May 2023
Price: €125 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference looked at next steps for energy security and growth of renewable energy in Ireland.
It took place as the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications prepares to publish recommendations from its Review of the security of energy supply of the country’s electricity and natural gas systems.
Delegates discussed priorities and the strategic pathway for sector decarbonisation, scaling up renewables, and making full use of Ireland’s renewable energy potential, alongside providing energy security.
Attendees also assessed potential options for grid connection with other nations, including the North-South Interconnector project between Ireland and NI - with construction scheduled to commence this year - and the Celtic Interconnector project with France, along with the benefits these might entail.
Further sessions examined energy policy and security in Ireland in the context of wider European energy developments, such as the Green Deal and Repower EU plan, assessing Ireland’s role in these initiatives and how they affect Ireland’s energy markets.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Noel Regan, Principal Officer for Wholesale Gas Policy, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; Dr Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer, Economic and Social Research Institute; Owen Collins, Senior Associate (Energy and Infrastructure), Matheson LLP; and Oisín Joyce, Policy Officer, Irish Solar Energy Association.
Overall, sessions in the agenda included discussion on:
- energy security review: policy priorities for energy supply - how the review’s recommendations can be taken forward - options for further grid development
- implementation: improving domestic energy capabilities - priorities for large energy users - reducing energy costs and impact on consumers - developing robust energy and natural gas networks
- scaling up renewable energy capabilities: the pathway for the green transition - maintaining progress on sectoral decarbonisation targets - attracting inward investment
- North-South Interconnector:
- progress and next steps as the project moves into the construction stage - the way forward for increased grid integration
- implications for security of supply and reduced energy costs
- decarbonisation: scaling up renewable energy capabilities - next steps for the green transition - maintaining progress on sectoral decarbonisation targets - attracting inward investment
- regulatory priorities:
- mitigating impacts on cost for consumers - meeting public needs
- future-proofing the sector - improving energy resilience - maintaining competitiveness in Ireland’s energy market
- the impact of wider European policy:
- assessing the impact of the Green Deal
- considering Europe and Ireland’s transition to clean energy sources
- promoting collaboration across the continent - assessing best practice - Ireland’s role in reshaping Europe’s energy system
- developing a fully integrated, interconnected and digitalised EU energy market - how the Celtic and North-South interconnector projects can facilitate this
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DAERA, NI; Department for the Economy, NI; DAFM; Department of Education; DETE; DECC; DHLGH; Department for Infrastructure, NI; NIAO; NIEA; and the NIHE.
