Programme, said: ‘This is a highly innovative study which will explore the very real possibility of the development of a new renewable energy network that will serve communities living in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland.
‘It represents a truly collaborative approach spanning three different regional boundaries that will potentially allow us to generate cleaner energy with minimal impact on the environment’.
What the study will do
The project will examine the feasibility of the construction of an offshore electricity transmission network.
Its purpose would be to link potential offshore sites for the generation of renewable energy in the coastal waters of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Western Scotland.
The feasibility study will develop a business case for the construction of such a grid and will examine the following aspects:
- technology and infrastructure
- environment and planning
- regulatory and financial
- construction and deployment.
The study will also involve close co-operation with the energy industry and other stakeholders involved in grid transmission systems and renewable energy.
Funding
The project is part funded by the European Union through the INTERREG IVA Cross Border Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Counties of Ireland and Western Scotland.
The support given is £1,466,667 towards a total project cost of £1,600,000 pounds with partners contributing the additional funds.
The INTERREG IVA 2007-2013 Programme is worth 256 million euros and aims to address the economic and social problems which result from the existence of borders. It has two distinct priority measures to create co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable cross-border region.
Bodies involved
- ISLES: the Irish Scottish Links on Energy Study, is a joint project between the Scottish Government, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Northern Ireland) and the Department of Energy, Communications and Natural Resources (Ireland).
- SEUPB: the Special EU Programmes Body, is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland. It is responsible for managing two EU structural funds Programmes PEACE III and INTERREG IV designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society. The Programmes operate within a clearly defined area including Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland.
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