Renewables Integration Development Project North West of the Island of Ireland

1. Renewables Integration Development Project North West of the Island of Ireland Louis Fisher, EirGrid

2. RIDP Project • Joint Project between EirGrid, NIE and SONI • Common costs shared equally • Part funded by EU • Objective of project is to • determine options for transmission reinforcements in the study area to meet demand and provide access to renewable generation; • to determine feasibilities and costs of options; • to bring elements of preferred scheme through public planning.

3. Republic of Ireland Context • Government 40% target for renewables • 4,000 MW of wind generation in Gate 3 • Grid25 sets out strategy for development • 2,300 km uprating of existing circuits • 1,150 km new build • Identified primary corridors for reinforcement • Major studies ongoing in each region to whittle down the myriad of options to preferred solutions

4. Renewable Generation in Donegal Connected + Contracted + Gate 3 642 MW +26 47 +29 61 ARDNAGAPPARY 99 +36 +73 85 TIEVEBRACK 105 + In queue 930 MW 97 +76 15 +33 132 2 +16

5. Northern Ireland Context • NI Strategic Energy Framework – consultation on 40% renewables target (2020) • SEA starting in Oct 2009

7. Northern Ireland Renewables 250 MW 150 MW ARDNAGAPPARY 105 MW 44 MW 195 MW 11 MW 15 MW 13 MW 72 MW 24 MW TIEVEBRACK 50 MW 217 MW 47 MW 22 MW 230 MW 70 MW 56 MW 54 MW 49 MW 94 MW 32 MW

8. Renewable Generation in the RIDP Study Area 792 MW 2,388 MW TOTAL 250 MW 150 MW 47 MW 61 MW ARDNAGAPPARY 105 MW 44 MW 195 MW 99 MW 642 MW 11 MW 15 MW 13 MW 72 MW 24 MW 85 MW Connected Contracted Gate 3 TIEVEBRACK 105 MW 50 MW 97 MW 15 MW 217 MW 47 MW 132 MW 22 MW 230 MW 2 MW 70 MW 56 MW 54 MW 49 MW 94 MW 32 MW 954 MW

9. Project Plan 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Communications / Stakeholder Consultation Project Setup Phase 1 Screening Studies What options are reasonable to study? Phase 2: Detailed Technical Studies Technical performance studies Phase 3: Feasibility and Cost Studies Stakeholder impacts assessments Phase 4: Planning Preparations Preferred option(s) and EIS / planning approval Progress to Build Peer Review

10. Progress to Planning Permission Phase 1 Wide Range of Possible Options (all must be adequately assessed) Environmental Assessment Phase 2 Detailed Techno-Economic Modelling Detailed Technical & Environmental Analysis of Alternatives Smaller Range of Options Phase 3 Statutory Consultation on Alternative Routes Single Option Phase 4 Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement and Planning Submission Planning Application Consultation

11. Progress to Date An initial list of potential study options based on technical screening studies, peer reviewed • A short list of scheme options, based on • Development and expansion of Phase 1 options • Technical and environmental studies and costs • Option evaluation • Peer Review Peer Review

12. Areas of Development 250 108 450 ARDNAGAPPARY 92 184 137 TIEVEBRACK 202 364 22 230 2 171 199 32

13. Next Steps • Environmental assessments of schemes • Consultation with stakeholder representatives • Option ranking • Reporting • Technical designs • Routing • Preparation for Planning Submission

14. What are we doing to improve capacity in the interim period? • Short term • Maximising the capacity to transmit wind power on the existing system • Uprating with a combination of conductors and pole height increases • Medium term • In Northern Ireland, NIE is progressing a new 110 kV circuit from near to Dungannon to Omagh via new wind farms • In Donegal, final RIDP schemes are required to provide the necessary additional capacity

15. Conclusion • Very high levels of renewable generation in Donegal and Northern Ireland requiring significant network reinforcements • RIDP will optimise grid development in this region • Project entering critical “public” stage • Delivery will require significant industry, regulatory and political support