WSHPDR_2013_Final_Report-updated_version

4.2.5 Ireland
Lara Esser, International Center on Small Hydro Power
SHP installed
capacity
42 MW
Key facts
Population 4,722,028
Area 70,273 km 2
Climate Temperate maritime; mild winters, cool
summers; consistently humid 1
Topography Mostly level to rolling interior plain
surrounded by rugged hills and low
mountains; sea cliffs on west coast 1
Rain
Pattern
Annual rainfall in most of the eastern half
of the country is between 750 mm and
1,000 mm. In the west it averages
between 1,000 mm and 1,250 mm. In
many mountainous districts rainfall
exceeds 2,000 mm. 2
Electricity sector overview
Electricity services in Ireland are provided by the
Electricity Supply Board (ESB), a state body owned and
controlled by the Government. The ESB owns and
manages the electricity network and operates 19 major
power stations throughout Ireland and a number of
smaller stations in 28 sites around the country. 3 The
bulk of electricity supply is from fossil fuels (including
peat) although wind power is of increasing importance
(figure 1).
Gas Oil & Refinery Gas
Import
Hydro
Landfill Gas, Biomass,
Fuel Oil
Wind
Peat
Coal
Natural Gas
0.7%
0.8%
1.0%
1.5%
2.1%
4.9%
10.0%
17.6%
61.4%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
Figure 1 Electricity generation in Ireland
Source: Commission of Energy Regulation 4
In February 2005, the retail electricity market was fully
opened to competition. 4 On 1 November 2007, the
Single Electricity Market (SEM) went live commencing
the trading of wholesale electricity in Ireland and
Northern Ireland on an All-Island basis. 5
Small hydropower sector overview and potential
The existing small hydropower capacity in Ireland is
about 42 MW with an estimated generation of 160 GWh
per year (figure 2). 6
SHP potential
60 MW
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Figure 2 Small hydropower capacities in Ireland
Source: Stream Map 6
Note: Data from 2010. Potential based on planned
capacity by 2020.
The Irish Hydropower Association estimates, for
example, that up to 600 old mill sites around the
country could be developed into hydropower
generation sites. A reasonable estimate (assuming that
not all of these sites are redeveloped) is 25 MW capacity
with a production of up to 130 GWh per year.
Additionally, 10 more potential high-head sites (each
500 kW) could be developed. 7
In 2010, two local authorities commissioned reports to
identify the small hydropower potential in their counties.
Twenty-seven hydro sites were assessed in County
Kilkenny using a calculation tool and producing a map
illustrating potential power output. The study identified
the hydro resources that can be tapped by local
community groups, land owners and local industries.
Under the Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Rural
Development Strategy 2007-2013, funding is available
for the development of renewable energy resources in
the county. 8 In 2010, five commercial and five domestic
suitable sites were identified for hydropower
generation, with a total annual electricity production
potential of 1,232 MWh and 116 MWh per year
respectively. A further 10 commercial and 100 domestic
sites that are financially viable exist in County Clare. 9
Renewable energy policy
According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan
(NREAP), the renewable energy target of Ireland for
2020 is 16 per cent of gross final energy consumption.
Irish Government policy is to encourage the production
of energy from renewable resources through the
Alternative Energy Requirements Scheme. The
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural
Resources in its Strategy for Renewable Energy (2012-
2020) aims at five strategic goals: increasing on and
offshore wind, building a sustainable bioenergy sector,
fostering research and development in renewables such
as wave and tidal, growing sustainable transport and
building out robust and efficient networks. 10
Legislation on small hydropower
The Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff 2 (REFIT2) includes
hydropower up to 5 MW, with a rate of 8.3 euro cents
per kWh. REFIT 2 is designed to incentivize the addition
351