Is Ireland Facing Blackouts?
Is Ireland Facing Blackouts?
28th September 2021
As Ireland pursues ambitious renewable energy targets, concerns about grid stability and electricity security have intensified. This webinar brought together experts in grid management and energy systems to examine the challenges of maintaining reliable electricity supply with high levels of variable renewable generation.
Expert Speakers
Kieran O'Brien
Former Managing Director, ESB National Grid (now EirGrid)
Kieran is a Member of the Irish Academy of Engineering and was the lead author of the Academy's March 2021 report "National Energy and Climate Plan: The Challenge of High Levels of Renewable Generation In Ireland's Electricity System". With decades of experience managing Ireland's electricity transmission system, Kieran brings unparalleled expertise on the technical and operational realities of grid stability, renewable integration, and system security.
Mark Nelson
Managing Director, Radiant Energy Fund
Mark holds an MPhil in Nuclear Engineering and serves as Managing Director of Radiant Energy Fund, working to advance nuclear and alternative energy solutions globally. He is a researcher and writer on nuclear and alternative energy, known for his analysis of energy systems and grid reliability challenges. Mark has documented energy transitions around the world, examining what works—and what doesn't—in achieving reliable, affordable, clean electricity.
Discussion Topics
- Grid Stability Fundamentals: Inertia, frequency control, and system strength requirements
- Renewable Integration Challenges: Managing variability and intermittency at high penetration levels
- System Non-Synchronous Penetration (SNSP): Ireland's world-leading efforts and technical limits
- Capacity Margins: Reserve requirements and resource adequacy concerns
- Interconnection: How Britain and Europe factor into Ireland's electricity security
- Data Centers: Impact of growing electricity demand on grid reliability
- Baseload Power: The role of firm, dispatchable generation in system stability
- International Comparisons: Learning from grid challenges in other high-renewable regions
Watch the Webinar
The full discussion and Q&A session, moderated by Sarah Cullen (Co-founder, 18for0), is available on YouTube.
Watch on YouTubeKey Insights
Ireland's electricity system faces genuine technical challenges as renewable penetration increases. While EirGrid has achieved world-leading levels of instantaneous wind integration, the system requires significant investments in grid infrastructure, storage, interconnection, and—crucially—firm, dispatchable low-carbon generation to maintain reliability. The Irish Academy of Engineering's 2021 report highlighted that achieving Ireland's 2030 targets while maintaining security of supply will require all available low-carbon technologies, including potentially reconsidering the ban on nuclear energy. The physics of grid stability doesn't care about policy preferences—it requires real solutions to real engineering challenges.