Ireland’s national energy grid operator, EirGrid, has good news for the country as winter approaches. The risk of power shortages during the cold months has significantly decreased compared to last year’s expectations.
In its annual ‘Winter Outlook’ report, EirGrid revealed that the chances of electricity demand outstripping supply have dropped dramatically. The key measure, known as Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE), has fallen from 21 hours last winter to just 3.6 hours for the upcoming season.
This improvement is largely thanks to the Security of Supply Programme, which has added extra power generation capacity to the grid. New temporary emergency generators, gas-fired plants, and batteries are now ready to keep the lights on during peak demand.
While there’s still a small chance of entering an ‘Alert State’ during periods of low wind and limited energy imports, the overall outlook is much brighter. EirGrid’s director of System Operations, Diarmaid Gillespie, expressed optimism about the situation.
“It’s positive to see that the situation has improved considerably this winter compared to previous years,” Gillespie said. He also noted that despite challenges last year, there was only one system alert and no emergencies.
For the average Irish household, this means the risk of power cuts has significantly reduced. Even in a worst-case scenario, consumers might face less than 10 minutes without electricity over the entire winter period.
As Ireland continues its transition to renewable energy, EirGrid remains committed to meeting growing electricity demands while ensuring a stable and secure power supply for all.
According to The Journal, this positive outlook comes as a relief after concerns in recent years about potential energy shortages during the winter months.