LAST YEAR SAW the highest level of renewable energy being exported to the national grid to meet demand in one half-hour period, new figures have revealed.
At its peak, at 6.30pm on the 17th of December, 1866 MW was contributed to the grid — almost 42 per cent of the demand — according to the answer to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Michael Colreavy.
This is out of a total demand of 4415 MW at that time, according to EirGrid’s System Demand data. The majority of the electricity was provided by wind turbines.
Click here to view a larger version. Figures available online at EirGrid.com.
However, on the same day, wind provided 12 per cent of the demand at its lowest level, just after midnight.
The Department of Energy figures also show that in 2012 19.6 per cent of our gross electricity production was by renewables.
15.3 per cent of this was wind, followed by 2.7 per cent by hydroelectricity.
Responding to the deputy’s question, Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte said the “the total amount of renewable electricity generation connected to the grid was 2300 MW” at the end of last year.
“It is estimated that a total of between 3500 MW and 4000 MW will be required to allow Ireland meet its 40% renewable electricity target.”
“Currently, around 3,000 MW of renewable generation has taken up connection offers under the Gate 3 grid connection programme”, the minister added.
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