The Government intends to sell off Bord Gais Energy and some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity as part of the State asset disposal programme agreed under the EU/IMF Programme, and as provided for in the Programme for Government.

The Government has agreed with the Troika sale of state assets up to a value of Eur3 billion based on the guiding principles that there will be no fire sales; integral transmissions and distribution systems will be retained in State ownership and full value will be derived for the State.

Following detailed analysis which identified a range of complex regulatory and legislative issues the Government has decided not to proceed with a sale of a minority stake in ESB as previously signalled. Instead, the Government has decided that alternative asset disposal options will now be pursued. This will include the sale of Bord Gais Eireann’s Energy business, but excluding BGE’s gas transmission and distribution systems and the two gas interconnectors, which will remain in State ownership. Some of ESB’s non-strategic power generation capacity will also be sold.

Consideration will be given to the sale of some assets of Coillte (excluding the sale of land) and the sale of the State’s remaining shareholding in Aer Lingus when market conditions are favourable and at an acceptable price to Government.

In relation to ESB, the Government reaffirms its commitment to the retention of ESB as a vertically integrated utility in State ownership as at present. Work will now proceed on progressing plans for the disposal of these assets.

“When we came into Government, the position was that no money from the disposal of assets could be spent on anything except reducing our debts,” says Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. “I am pleased that following intense engagement the troika has agreed that 1/3 of the proceeds can be used for re-investment in to our economy. This is a substantial change to the Troika’s previous position and will help promote recovery in the economy.”

ESB is the Overall Winner of this year’s Published Accounts Awards. A total of 29 Irish companies, not-for-profit organisations and charities competed as finalists across eight distinct award categories to be rewarded and recognised for achieving excellence in financial reporting.

The Published Accounts Awards are organised by the Chartered Accountants Leinster Society and are sponsored by the Irish Stock Exchange. The Awards reward companies who seek excellence in financial reporting in Ireland.

CAPTION:

Donal Flynn (centre), financial director of ESB, accepting the award from William Slattery, executive vice president of State Street Corporation; and Deirdre Somers, chief executive of the Irish Stock Exchange.

ESB and the European Investment Bank have signed a new loan facility which will provide Eur235 million funding for ESB’s ambitious investment programme to develop smarter and more sustainable electricity network infrastructure in Ireland. The loan, from the European Union’s long-term lending institution, will provide 50% funding for an investment programme of Eur470 million which is to be delivered by ESB Networks over two years. The programme includes key projects to enhance transmission and distribution links from wind farms and to improve the efficiency and capability of the electricity networks to facilitate greater integration of renewable energy sources. The programme also includes the technical design phase of a national smart metering programme, and the initial phase of installation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across Ireland.

“The European Investment Bank has a long standing record of positive support for energy investment in Ireland, not only with this present most welcome support for transmission and distribution assets upgrade but with its previous support for construction of wind farms and the development of Aghada power plant in addition to supporting Ireland’s East-West interconnector,” points out Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte TD.

”This new loan will enable ESB to continue its very substantial investment in the electricity network infrastructure in Ireland and help towards developing a more sustainable energy model for the future.  ESB has invested more than Eur6 billion in the electricity networks over the past ten years, and we now have a very modern and robust network infrastructure,” comments ESB chief executive Padraig McManus. “This next phase of investment will enable ESB Networks to handle the anticipated increased wind generation, as well as progressing our smart metering and electric vehicle infrastructure programmes.”

The programme will include the provision of over 270km of new high voltage lines to reinforce existing transmission links from the southwest, west and northwest of Ireland, which has significant wind generation capacity, to the main population centres in the east.  Electricity distribution across the country will benefit from refurbishment and equipment replacement to meet growing demand. The capacity of more than 8,000km of rural networks will be doubled and 140km of new distribution lines will be installed in Connemara, Co. Galway to relieve voltage problems in the region. 

The new investment programme for electricity distribution will also incorporate specific design requirements to enable mass deployment of smart meters across the country. Plans for a significant increase in electric car use in Ireland will be boosted by the installation of 1,500 on-street charging points and 2,000 domestic chargers.

The European Investment Bank has previously provided finance to ESB for a number of large scale energy projects in Ireland, including gas fired generation, onshore wind farms and network investment programmes.  The Bank has also funded other energy infrastructure projects in Ireland including the gas networks and the construction of the electricity interconnector between Ireland and Britain.

The WestWave Project aims to develop the first wave energy project in Ireland by 2015 by generating an initial 5MW of clean renewable electricity from the plentiful wave energy resource available off the west coast of Ireland. WestWave is a collaborative project being led by ESB in conjunction with a number of wave energy technology partners including Irish technology developers Wavebob and Ocean Energy and Scottish technology developers Aquamarine Power and Pelamis Wave Power.

Wavebob.

The project will be considered for funding under the EU’s NER300 fund, alongside support under the Republic of Ireland’s Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff (REFIT) for wave energy and domestic grant funding. The project is in line with ESB’s strategy to develop 150MW of electricity from ocean energy by 2020 and the Irish Government’s strategy to generate 500MW from ocean energy in the same period.

In a further development, ESB has been awarded Foreshore Exploration Licenses for the WestWave Project by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG). This will enable ESB to conduct marine surveys and resource measurements at two locations, Killard Point, County Clare and the Achill Area, County Mayo.

ESB chief executive Padraig McManus says: ”ESB’s strategy involves focusing on sustainable and renewable energy technologies with the goal of reducing our carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 and achieving net carbon neutrality for our generation portfolio by 2050.”

ESB ecars has unveiled its plans for the rollout of fast charge points in service stations across the country from May onwards, which should see 30 service stations in the scheme by the end of 2011. Under agreements with Topaz, Maxol Group and Lidon, a number of fast charge points will be available in service stations along inter-urban routes from May and throughout the summer, enabling drivers to ‘power up’ electric cars from zero to 80% of their capacity in less than 30 minutes.

The first fast charge points will be operational from May in Topaz stations in Monaghan and Cashel, followed shortly afterwards by locations in Cork, Athlone and Cavan in June 2011.

A Memorandum of Understanding has also been signed between ESB ecars and Topaz for fast charging in a further ten service stations. Standard charge points will also be installed at these locations.

ESB ecars has reached an agreement with Maxol Group about installing fast and standard charge points at a number of Maxol service stations across the country, commencing with Navan, which is expected to be up and running by June.

ESB ecars has also finalised an agreement with Lidon (trading as Junction 14 Mayfield) to install both fast and standard charge points on the new motorway service area on the M7 (junction 14), Monasterevin, County Kildare. These charge points are expected to be also operational by June.

ESB ecars will place the fast charge points in strategic locations so that electric car owners can travel easily between urban centres. This development in infrastructure marks a major milestone in promoting the wider adoption of electric cars in Ireland and allows drivers travelling longer distances the option of a fast and convenient charging solution.

ESB ecars is already committed to implementing the nationwide electric car charging network that is required to support the electrification of the country’s transport fleet. It has set the following targets to be achieved by the end of 2011:

* 30 fast charge points installed;

* 1500 public charge points available across Ireland;

* 2000 home charge units installed (dependent on ecar sales).

“The introduction of fast charge points represents a big step forward in the development of electric transport in Ireland. The availability of fast charge points will help to reassure drivers that longer journeys between urban centres are practical and that Ireland is well on the way to making ecar driving an everyday reality,” says Padraig McManus, chief executive of ESB.

The nationwide infrastructure rollout and early adoption of electric cars gives Ireland the opportunity to position itself as an ideal hub for electric car development and research. ESB ecars is involved in EU funded electric car projects as well as a number of local electric car pilot projects. In conjunction with ESB ecars, DIT Kevin Street is studying the electrical characteristics of both fast and standard ecar charging as one element of a wider research project to develop a smart charging system for electric cars that is suitable for Ireland.

All installed fast charge points use high speed electronics to turn mains electricity into high power (Direct Current/DC) and are built to the Japanese Chademo standard which was launched in 2010. Because of Ireland’s leadership role in the area of fast charghing ESB has been nominated to the European Chademo Steering Group.

Endesa, Spain’s leading utilities company, has been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala to commence work on the first phase of a new 450 megawatts combined-cycle gas turbine power plant at the former ESB station at Tarbert in County Kerry. The new facility will be constructed in two phases over four years.

The first phase, which is due to be operational by the end of 2012, is expected to generate more than 300 construction jobs. Phase two is scheduled to start in 2014. The old power plant at Tarbert, which was established in the 1960s will be demolished.

Phase one will involve the construction of a 305 MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) which will be fired on natural gas. Three of the four existing HFO Fired Units will be decommissioned once the OCGT is commissioned.

Phase two will commence commercial operation in 2016. This entails the conversion of the Open Cycle Gas Turbine to a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT). This will increase the plant output from 305 to 450MW. The final fourth existing HFO Fired Unit will be decommissioned once the CCGT is commissioned.

Endesa Ireland was established as an operating company on 8th January 2009, following Endesa’s acquisition of certain generation assets from ESB. The assets purchased comprise 1,068 MW divided up between four sites – Tarbert, Great Island in Wexford, Rhode in Offaly and Tawnaghmore in Mayo.

In addition to being the leader within the Spanish electricity system, Endesa is the number one private electricity company in Latin America. It is a significant player in the energy sector of the European Mediterranean region. It also has a growing presence in the Spanish natural gas market and is advancing rapidly in the area of renewable energy.

Bord Pleanala has rejected an appeal by An Taisce against a Clare County Council decision to allow Hibernian Windpower to construct a wind farm incorporating 11 turbines of approximately 2500kW capacity each, at Boolynageragh, Lissycasey.

The development site, which is 3 kilometres north of Lissycasey, will have total rated electrical output of 27.5MW. The capital cost of the project is up to €50m.

The development is in line with the ESB’s policy to achieve 33% of generation from renewable resources by 2020, including 1,400 MW from wind generation.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has introduced two new electric car models to Ireland, as part of a deal with the Irish Government and ESB. Viewing Ireland as an ideal market for electric cars PSA Peugeot Citroen will supply the Irish market with the Peugeot iOn and Citroen C-Zero.

“Two years ago, I set out Ireland’s ambition to pioneer electric cars. We said we were open for business, the ESB agreed to build the charging infrastructure and we initiated a grant scheme for the customer. We have all the elements in place to be a true world leader in the electrification of private transport. I welcome PSA Peugeot Citroën’s involvement in this project,” says Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. “2011 will be the year electric cars become a common sight on Irish roads.”

The electrification of transport is required for the successful transition to carbon neutral sustainable travel. The Irish Government’s target is to achieve 6,000 passenger vehicles in operation in by 2012. This target has been set in order to generate the critical mass necessary to assist Ireland in achieving its overall goal of ensuring that 10% of all vehicles (equivalent to 230,000 vehicles) are electric by 2020.

ESB has committed to installing 1,500 publicly accessible charging stations, 2,000 domestic charging points and 30 fast charging units on a nationwide basis throughout Ireland by the end of 2011.

ESB’s chief executive, Padraig McManus points out: “Ireland is one of the first countries in the world to build a nationwide electric vehicle charging infrastructure and to put in place other necessary conditions to facilitate the widespread adoption of ecars. This agreement with PSA Peugeot Citroen further supports the expansion of ecar use among the public and demonstrates that car manufacturers view Ireland as an ideal location to develop carbon-neutral driving.”

Peugeot and Citroen will each provide 50 electric cars on the Irish market in 2011, with that figure rising to meet demand. Training on the Peugeot and Citroen Electric vehicles and their maintenance began in Ireland in March 2010 and the first cars will arrive in January 2011. Prices and equipment details for the Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-Zero will be announced in January.

ESB has launched HALO, the new innovative, home energy efficiency service designed to enable homeowners to reduce their energy bills while ensuring that their homes are kept warm and comfortable in a more environmentally-friendly way.

To better understand the needs of homeowners today, ESB carried out a survey earlier this year which revealed that 66% of Irish people would consider insulation products in a bid to have a warmer house and reduce energy costs. Research following the 20,000 free surveys carried out by the ESB HALO team, also highlighted that 50% of home owners would consider investing in renewable energy solutions, with solar thermal ranked as the most appealing product.

Recognising the growing interest for and genuine appeal of sustainable energy solutions, ESB created the HALO Installation Service, which is a total one-stop solution to home energy needs, from insulating walls to solar panels on the roof. ESB HALO provides homeowners with the products and installation services they need to maximise savings and minimise their carbon footprint.

The ESB HALO team offers advice and free quotes on the energy-saving steps to improve efficiency in the home and can also assist homeowners with the SEAI grant scheme. ESB HALO, within a quality assurance framework, installs a wide range of energy efficiency upgrades.

The Government has signed an agreement with Toyota to deliver its new Prius Plug-In Hybrid vehicle to the Irish market. The vehicle, which is the first Toyota hybrid to use lithium-ion batteries, will be available on a trial basis here in advance of its full launch to the market in 2012.

As part of the trial, three vehicles will be based in Ireland. These will be placed with a number of leading Irish and multinational companies such UCD, RTE, Vodafone, Hewlett Packard, An Post, Bank of Ireland, Google and Coca-Cola in order to test them under variable, everyday driving conditions.

Ireland has set a target of 10% electric motoring by 2020, which equates to approximately 225,000 vehicles. In order to meet this target and incentivise the purchase of vehicles, a number of state supports have been established. From January next year, a grant of Eur5,000 towards the purchase of electric vehicles will be made available and electric vehicles will be vehicle registration tax exempt.

Toyota is the third car manufacturer with which the Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to electric vehicles. This, along with previous agreements with Nissan-Renault and Mitsubishi, offers a clear indication that the Government is positioning Ireland as a global test-bed for electric motoring and is committed to creating a favourable environment for the roll-out of electric vehicles here.

Toyota has also reached agreement with the state electricity utility ESB, which will see the sharing of information between both organisations in relation to the specifications and requirements of the recharging infrastructure. ESB is responsible for rolling out charging infrastructure – 2000 domestic and 1500 on-street charge points nationwide.

“Ireland is the perfect location for electric vehicle roll-out. As an island location with ideal driving distances, abundant wind power and successful technology industry, it makes sense to develop electric vehicles as a real alternative,” says Energy Minister Eamon Ryan TD. “We are truly ahead of the pack for electric motoring and the collaboration with Toyota will secure this position.”

Padraig McManus, chief executive of ESB, comments: “Ireland is an important market for ecars as we are one of the first countries in the world to develop a nationwide charging infrastructure and Toyota’s decision to test the Prius Plug-in here is an endorsement of this.”

There will be three Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicles used for the programme. These are the same size and design as the current third generation full hybrid Prius, but with a significant difference — in place of the nickel-metal hydride, high-performance battery in the car’s Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery is used.

This type of battery has the advantage of producing more power from less volume and weight, and it can be recharged through connection to a standard domestic or workplace electricity supply. As a result, the Prius Plug-in is able to run up to 20km further on its electric power alone (in EV mode), according to battery charge and road conditions, and at higher speeds – up to a maximum 100km/h.

CAPTION:

Pictured (left to right): Padraig McManus, chief executive of ESB; Eamon Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; and David Shannon, managing director of Toyota Ireland, at the introduction of the new Plug-in Prius Hybrid vehicles (PHV) to Ireland.

ESB International (ESBI) has won the Large-Sized Company Category Award at the Engineers Ireland Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Company of the Year Awards 2010. The award recognises ESBI’s work in designing and implementing the Project Delivery Model (PDM) for large scale capital projects and the creation of a permanent project management office to support the ongoing development and improvement of the model.

The awards, now in their seventh year, acknowledge organisations that have demonstrated clear-cut business benefits arising from their use of CPD practices in developing engineering employees to realise innovative projects and initiatives with sixteen companies short-listed over four categories.

“This award highlights the company’s commitment to ensuring that the expertise and capability of our staff is fully utilised to drive continuous improvements across all areas of our business and enhance the services we provide to our international clients,” comments Ollie Brogan, acting executive director of HR for ESB. “By adopting a consistent approach to project management, supported by continuous learning, we have significantly reduced the project risk associated with delivering large scale capital projects and optimised our performance in areas such as safety, cost management, scheduling and post-commissioning operations.”

CAPTION:

Pictured  at the award ceremony are (l-r): Tanaiste and Minister for Education &Skills, Mary Coughlan TD; Jacinta Ryan, project management specialist, project management office, ESBI Engineering; Ollie Brogan, acting executive director group HR, ESB; and John Power, director general, Engineers Ireland.

Proposals by the ESB and Eircom to introduce a minimum payment of €20 when customers are paying bills at post offices should be abandoned, the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection has said. Eircom has announced that from October 1st, customers will have to pay at least €20 when paying off their bill at the post office while the ESB has also stated that it plans to follow suit by introducing a minimum bill payment for customers.

This action has prompted the Committee to contact both the ESB and Eircom to urge them to shelve these plans immediately. The Committee has also decided to call both organisations along with An Post before it.

Committee members are concerned that this move will force cash-strapped customers who have been paying bills in weekly instalments of €5 or €10 to now pay a minimum of €20. The fear is that this move could cause hardship and difficulty for up to 100,000 customers. It could also result to increased levels of bad debt and more people being disconnected.