Ireland: A green energy force to be reckoned with

Ireland needs a homegrown energy system that’s cheaper, cleaner, and more secure. That’s the view of SSE plc chief executive Alistair Phillips-Davies. “Increasing renewable production in Ireland delivers against all three criteria,” he says. “It can also turbocharge Ireland’s next phase of green economic growth. It is a win-win opportunity, and it must be seized.”

While Ireland has been on a pathway to decarbonisation for some time and has achieved a lot with the integration of onshore wind, more needs to be done. “With the energy crisis imperative, security of supply emergency and the government’s strengthened climate goals, the stage is now set for a step change,” he argues. “The decarbonisation of Ireland’s electricity sector will be renewables-led; we must radically increase homegrown renewable generation.”

That increase will reduce Ireland’s exposure to variable fossil fuel prices and should protect against the kind of volatile price spikes seen in the past year. It will also mean tapping Ireland’s vast resources of both onshore and offshore wind.

“The first offshore wind auction will take place shortly and the government should be ambitious and enable as many projects as possible,” Phillips-Davies urges. “The trajectory for future auctions should be also set out in good time to give project developers confidence to progress strong options for the future. To give a sense of the opportunity, SSE stands ready to invest €2.5 billion in our Arklow development in Co Wicklow, which will be able to power around 850,000 homes.”

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More traditional forms of generation also form part of the decarbonisation mix. “Low-carbon flexible thermal generation will support the system at periods of high demand or low wind,” he points out. “SSE Thermal has provisionally secured contracts for two such units, one based at Platin, Co Meath and another at the site of our existing station at Tarbert, Co Kerry. These units are designed to initially run on sustainable biofuel with the potential to convert to hydrogen in the future, meeting the twin aims of supporting security of supply, and delivering on the electricity sector emissions ceilings set by Government earlier this year.”

There is also work to be done when it comes to the delivery of clean energy projects, he believes. “Firstly, planning reform should deliver timely decisions to facilitate the sustainable development of clean energy infrastructure. Secondly the delivery of grid reinforcements is essential to make the most of the renewable electricity generation we currently have, and projects we will build in future. In addition, we need to make it easier to develop and operate a range of clean technologies such as SSE’s Richfield project in Wexford, that combines wind, solar and battery technologies efficiently at the same site. Co-locating assets like this is currently a painful process. We can fix this simply by streamlining regulations, making it easier to build out the essential infrastructure we need.”

SEE aims to be a clean energy champion with its component businesses playing roles right across the decarbonisation landscape, Phillips Davies adds. This includes offshore wind through SSE Renewables and low carbon thermal generation through SSE Thermal. “We are also developing opportunities in solar and battery technologies as well as EV charging infrastructure.”

“With the expertise we have in designing, funding, building and operating this complex energy infrastructure and through the extensive capital investment plan we have set out in our Net Zero Acceleration Programme, SSE will support jobs, deliver on government ambitions, and create value for society and shareholders,” he says.

The decarbonisation of Ireland’s electricity sector will be renewables-led

Through its retail arm, SSE Airtricity, the company is also active in helping consumers play their part in decarbonisation efforts. “We offer home energy efficiency services through our Generation Green Home Upgrade one-stop-shop and aim to deliver 30,000 home energy retrofits by the end of the decade. By installing solar panels and electric vehicle chargers as well as electricity supply plans utilising the power of smart metering, we see customers taking strides to control their own energy use and climate impact. Decarbonising our homes and businesses is critical to meeting Ireland’s energy savings targets and government support should also be considered for small and medium sized businesses seeking to retrofit their premises and reduce their carbon footprints.”

For the future, he hopes Ireland can benefit from SSE’s extensive experience of offshore wind. “We are currently building more offshore wind than any other company in the world, and we’re constructing the world’s largest offshore windfarm at Dogger Bank. SSE Renewables has recently announced that it is seeking an investigative foreshore licence for an offshore wind farm off Tarbert in Co Kerry. “This is our first project in the Atlantic Ocean, and we will leverage our experience in developing, the Ossian project in the North Sea off Scotland, the world’s largest floating offshore wind development.”

Hydrogen, often referred to as the fuel of the future, will also play a central role in Ireland’s decarbonisation journey. “We need to develop and implement a clear and credible strategy for a hydrogen economy in Ireland; it will be crucial to replacing fossil fuels over time,” he says. “As Irish offshore wind production ramps up, we can use electricity during periods of high wind to produce green hydrogen. In this way, clean electricity can effectively be stored and then used to generate power when it’s less windy. SSE Thermal’s proposed flexible thermal units at Tarbert and Platin can be converted to run on hydrogen as the hydrogen economy develops, and SSE Renewables is developing the Galway Hydrogen Hub project, which will produce green hydrogen which will be used locally as part of an indigenous value chain.”

Progress towards the hydrogen economy is already gathering pace and Ireland must not allow itself to be left behind, Phillips-Davies concludes. “EU support for hydrogen is strong, and with a clear strategy, Ireland can be part of Europe’s hydrogen story. With the USA’s Inflation Reduction Act promoting hydrogen development on the other side of the Atlantic, the competition is on to attract the talent and technology necessary to progress this and other innovative green technologies.”

It’s time to turn ambition into action. To find out more visit sserenewables.com