Ireland has passed a key renewable milestone as installed wind capacity now exceeds 2GW. That is enough power capacity to supply the needs of up to 1.3 million households on the island, depending on weather conditions. This is compared to just a quarter of that capacity connected a decade ago.

Fintan Slye, director of operations at EirGrid, the company responsible for planning and operating the transmission system, comments: “Ireland and Northern Ireland have huge renewable energy potential and EirGrid is committed to ensuring this potential is developed throughout the island as a whole. We now have over 2GW of installed wind and are at times operating with wind supplying 50% of the total demand on the island, one of the highest percentage renewable energy penetration levels of wind on any power system. Meeting our 2020 targets will mean that, at times, the amount of wind energy being generated in Ireland and Northern Ireland will be up to 75% of total demand. This increase of wind on our system has required extensive innovation and planning and further changes will be required to meet the challenges that 75% of wind penetration brings in areas such as system stability, resource flexibility and altered power flows.”

EirGrid is responding to these challenges in a number of ways; though the planning and development of transmission infrastructure, increased interconnection and the development of smart grid technology.

EirGrid has taken a significant step closer to the start of trading on the East West electricity Interconnector with the launch of a new online auction management platform that will facilitate the purchase of interconnector capacity, as well as detail auction calendars and products. The system also manages trading on the Moyle Interconnector linking Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The Interconnector, running from Rush in North Dublin to North Wales, will be operational from late 2012 and will greatly change the face of the Irish energy market through increased competition, facilitation of increased renewable energy and immediate access to other sources of energy.

EirGrid has also launched a smart phone app which will facilitate market players trade capacity on the interconnector while on the move.

Fintan Slye, director of operations at EirGrid, says: “The Interconnector is on track and on budget in terms of construction but there also has been huge progress over the last year in terms of preparation for market trading. By creating one single electronic auction platform for both interconnectors in the Irish Single Electricity Market, we are creating a more efficient market allowing traders to access both auctions thus saving time and optimising trading opportunities.”

The new smart phone app will allow users to browse key East West Interconnector-related data in an easy and intuitive format on their smart phones. From information on the interconnector itself, to a list of upcoming auctions and links to the auction management platform, the East West app provides information for traders and interested parties.