Mayo concern over feared winter power blackouts

A Mayo Oireachtas member has expressed concerns over a statement by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communication, Eamon Ryan, that Ireland is facing a tight few years until 2025 in terms of our energy supplies and that engineers were undergoing training for potential blackouts this winter.

Senator Lisa Chambers said this is a really serious situation which has caused much concern right across the board.

"People are wondering what we are going to do to address the issue. The year 2025 is quite a distance away.

"It is a long time to be planning to have a deficiency in energy supplies to meet the demands of our citizens.

"It would be important to get an update from the Minister at the earliest opportunity on that particular issue, especially his comments on the tight supplies that Ireland is facing into for the next four years."

EirGrid has warned that unless action is taken, Ireland could face a shortfall of electricity supply over the next five winters.

The warning is contained in a key report by the operator of the national grid.

Speaking to RTÉ Radio One this morning, Minister Ryan said the government cannot be absolutely certain that no power outages will occur this winter.

He stated that subsequent winters will also be difficult but added: "We will manage it".

He said he is confident that upcoming auctions to bring additional back-up power will be successful as Ireland is talking to companies to make it clear the volume of supply that is needed.

He explained there is new capacity available on the market and Ireland is working to have the right planning in place to secure it.

Minister Ryan said it would be necessary to use Moneypoint and other older plants for back-up power when the wind is not blowing.

He added the running of fossil fuel power plants as back-up was always part of the plan but he does not want this to extend that beyond 2025 and it must be managed within the overall climate and carbon budgets.