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AS THE ENERGY supply crisis builds, the question of who takes responsibility for shortages and potential outages is becoming heated.
TD Barry Cowen says he is pointing the finger firmly at the axis of ESB, Eirgrid, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and Department of the Environment.
The Department, EirGrid and CRU are “all asleep at the wheel”, Cowen told The Journal, stating that the generation shortage “has now spiralled out of control”.
“For the first time in decades, consumers may be left without power to heat and light their homes and to power industry,” he said.
“Enough is enough. I want to see those responsible for the current crisis held accountable for their actions or inactions,” added Cowen.
‘Not fit for purpose’
His comments come as Eirgrid launched a stinging attack on the CRU declaring its system a “failure” and “not fit for purpose”.
In a statement, Eirgrid said that, since 2018, 650 megawatts of new power has been withdrawn from the system and has not delivered “capacity to the electricity grid”.
The company, which operates the power supply grid has called on the CRU to immediately deal with the problem to ensure that it can meet supply.
“Being able to secure the appropriate portfolio of conventional generation technologies is critical to securing our electricity supply. It ensures that Eirgrid can work to support social and economic growth of the country whilst the electricity sector is transformed in line with the Government’s Climate Action Plan and legislative targets.
“The Regulatory Authorities are responsible for the design, rules and parameters of the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism. Eirgrid operates the Capacity Remuneration Mechanism auctions on behalf of the Regulators,” the statement said.
The problem, Eirgrid said, lies in the system used by CRU.
Outsider brought in for review
The Government has launched a review into the energy supply concerns that have accelerated in recent months, after a number of system alerts were issued by Eirgrid.
In what is being viewed as a slap down to the organisations tasked with managing energy supply in Ireland, the Government has opted to bring in an outsider for the review – former secretary-general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Dermot McCarthy.
The review will examine why potential power shortages were not predicted at an earlier stage, as well as examining if CRU and Eirgrid had acted appropriately in managing the crisis.
This is not the first time Cowen has raised questions about energy supply and management.
In November 2021, he suggested in the Dáil that the ESB may have “orchestrated” the current energy crisis for its own benefit.
The Offaly TD at the time questioned whether the department was doing enough to ensure that there was adequate measures being enforced to enhance competition in the energy sector.
Speaking in the Dáil chamber, he asked if a “cosy arrangement” between national grid operator EirGrid and the energy supplier is giving the ESB an unfair advantage over other firms.
He called on the Minister of State Ossian Smyth to clarify how the energy crisis had escalated to a stage where emergency generators would be required urgently in Dublin.
“It should be explained why, despite no longer proceeding because of a recent legal challenge, ESB North Wall was initially selected by EirGrid, with support from the Department, to provide 200 MW of emergency generation without due process,” he said, asking the minister to clarify whether there was any payment or advance made by EirGrid to the ESB associated with the emergency generation,” he said.
ESB
At the time, the ESB told this publication that it wholly rejected the assertions made in the Dáil in relation to ESB and its generation capacity.
“ESB also wholly rejects the comments made in respect of its relationship with EirGrid in the provision of emergency generation,” said a spokesperson.
The ESB moved to reassure its staff amid the allegations made in the Dáil that the semi-state may have “orchestrated” the current energy crisis for its own benefit, telling workers in an email that it had made every effort to ensure its generation capacity would be available for the winter ahead.
In a statement to The Journal this weekend, the ESB repeated that it wholly rejects the assertions made by Cowen in the Dáil, pointing to statements issued on the ESB website.
One such statement from January, relates to the capacity contracts for the nine generation projects for 2022/2023.
It said ESB deployed significant resources and committed investment to deliver all these projects but will only deliver four of them in line with the contracts.
The statement said the ESB encountered issues in the “development process of the remaining five projects which resulted in their capacity contracts being cancelled”.
Higher prices
Cowen told The Journal that the generation shortage across the grid is impacting consumers who are now being asked to accept a poorer service and pay a higher price for it.
The TD said the CRU has failed to secure the emergency generation needed to address the immediate generation shortage for the coming winters.
Concerns raised in the Dáil with Taoiseach
Cowen told this publication that there should be no surprise in Government circles, stating he has raised these issues in the Dáil with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, as well as Ministers Eamon Ryan, Ossian Smyth, Anne Rabbitte, Damien English as well as with Micheál Martin at the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting.
Labour’s Alan Kelly raised similar concerns with the Taoiseach in the Dáil earlier this year, explaining how he saw the situation:
“I have a deep concern, and I don’t say this lightly, about how our energy market has been regulated over the last number of years.
“On the direction from the CRU in May, Eirgrid put out a call for 200 megawatt emergency power – it was going to cost €110 million,” Kelly said.
“The plan was for these emergency gas operators to be in place for 22 weeks. The contract was awarded to ESB, but Eirgrid messed up the tender.
“Another company Tynagh Energy threatened to go to the High Court saying the procurement run by Eirgrid was anti-competitive, so the plan was abandoned.”
As a result, “EirGrid has since run a process which took several months and which won’t have any additional generation capacity available for another 15 months, barely in time for winter 2023,” Cowen said.
Chairperson of the CRU, Aoife MacEvilly told RTÉ’s Prime Time that the commission was first made aware at the end of December and early in the new year that generation capacity that was tendered for, was not going to be delivered, as promised, meaning a shortage of capacity.
“There are no cast iron guarantees when it comes to electricity”
— RTÉ Prime Time (@RTE_PrimeTime) August 25, 2022
Chairperson of the Commission for regulation of Utilities, Aoife MacEvilly, on whether Ireland can expect power blackouts this winter.#rtept pic.twitter.com/JbkBztwWje
Cowen went on to state that data centres “are being used as scapegoat for Eirgrid’s poor planning for adequate generation and lack of investment in grid infrastructure”.
“Data centres are not the real issue,” Cowen said.
“They represent a significant opportunity for the Irish economy and with proper planning and investment in grid infrastructure they can be accommodated. Datacentres involve years of development before they demand electricity, during which time the infrastructure can be put in place,” he said.
There is now a “total contradiction” in Department policy, he added, stating that low wind in recent weeks has resulted in old inefficient generators being switched on to meet demand.
“The cost of electricity and separately its carbon intensity increase drastically as these generators burn expensive and dirty oil,” he said, proposing a new stand-alone Department of Energy to streamline the “complex energy jigsaw of government agencies”.
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I was attending the conference “energy in agriculture ” on the 19th July. Guy from eirgrid saying we will be ready for 70% renewable electricity on the grid by 2030 or something to that effect. Seai also there all talking out their hole. Fact is that we import the vasy majority of of energy, oil, gas, petrol, diesel is bascially all imported.
We also have zero gas storage buffer vs every other EU state who i think have at least 3 to 6 months by law.
Our boys are amateurs masquerading as professionals!
@David Hynes: 70% renewables is a great figure. But we need 100% power every hour of every day. If the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing then that 100% has to come from fossil fuel power plants or imported from abroad. Ireland has zero energy storage and right now the best form of energy storage is fossil fuels.
@Cian Martin: best form is nuclear, baseload power and carbon free. We need to make fission legal in Ireland again and seriously look at building SMRs here.
@Matthew Donoghue: You are 100% correct. Nuclear power is the way forward and new technology and construction methods ensure safety. The soviet era built stations have played on the minds of those against nuclear.
@Dave Phelan: Fukushima wasn’t Soviet. There’s no way to accurately predict the future risk. All we know is that previous disasters have effectively made nuclear power one of the most expensive ways to produce electricity
@Mickety Dee: When was the last time we had a fukushima type of tsunami in Ireland? So its fair to say that the same risks or dangers that impacted fukushima, would not apply to nuclear power stations in Ireland.
@David Van-Standen: Yes so we bury the waste toxic product from nuclear usage in cast concrete within Irish waters. Nice to see we are thinking of future generations. The rose tinted glass effect. Are this generation totally gullible? Sorry I left out greedy.
@David Hynes: 70% renewables on the grid is a completely separate issue. That is what the grid can integrate at any one time, not that it will be available at every single time.
@Mickety Dee: look at the risk of not going nuclear. It is enormous.
@Matthew Donoghue: can anyone tell me if we did have nuclear power plants would they be state controlled and run by the state or would it be private industry…..im genuinely asking because i don’t no and i do agree its the best option for the future..
@Martin O’Reilly: over 30/40 years the US filled a football pitch 12 meters in depth with nuclear waste. Hardly the worst option
@Martin O’Reilly: the future generations would probably prefer waste stored securely instead of billions of tons of carbon released into the atmosphere and all the problems that comes with it.
I think another tax will solve all the problems and if that doesn’t work then one after that should.
Essential services such as electricity, water, supply, Internet, communications (list not exhaustive) should NOT be operated by private for profit enterprises. They should be state run for state profit and operated at “no loss/no profit” basis during times of crisis and emergency such as exists now. Those less able to pay should be on reduced rates.
@JG: makes sense until you try it. Very difficult to do in a democratic system long term. Having the expertise needed in house as a government that changes at least twice a decade is not feasible
@Paul Keane: it was thay way before… ESB was State run, Dept of post and telegraph’s ran the communications system. Think about it, your bins were collected by the local authority.. I know they were not run efficiently back then but could be done very well in these times with a proper manag9amd employee relations system on place.
@JG: They would be a total disaster at running these businesses. We tried that for many years with disastrous results!!!
@JG: because history has shown us that state run organisations with no accountability or fear of being closed down are exemplars of efficiency and operational excellence….
@JG: well said.
@JG: So you’re advocating that the State should effectively run everything? That’s working well with the HSE isn’t it?
@Terry Larkin: I agree. If the state runs everything there is no need for an inquiry.
So you are in a taxi and the driver falls asleep at the wheel. He crashes into a pole and you bang your head and black out. When you wake, the driver is shouting that he wants to know who is responsible and is roaring at the steering wheel and tyres for hitting the pole.
But is your government going to put a halt to it Mr. Cowan? I very much doubt it because with their snouts in the trough they don’t give a damn about us ordinary people.
Sounds like everyone is getting the excuses and finger pointing in early just in case there are rolling blackouts.
Cowan is doing what old Fianna Fail do best, blame someone else. There is no doubt that the destruction of the ESB and the privatisation of energy is the main cause of the present situation, Money that should have been invested in infrastructure has been siphoned off in profit filling the pockets of the golden circle, As with housing, access to energy should be under the full control of the State.
@Jim O’Sullivan: spot on sully
Why has the electricity price jumped so much if we are generating so much free wind power? Have the CRU linked the price per Kw across all generation methods. So if oil or gas goes up in price the renewable sector can up their price too? Even though their cost base stays the same.
Oh, and by the way, I want to lead Fianna Fail into the next election, where we will pretend we haven’t been in government permanently and blame all the country’s ills on Leo’s lads and the green nutters. Rise and follow Barry.Catchy wha.
@Leonard O’mahony:
No, no, no, FF won’t blame FG, they’ll blame SF
All old talk.
The government love the fact that the price is going up, more taxes for them to squeeze out of Jo public, as for the greens, carbon taxes is a wonderful! Fuel, gas, electricity, the more it goes up revenue they get from us.
Did u ever here such shxxe talk wouldn believe a word out of his mouth
“Datacentres involve years of development before they demand electricity, during which time the infrastructure can be put in place”… Yet here we are, 100 years old and nothing?… election time.
ESB has been asleep at the wheel for decades !!
@Kane Contracting: This problem has got nothing to do with the ESB. If you haven’t a clue what’s going on you’d be well advised to stay shtum.
Study reality. Go and do some research.
The brother of Brian and his cohorts who sold the sovereignty of the country, and got drunk in respect of their handwork.The political dynasty effect is alive and thriving. “The forked tongue experience”. If people pay heed and keep electing individuals like this back into office. It’s the people are the problem!!
@Martin O’Reilly: he is clearly hurt about his brother, who took an unfair share of the blame.
But he is far from being a leader.
We will be buying nuclear from uk shortly, like it or not
@Spud Geshletter: we do all Reddy, have been for years, free electricity, no carbon footprint, but even saying the word nuclear and people are terrified, a bit like the word COVID.
@Heisen berg1: Mafia builders and dodos running things I’d be a bit afraid of nuclear power at present.
@Spud Geshletter: we are and have been doing it for years.
That’s the way they work in Ireland, so they blame me, you blame them, the other blames someone else…. And in the end f,, k all gets done
@Geoff Bateman: exactly see Eirgrids response from a CE who is out of his comfort zone politically – should have stuck to tree cutting. Not the brightest.
Another review, exactly what some well connected expert (excuse pun) needs for a quick few mil, meanwhile kids be doing homework by candle light like we used to in the 70s….omg the incompetence gov after gov..
Sssshhhhh! Keep quiet!! You’ll waken Eamonn!!
Nuclear. Plan 2-3 small nuclear plants NOW, so when the country realises it’s the only option we won’t be years behind. PLAN THEM NOW! Then if we decide that it’s not needed we don’t build. BUT PLAN
@Paul Keane: the Greens brought in a bill so we can’t even discuss the possibility of having nuclear power so we’re even behind in the plan for having a plan.
@Derek Lyster: How many members of the green party are scientists/physicists?
@Paul Keane: Ireland is totally opposed to nuclear power, we’ll import it from France instead.
@Derek Lyster: legally we cannot go nuclear but we need ti review that. Go micro but fast.
@Joe Murphy: this should not be about name calling but about making swift decisions in a crisis.
Wind powered electricity is not increasing in price so why is this price going up the same as gas? There needs to be a social contract between the government, developers and communities that the public gains financially with more renewables. We are not seeing this information in the debate. Instead the narrative is that companies can profit by raising prices every few months in order to make more investments. Its morally wrong.
During the confidence and supply agreement it was a joke to suggest Fianna Fáil were in opposition. Now they’re actually in government they’re trying to push the same narrative.
Fg ff are at fault for what’s wrong in ireland shortage of nurses teachers doctors hospital beds home carers creches aides homelessness lack of leadership in the Dail all leadship comes from developers bankers vulture funds ceos of government depts literally do what they want always said its not who you know it’s what you know about them to get done what they want done
@Joseph Duggan: So as soon as FG and FF aren’t in power everything will be fine on Planet Duggan. I can hardly wait!
@Terry Larkin: No, and I think you mean that sarcastically. And while I despise the government we have, they’re only a very very small part of the problem. No matter who is in government thing’s won’t change until the Civil Servants who are running the country are charged. They are not elected, over paid parasites and until a government stands up to them nothing will change
Another knob trying to make himself look relevant…..
Barry Cowan brother of Brian Cowan talking about people asleep at the wheel , does he forget that his brother as minister for finance drove this economy off the cliff some years ago and I’m not sure had he even got a driving license.
What make him think that he or his family have a right to return to the wheel of this country in any form when his brother was a huge player in the crash that in many ways we are still recovering From
@joe doyle: His mandate comes from the intellectually challenged voters of Offaly who sent him back to the Dail. Where does yours come from?
Good to hear Barry Cowen starting to cause a Ruckus. About time that he started rounding on Micheal Martin and the Government Ministers too. If he ever wants to lead FF he needs to start hassling them because we cannot take any more of this crazy Green Agenda .
@Eugene Comaskey: hope he does a better job than his brother he drove our economy off the cliff or are we as voters supposed to for that
Nuclear will be great when there is a way to dispose of the waste. At the moment it’s like the new toilet in my caravan. State of the art, beautiful, but the waste pipe just goes out through a hole in the wall.
Still it could be worse if someone started shelling it.
@Bramley Hawthorne: The difference is, the nuclear waste doesn’t get piped through a hole in a wall of a caravan and dumped on the ground, most important of all, is the fact that one kg of uranium 235 can generate 3 million times the energy generated by 1 kg of coal, with zero carbon emissions and by comparison, to generate those 24,000,000 kwh of energy with coal would result in massive carbon and particulate emissions.
Also if we find our hypothetical nuclear power stations being shelled by any foreign power, we would probably have much bigger problems.
@Bramley Hawthorne: definitely hoping they don’t shell that caravan’s toilet for all our sakes!
@Bramley Hawthorne: fairly certain options for nuclear waste storage are a bit more advanced than a hole in the wall and a lot safer than carbon released into the atmosphere. Who would be shelling it and why?
At long, long last, more and more copped on citizens are realizing that the only way out of this impending climate catastrophe, is a mass move into new nuclear technology. Simply cannot be done with renewables. Two or three into each of the old peat stations. Then the wicked data centres. Then the waste heat to a mega complex of 24/7/365, totally pesticide free hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic grow houses. Then the Black Soldier Fly factories, and then the farmed salmon and fowl. All laid out in link below.
https://salmonwatchireland.ie/2022/05/13/arather-unique-and-interesting-point-of-view-regenerating-our-salmon-and-rivers-by-nicolas-grubb/
@Nicholas Grubb: Then we realize that our lads don’t have the ability or experience in managing such an undertaking. We can’t trust our lot to manage simple water reservoirs never mind nuclear plants!!
@David Corrigan: what do they do wrong with water reservoirs?
OMG, never seen such a mess,
How did power supply become such boondoggle?
Just like the housing crisis. The speed of both power and housing supply is dictated by the NIMBY brigade. The right of objection needs to be removed for 10-15 years until all necessary infrastructural projects are completed!!
When and where will the protests be against the rising energy costs? These people need to see that the people of Ireland won’t stand for this extortion.
“those responsible for energy crisis must be held accountable”
So Fianna Failure and Fine Gael had no part to play in the cluster-f**k that is Irish energy policy. Sounds like little biffo will be a good leader for fianna failure, “It’s everybody else’s fault”
Fianna Fáil are responsible
Mr Cowen has a very poor grasp and understanding of the situation wrt energy management.Anything for a sound bite. What has ESB got to do with the planning and regulation of an open market? Answer – nothing- completely outside of their control.
Meanwhile Eirgrid who are responsible for grid planning have come out like rats fighting. As for CRU they are intellectuals and untouchable.
Has he got his licence back yet or is he trying to give the family some cred after Berties resurgence. His brother Brian sadly was the fall guy.
Hydrogen fuel generation from off shore wind energy is the best green energy market to develop.
It’s a no brainier.
Bet he wouldn’t be saying this if he was still a minister!
have your say