SuperNode has responded to the recent consultation by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan 2 (OREDP II). In their response, SuperNode highlights the importance of considering long-term coordination with European demand centres and Ireland’s participation in a coordinated European grid system.
The draft OREDP II sought views on the criteria used to map areas that are technically suitable for offshore renewable energy. SuperNode identified a missing consideration that should be given much more weight and thought, which is the long-term coordination with a European energy system.
SuperNode suggested two ways to amend this. 1) Extending the definition of two current criteria in ‘Proximity to electricity demand centres’ and ‘Proximity to existing/planned interconnectors’ or 2) Creating a new criteria titled ‘Suitability for export and power exchange’.
‘Proximity to electricity demand centres’: must be extended to cover not just Ireland but also demand centres in neighbouring countries. Ireland is part of two regional sea basins within the revised TEN-E framework, and the identification of viable offshore renewable development areas must not be constrained by what is in proximity to electricity demand centres in Ireland alone. Ireland’s offshore wind resource is vast and far exceeds its demand and to capitalise on this Ireland must aim to become an energy exporter and efficiently connect with demand centres at home and abroad.
‘Proximity to existing/planned interconnectors’: SuperNode emphasises the need to develop a coordinated approach to grid infrastructure plans for each of the TEN-E sea basins. The identification of offshore development areas must not be restricted by the relatively low capacity interconnectors currently in operation or planning, but rather should consider what is coming post-2030 with respect to offshore grid development beyond today’s point-to-point interconnectors.
It is important to note that SuperNode believes the weighting given to these two criteria should be reduced for certain areas. Ireland’s renewable resource vastly exceeds its demand now and in the future. Ireland’s offshore ambitions must not be limited by what can be consumed locally, and developing an industry for the export of power is key to unlocking Ireland’s offshore potential. It is conceivable that there will be areas for development in Irish waters that may not need to connect to the Irish network, but rather could be exported directly to neighbouring countries as part of a meshed grid backbone developed in coordination with European neighbours.
You can view SuperNode full response here: OREDP2 SuperNode – Consultation Response