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A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd

www.engineersireland.ie

The STaTe of Ireland 2016a revIew of InfraSTrucTure In Ireland

2 engIneerS Ireland

contents

Director General’s foreword 3

Executive summary 4

Energy Advisory Group 5

Abbreviations and definitions 5

Summary of key recommendations 2016 6

Grading system 6

Energy 8

Communications 25

Transport 26

Water supply and wastewater 28

Flood management and water quality 29

Waste 30

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engIneerS Ireland 3


After more than six years of recession, we have arrived at a period of

sustained, though fragile, growth. According to the european

commission country report for ireland (february 2016), the strong

rebound of the irish economy has broadened and gained further

momentum. legacy issues nevertheless persist, and the commission

identifies infrastructure needs as one of our key remaining challenges.

Infrastructure for prosperityif ireland is to prosper, infrastructural development will be an essential

contributory factor. High-quality infrastructure is an important element of

a modern society and economy. it strengthens economic growth through

enhancing efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. it also underpins

social cohesion through providing vital facilities for citizens. engineers

ireland firmly believes that our public investment programme must

increase significantly if we are to meet increased demands for a modern

european public infrastructure. the current capital Plan ‘Building on

recovery’ (Bor) (2015), which presents the Government’s commitment to

exchequer investment of €27 billion over the six-year period 2016-2021,

falls short of addressing the gap. we strongly urge the new Government to

initiate the mid-term review provided for in Bor, and commit to increased

funding that is both adequate to meet the investment level required and

provides certainty to the public, investors and industry. importantly, any

increased investment must be the result of an evidence-based discussion

about long-term planning. infrastructure policy, planning and

decision-making are inexorably linked to the political process because of

the use of public funds. Political leadership is therefore required in

determining what kind of future societal and economic model we wish to

have, where we allocate resources and how we build consensus to support

decision-making for the long term. Addressing a round table discussion

with industry leaders and senior policy makers, hosted by engineers

ireland earlier this year, institution of civil engineers (ice) President sir

John Armitt described a similar challenge faced in the uK, which led to the

establishment of the national infrastructure commission – an

independent body whose remit is long-term strategic decision-making to

build effective and efficient infrastructure for the uK.

Single entity neededengineers ireland has advocated for the establishment of a single entity

charged with prioritising integrated infrastructure development in this

country. there are many examples internationally of how such an entity

could be structured to best support the determination and implementation

of policy on infrastructure – decoupled from the electoral cycle. this entity

would also be responsible for co-ordinating a long-term, cross-sectoral

approach to building political and public consensus and understanding on

national infrastructure performance, under a range of possible futures.

the annual ‘state of ireland’ report is a further contribution by engineers

ireland on the performance, capability and condition of ireland’s key

infrastructure networks. in 2016, we have taken a different approach and

developed a new methodology for assessment. the main body of the

report focuses primarily on the energy sector, with short updates on the

other four areas of communications, transport, waste and water. these

other areas will be focussed on in depth in future state of ireland reports.

ireland’s energy infrastructure is critical to our competitiveness and is of

particular importance as we move to a carbon-free society. As an island

nation, security of supply is paramount to ensure the health and

well-being of our citizens. As a member of the european union and the

global community, our commitments under the eu renewable energy

directive and coP21 mean that we have to develop a more efficient and

sustainable energy system, moving away from fossil fuels and greenhouse

gas (GHG) emissions. this type of shift to renewable fuels requires

investment in new technologies and infrastructure to support the

transition from a high-carbon, fuel import economy to one that is carbon

free and practically self-sufficient. this transition period will require

leadership and long-term planning to develop and build the infrastructure

required. courageous decisions will have to be made now to ensure that

future generations enjoy a carbon-free society by 2100. these decisions

will have to be supported by the public and a transition of this nature is

heavily dependent on their engagement.

Expert opinionthe energy section of this report has received input from a large group of

experienced engineers, working in organisations that specialise in energy

infrastructure. the consolidation of their opinions into this report over a

series of round table discussions is designed to inform those who make

policy and capital investment decisions about infrastructure in ireland,

including permanent members of Government as well as private investors.

we hope that the report gives rise to debate on the future development of

ireland’s infrastructure and that attention is paid to the recommended

actions, which we believe are essential to the continued growth of the irish

economy and to achieving our renewable energy, GHG and energy

efficiency targets.

i would like to thank all those who gave up their time to contribute to this

year’s report. the knowledge and experience of our diverse membership

has resulted in an informed document, which comments on policy that

affects us all.

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S FOREWORD The sixth in an annual series of independent reports on Ireland’s infrastructure, ‘The State ofIreland 2016’ is a timely intervention in the conversation about Ireland’s future.

Caroline SpillaneDirector General

this report looks at five key areas of infrastructure –

communications, energy, transport, water and waste. our

engineering experts assign grades based on the current

status of key infrastructure and its ability to meet

future demand. A number of action

items for the short and medium

term are also recommended.

in 2016, energy infrastructure has

been examined in greater detail,

given the recent publication of the

department of communications,

climate change and natural

resources (dcccnr) energy white

Paper and the approaching deadline of

2020, the limit for achieving the first

set of renewable energy source (res),

energy efficiency and carbon

emission targets.

like the rest of europe, ireland

is obliged under the eu

renewable energy directive to

achieve certain targets and

contribute to the global move

towards a sustainable energy

supply that is secure and

affordable. failure to achieve these

targets could result in significant fines

from the eu.

ireland is on track to achieve the national res for electricity

generation target (res-e). However, ireland needs to accelerate its

efforts, as based on its current trajectory it is not likely to reach the

res targets for heating/cooling (thermal) (res-H) and transport

(res-t). the knock-on effect is not achieving the overall res.

similarly, the energy efficiency and carbon emission goals are likely

to be missed.

Renewable energy

ireland’s energy efficiency performance is inadequate and a

significant change in how we consider and measure energy

efficiency is required to ensure that it becomes part of long-term

infrastructure planning in the future. A new approach to planning in

ireland is required and a non-departmental independent body

should be established to look at strategic infrastructure.

ireland’s citizens have a huge role to play in ensuring that ireland

successfully achieves all of the targets. changes in behaviour with

regard to how we use energy, and more accepting attitudes towards

new technologies, will be required. Adult and school-based

education programmes, and stakeholder awareness campaigns to

enlighten and empower the energy

citizen, are necessary.

the introduction of res in

electricity generation has

progressed well through the

public service obligation

(Pso) and other financial

incentives for developers.

technological advances and the

development of additional res to

generate electricity will all contribute

to the successful achievement of the

target (res-e).

Government leadership is required to

drive through the changes required

in the heating/cooling (thermal) and

transport sectors.

Policy makers should learn from tools

such as the Pso and incentive schemes

like refit, which were successfully used

to introduce renewable energy into

electricity generation and apply these to

assist with accelerating efforts to reach the res-H

and res-t targets.

Policy action

Policy changes for specific technological actions that result in the

introduction of more sources of res infrastructure are required,

including building anaerobic digestion plants to generate biogas, as

well as deep retrofits of domestic, commercial and public buildings

to reduce energy demand and decrease the amount of renewables

required to achieve the 2020 target and beyond.

ireland’s private car fleet makes the biggest contribution to co2

emissions, and should be tackled as a priority, given that it is almost

all fossil fuel burning, with only a small portion of electric vehicles

(evs) in private ownership. improvements in technology, financial

incentives and changes in attitude towards electric cars are all

required to ensure the shift that is required in the majority mindset.

our research capabilities are vibrant and diverse and should remain

so, with particular focus on developing technologies that exploit the

natural resources we have on our doorstep.

All of our efforts must be supported by adequate legislation, which

allows for infrastructure planning and development that ensures the

delivery of large infrastructure projects.

Other areas

shorter updates on communications, transport, water and waste

infrastructure are contained at the back of this report.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The STaTe of Ireland 2016

4 engIneerS Ireland

engIneerS Ireland 5


� John Ahern, Managing director, indaver

� Dermot Byrne, vice President, engineers ireland

(deputy chairman)

� Kelley Cousins, Marketing and communications,

engineers ireland

� Geraldine Ann Cusack, senior Business specialist, energy

and environment, siemens

� Prof. Tony Day, executive director, international energy

research centre

� Dr Paul Deane, senior researcher, energy Policy and

Modelling Group, ucc

� Tom Egan, Head of PowerGen, Bórd na Móna

� Dr Kieran Feighan, vice President, engineers ireland (chairman)

� John Fitzgerald, director, Grid development and interconnection,

eirGrid

� Paddy Hayes, executive director, Generation and wholesale

Markets, esB

� Brendan Heneghan, interim ceo, irish wind energy Association

(iweA)

� Paul Hickey, Manager, systems and sustainability, esB

networks

� Fionnuala Kilbane, editor, 53ten technical communications

� Dónal Kissane, chairman, energy and environment division

(Gas networks ireland)

� Eoghan Lynch, Group leader ireland, Arup

� Cormac Madden, regulation and strategy, esB

� Terry Nolan, energy consultant

� Colm O’Mahony, energy sector Head, PM Group

� Paul O’Reilly, Partner, ors

� Damien Owens, registrar, engineers ireland

� Tina Raleigh, director, energy Projects, fehily timoney & co.

� John Ringwood, director, centre for ocean energy research,

nui Maynooth

� PJ Rudden, Group Business director ireland and uK

infrastructure, rPs Group

� Henry Smyth, Head of economic regulation and technical,

ervia

ENERGY ADVISORY GROUP

ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONSBEF – better energy financing schemeBOS – biofuels obligation scheme CCS – carbon capture and storageCER – commission for energy regulation CFRAM – catchment flood risk assessment and managementCHP – combined heat and powerCNG – compressed natural gasCO2 – carbon dioxide DCCCNR – department of communications, climate change and natural resourcesEV – electric vehicle

FiT – feed-in tariff GHG – greenhouse gasPAYS – pay-as-you-save scheme PSO – public service obligation levy PV – photovoltaic REFIT – renewable energy feed in tariffRES – renewable energy sourcesRES-E – renewable energy sources contribution to electricity generationRES-H – renewable energy sources contribution to heating/cooling energy RES-T – renewable energy sources contribution to transport energy

RHI – renewable heat incentive SEAI – sustainable energy Authority of irelandtCO2 – total carbon dioxide, a measure of carbon dioxide Waste-to-energy - or energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste. renewable energy from waste is generated from a source that can be replenished including municipal solid waste and landfill gas.

Well maintained, ingood condition,appropriatecapacity andplanning for futuredevelopment

Acceptablestandard, properlymaintained, able tomeet demand,though investmentneeded in the nextfive years

Inadequatelymaintained, and/orunable to meetpeak demand, andrequiringsignificantinvestment

Below standard,poorly maintained,frequent inability tomeet capacity andrequiringimmediateinvestment to avoidadverse impact onnational economy

Unacceptablecondition,insufficientcapacity, andalready impactingon the nationaleconomy

GrAdinG systeMAnalysis of key areas of infrastructure includes a straightforward grading system.Engineers Ireland has assessed each area of infrastructure using the following grades:

ENERGY12-month

� develop an implementation plan with clear targets

and milestones, which details actions around the

many ambitions identified in the energy white Paper

� Progress the north–south interconnector to further bolster security of

supply and reduce cost to the consumer, as well as exploring other

interconnection options with a view to developing them if and when

appropriate

� Publish details regarding the renewable Heat incentive (rHi) in 2016

as promised, prioritising large industry to commence switching to

renewable energy, which should dovetail with smaller industry and

domestic residences

� Accelerate education programmes for communities and individuals on

the benefits of energy efficiency and switching to renewable fuels

through retrofitting their homes or community-driven district heating

systems

� the Government should lead by example, with ministers encouraged to

replace their existing fossil fuel-powered cars with hybrids or electric

vehicles (evs)

� irish state agency car, van and bus fleets should also be progressively

converted to electric, compressed natural gas (cnG) and hybrid

modes, respectively, with the cnG network rolled out as planned

Five-year

� review and revise energy policy every three to five years, and inform

the process with reports on progress made, gaps to target and new

technological developments

� continue to diversify ireland’s electricity fuel generation mix and

expand the renewables base

� Maintain investment in the transmission and distribution networks to

meet the needs of a growing economy and the transition from fossil

fuels to renewables

� explore technology solutions such as energy storage and further

interconnection to address variable renewable generation

� encourage renewable energy in ireland and harness ireland’s already

identified naturally occurring renewable resources

� carry out a deep retrofit of ireland’s domestic dwellings and public

buildings to reduce energy demand and increase energy efficiency

� convert the 900,000 homes that are not connected to the gas network,

and which use solid fuel or oil for heat, to an appropriate electric

heating solution

� incentivise the production of biogas from anaerobic digestion plants to

enable 20% of natural gas be displaced by biogas from the gas

distribution system

� encourage industrial locations that are off the natural gas network to

implement biomass solutions for their thermal (heating/cooling)

requirements

� Accelerate the purchase of evs by irish consumers through soft

incentives such as the use of bus corridors, revisiting the registration

tax and exploring other financial incentives

� continue to build out the necessary charging infrastructure to keep

pace with ev adoption

� ensure that public transport is more accountable in delivering the

res-t and carbon emission targets


6 engIneerS Ireland

SUMMARY OF KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 2016

A B C D EGrAdinG scAle

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D = 51-69%

E = 50% or lower

C

COMMUNICATIONS

12-month

� Award the national Broadband Plan (nBP)

intervention to a contractor(s) and confirm the

deployment schedule nationally

� continue the roll-out of the 4G mobile networks nationally and

protect the quality of traditional mobile services such as voice

� continue to reduce service costs when rates and speeds are not

equal in rural/urban areas

Five-year

� roll-out of affordable high-speed broadband services nationally

� ireland’s national broadband infrastructure should be in the top

five of european league tables in terms of availability, uptake and

speed

� continue to research and develop the network in anticipation

of 5G services

TRANSPORT 12-month

� Progress funding mechanisms for delayed

national road projects countrywide

� improve road management systems in conjunction

with increased road maintenance funds

� Progress development of second runway at dublin Airport

� develop solution for north dublin and dublin Airport rail

� continue to invest in improved facilities for pedestrians and

cyclists, in particular in the major cities

Five-year

� Accelerate the prioritisation of investment in infrastructure

projects to increase ireland’s competitiveness and address the

unemployment challenge

� Progress the planning process for port redevelopments in cork

and Galway

� Agree standards for data formats and communication protocols

for integrated traffic systems to enable information sharing

� continue to work towards the development of an integrated, frequent

and reliable network of public transport services in our cities,

including integrating fare structures across bus and rail modes

WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER12-month

� ensure that ireland preserves a public water

utility as the best way of ensuring that the water

industry is brought to the standards required by a

modern economy

� ensure that adequate funding is available to allow the utility to

meet its objectives, including eliminating boil notices and reducing

the number of supplies at risk

� Provide investment in infrastructure capacity to support critical

housing needs and employment growth

Five-year

� Place an immediate focus on eliminating current boil water

notices and ensure that the risk of further notices is addressed by

2021

� Progress construction of required wastewater infrastructure so

as to achieve compliance with the urban waste water

treatment directive and eliminate the 45 untreated discharges

by 2021

FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY

12-month

� continue to engage with local communities to

develop specific measures for each regional area

impacted by flooding

� complete the flood risk management plans, setting out the

long-term strategy for flood risk management

� complete the second cycle of river basin management plans

Five-year

� develop a national future flood forecasting service

� implement the measures and actions set out in the flood risk

management plans in a timely manner

� Provide annual updates on the progress of the implementation of

the water framework directive

WASTE12-month

� continue the roll-out of the organic waste

collection system to households and businesses,

supporting the national transition to

pay-by-weight charging

� compile and publish a live register of waste treatment facilities to

support the roll-out of future investment

� identify weaknesses in the current policy environment, such as

ineffective economic instruments, which are not supporting

investment in new infrastructure, and communicate the findings to

policy makers

Five-year

� ensure that the necessary policy environment and

infrastructure is put in place to deliver the prevention and

recycling targets as set out in the regional waste management

plans

� Prioritise the development of indigenous waste treatment

facilities including anaerobic digestion and biological treatment

capacity, soil recovery capacity, mechanical processing capacity

and additional thermal recovery capacity

� review the need for contingency landfill capacity as a national

backstop to prevent serious waste-related events that threaten

the health of citizens and our environment

engIneerS Ireland 7


B

C

D

C

C


8 engIneerS Ireland

SECTOR GRADEEnergy efficiency: D

Electricity (RES-E): B

Heating/cooling (RES-H): C

Transport (RES-T): C

OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016

ENERGY

C12-MONTH� develop an implementation plan with clear

targets and milestones, which details actionsaround the many ambitions identified in theenergy white Paper

� Progress the north–south interconnector tofurther bolster security of supply and reducecost to the consumer, as well as exploringother interconnection options with a view todeveloping them if and when appropriate

� Publish details regarding the renewable Heatincentive (rHi) in 2016 as promised,prioritising large industry to commenceswitching to renewable energy, which shoulddovetail with smaller industry and domesticresidences

� Accelerate education programmes forcommunities and individuals on the benefits ofenergy efficiency and switching to renewablefuels through retrofitting their homes orcommunity-driven district heating systems

� the Government should lead by example, withministers encouraged to replace their existingfossil fuel-powered cars with hybrids orelectric vehicles (evs)

� irish state agency car, van and bus fleetsshould also be progressively converted toelectric, compressed natural gas (cnG) andhybrid modes, respectively, with the cnGnetwork rolled out as planned

FIVE-YEAR� review and revise energy policy every three to

five years, and inform the process with reportson progress made, gaps to target and newtechnological developments

� continue to diversify ireland’s electricity fuelgeneration mix and expand the renewables base

� Maintain investment in the transmission anddistribution networks to meet the needs of agrowing economy and the transition fromfossil fuels to renewables

� explore technology solutions such as energystorage and further interconnection toaddress variable renewable generation

� encourage renewable energy in ireland andharness ireland’s already identified naturallyoccurring renewable resources

� carry out a deep retrofit of ireland’s domesticdwellings and public buildings to reduceenergy demand and increase energy efficiency

� convert the 900,000 homes that are notconnected to the gas network, and which usesolid fuel or oil for heat, to an appropriateelectric heating solution

� incentivise the production of biogas fromanaerobic digestion plants to enable 20% ofnatural gas be displaced by biogas from thegas distribution system

� encourage industrial locations that are offthe natural gas network to implementbiomass solutions for their thermal(heating/cooling) requirements

� Accelerate the purchase of evs by irishconsumers through soft incentives such as theuse of bus corridors, revisiting the registrationtax and exploring other financial incentives

� continue to build out the necessary charginginfrastructure to keep pace with ev adoption

� ensure that public transport is moreaccountable in delivering the res-t andcarbon emission targets

Ireland’s economy is dependent on a sustainable energy

infrastructure that meets our future needs. the Government’s

energy white Paper ‘ireland’s transition to a low carbon energy

future’ and the recent coP21 agreement, which ireland has

already signed, have moved the three pillars of sustainability,

security of supply and competitiveness centre stage.

in this section of the report, we examine the electricity, heating

and transport energy sectors.

we assess their current status in light of the eu energy efficiency,

renewable energy and carbon emission targets, plus the national

and global move towards decarbonisation. in addition, we

recommend particular actions to ensure ireland’s continued

journey to a low fossil fuel economy.

ireland has a number of targets to achieve as set out in the eu

renewable energy directive (2009/28/ec), which states that a total

of 16% of the country’s total energy consumption must come from

renewable energy sources (res) by 2020. in order to achieve the

16% overall target, the Government set a national renewable energy

electricity target of 40% (res-e) and a national renewable energy

heat target of 12% (res-H), alongside a mandatory eu renewable

energy modes of transport target (res-t) of 10% specified in the

directive. similarly in northern ireland, the department of

enterprise, trade and investment (deti) published the strategic

energy framework (sef) in september 2010, which also sets out a

40% res electricity target to be reached by 2020. Given the

all-island electricity market, it makes obvious sense to work

together to accomplish a shared objective. An analysis carried out

by the department of communications, climate change and natural

resources (dcccnr) indicates that a shortfall in the overall res of

between 1% and 4% could result in a one-off cost to the exchequer

of €140m to €600m.

simultaneously, ireland must also increase its energy efficiency by

reducing energy demand by 20% of the historic average energy used

during the period 2000-2005, as well as reducing carbon emissions

from sectors that are outside the eu ets (non-ets emissions) by 20%

compared to 2005 levels.

with ireland’s population projected to grow by 10% to 5,247,000 by

2030, there is a real possibility that energy needs will increase in

parallel with our commitment to reduce carbon emissions based on

national and eu targets.

However, there may be opportunities for ireland too. ireland’s current

energy policy, laid out in the dcccnr energy white Paper published

in december 2015, seeks to achieve the optimum benefits at the

lowest cost, and to realise economic opportunities where these

opportunities present themselves.

the sustainable energy Authority of ireland (seAi) has previously

reported that there is an estimated market of €300 billion per year for

sustainable energy technologies and services internationally.

ireland has established a positive reputation as a global testing

ground for prototype renewable technologies, for example. continued

research and development in, and deployment of green technologies,

could assure the country’s place as a leader in this field.

the seAi energy consumption statistics for 2014 indicate that

despite our economy growing by 5.2%, primary energy demand fell

in 2013 by 0.5% and energy-related co2 emissions decreased by

1.2%, indicating that energy efficiency and renewable electricity

policies are having a measurable impact. this is further underlined

by the decrease in the consumption of all fuels in 2014 with the

exception of peat, renewables and non-renewable wastes. However,


engIneerS Ireland 9

Sustainability – The provision of energy that meets current

demands without compromising the future in terms of energy

security and long-term damage to the environment.

Target 2020 target 2016 (actual) Distance to target

Renewable energy source (RES overall) 16% 8.6% 7.4%

RES contribution to electricity (RES-E) 40% 22.7% 17.3%

RES contribution to heat (RES-H) 12% 6.6% 5.4%

RES contribution to transport (RES-T) 10% 5.2% 4.8%

Energy efficiency 20% saving 8-9% saving 11-12% saving

Greenhouse gas emissions 20% --- Projected to fall short by 6-11%

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a market-based

approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives

for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. The EU

ETS covers more than 11,000 factories, power stations and other

installations with a heat excess of 20MW in 31 countries, which

were responsible for some 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions in 2008. Non-ETS sectors are domestic, small business

or small industry, transport, agriculture and waste.

Source: DCCCNR, Energy White Paper/SEAI/EPA

both the environmental Protection Agency (ePA) and the seAi have

indicated in recent reports that ireland is likely to miss out on the

overall 2020 renewable energy target (res overall) of 16% due to lack

of progress introducing renewable energy into the heat and transport

sectors, which may result in compliance costs within the eu.

similarly, the emissions targets will be missed as a result of both of

these combined with the impact of the agricultural sector. the good

news is that similar expert indications would suggest that ireland is

likely to achieve if not exceed the national renewable electricity target

of 40% (res-e), demonstrating that with the right incentives and

focus, the shift to renewable energy can be possible for all sectors.

ireland’s vulnerability in terms of security of supply is further

indicated by its fuel import dependency, which has increased since

1990 and only decreased slightly in 2014. ireland currently imports

90% of its gas and generates almost half of its electricity from gas.

the corrib gas field is strategically important to ireland from an

energy security of supply perspective because at peak production,

corrib has the capacity to deliver more than 60% of ireland’s gas

needs.

ireland is caught in its own energy trilemma of sustainability,

security of supply and affordability. the publication of the dcccnr

energy white Paper has put the focus of energy policy firmly on the

sustainability pillar, while ensuring that security and affordability

are maintained.


10 engIneerS Ireland

Indigenous energy sources

Environmentally sound

Economically viable

Ireland’s energy Trilemma

Affordability

Sustainability

Security of supply

Overall World Index: Ireland is ranked 22 out of 130 countries, below Malaysia and above Singapore

world energy council, energy Trilemma Index – Ireland

Environmentalsustainability

– A

Energy equity– B

Energy security – C

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

As europe moves to implement the Paris climate Agreement,

two-thirds of its low-carbon energy infrastructure investment to

2040 will need to be in energy efficiency. this implies an eightfold

increase in current levels of investment. the european

commission’s Heating and cooling strategy has started to set out

the links between energy efficiency and the wider energy

infrastructure system. the energy union strategy has called for a

fundamental rethinking of energy efficiency, to treat it as an energy

source in its own right, representing the value of energy saved.

without a major rethink, we risk the ability to meet our climate and

energy targets in 2020 and beyond, if we fail to properly grasp the

nature of the challenge.

in future, energy efficiency needs to be redefined as a core part of

ireland’s energy infrastructure, and there needs to be more explicit

integration. treating energy efficiency as infrastructure and

integrating it into wider national infrastructure planning means that

supply side investment needs will fall as projected demand falls,

thus reducing the risk of asset stranding and reducing costs to

society. energy efficiency fulfils the definition of infrastructure used

by the international Monetary fund and other economic institutions.

like traditionally recognised infrastructure, energy efficiency is

long-lasting capital stock, provides inputs to a wide range of goods

and services, and frees up capacity elsewhere in the economy.

the three energy targets of improved efficiency, increased

renewable fuel sources in final consumption and a reduction in

carbon emissions are interlinked and mutually dependent.

According to the international energy Agency, improved energy

efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could

reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one-third and help to

control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. conversely, if ireland fails

to reduce its energy demand, more renewable energy will be

required to meet the 2020 targets. An additional benefit of energy

efficiency is that ireland can reduce its volume of fuel imports and

consequently slow down the rate at which domestic fossil fuel

energy resources are depleted. while fossil fuels will eventually be

phased out, during this transition period towards a zero-carbon

future, ireland will have to take a pragmatic approach when it

comes to leveraging our natural carbon-based resources, such as

natural gas.

How would you rate Ireland’s energy efficiency performance: Direland’s energy efficiency infrastructure, which can be defined as

capital stock – residences, manufacturing plants, public and

commercial buildings, our electricity generation fuel mix and our

transport fleet – is currently unable to meet the demands of the

energy efficiency targets and requires significant investment to reach

an adequate standard. energy efficiencies can be achieved from the

point of energy generation right through to the final use in a domestic

dwelling, public building or industrial premises. similarly, electric

vehicles (evs) charged using renewable power are more energy

efficient than those powered by traditional fuels.

reducing the demand for energy by conserving it will quite simply

reduce the amount of energy used, but this requires significant

investment in energy efficiency at the point of use, as well as

continued education about energy usage.

the residential sector in ireland consists of an estimated 1.7 million

homes and in 2014 accounted for the largest share of final thermal

energy usage with 44%, even greater than industry at 35%. in the past

seven years, some 300,000 homes (17.5%) have been retrofitted to

become more energy efficient. the seAi suggests that an estimated

€35 billion over 35 years will be required to make the remainder of

the existing housing stock low carbon by 2050 at an average cost of

€20,000 per retrofit.

engIneerS Ireland 11

2020Target

2005

energy efficiency target and Ireland’s current position:

National: Target is 20%

2020Target

20052016 2016

Public bodies: Target is 33%

Distance to target 11-12%

8-9% achieved

Distance to target 16%

17% achieved


(Source: SEAI)



industry management is starting to realise that

there are increased savings to be made when

energy efficiencies are introduced to

offices and manufacturing processes.

Movements like industry 4.0 – the

fourth industrial revolution – can

identify ‘wasted’ energy through

monitoring practices. introducing

energy efficiency methodologies

and upgrading existing systems or

buildings have helped industry to

reduce its costs. the seAi has an

important role to play in continuing to

educate both businesses and consumers

on their responsibilities with regard to

balancing their demand for energy and

adapting energy efficiency measures if ireland’s

future generations are to benefit from a carbon-free society.

though transport primary energy use fell by 28% between 2007

and 2013, transport accounts for 34% of primary energy

requirement in ireland. with 56% of all transport energy

consisting of diesel and just 0.06% of passenger cars being

plug-in evs, ireland’s transport sector could not be described as

energy efficient.

What does the future hold?ireland is just below halfway (8-9%) to its eu mandatory 2020

energy efficiency target of 20%, even though Government-

supported policy initiatives were introduced to save households’

and businesses’ fuel costs. while policies are in place to

encourage greater energy efficiency, it is clear that accelerated

action will be necessary to further this progress if ireland is to

successfully reach its obligations under the eu renewable energy

directive. the energy white Paper references the active energy

citizen and it is imperative that our citizens are engaged in the

energy transition ahead and fully support it.

while there are serious changes and disruption to come,

individuals need to learn about how these new technologies can

enhance their lives and provide them with opportunities for cost

savings.

An education programme designed to engage the active citizen or

create more energy citizens needs to be implemented over many

years as the transition will take generations to take effect in

changing attitudes and behaviours.

smart metering also has a role to play in ireland’s successful

implementation of energy efficiency strategies, as information

coupled with technology is a key enabler of energy management.

the ‘internet of things’ (iot), big data and real-time information

all provide opportunities to engage the active energy citizen in

controlling their energy consumption and encouraging them to

contribute to ireland’s climate change strategy.

the public sector has an even more ambitious energy efficiency

target of 33% to reach by 2020. in the 2015 analysis, a 17%

improvement in energy consumption had been achieved. while

this is to be commended as it was achieved during

what was a difficult time for many public

bodies, there needs to be an acceleration of

activity in the next four years if the public

sector is to contribute as planned to the

overall eu obligation.

What actions do we need to take?engineers ireland welcomes the

Government’s energy white Paper as

setting a very clear direction for ireland’s

energy policy out to 2030 and beyond to

2050. However, the organisation is somewhat

concerned at the lack of a robust

implementation plan with clear targets and

milestones, supported by the appropriate enabling

policies and with an effective governance framework. the example of

having such an implementation framework can be seen through the

successful delivery of over 2,000Mw of renewable generation and the

delivery of the east–west interconnector under the auspices of the

2007 energy white Paper. we need a similar approach to deliver the

key projects identified across all energy sectors – electricity,

heating/cooling and transport – and a step change in our attitude

towards how we think about energy efficiency infrastructure.

it is clear that the responsibility for achieving the eu mandatory

targets falls across many Government departments, whereas an

integrated approach is necessary, with leadership at cabinet level. A

culture change in how we approach long-term planning and

infrastructure is undoubtedly required.

we can learn from other jurisdictions, such as the uK, which has

established the national infrastructure commission (nic). the

commission was set up on an interim basis in 2015 and looked at the

uK’s future needs for nationally significant infrastructure, taking a

long-term approach to the major investment decisions facing the

country. the aim of the nic is to enable long-term strategic

decision-making to build effective and efficient infrastructure for the

uK, and it is to be established by legislation as a non-departmental

independent body. this type of structure allows it to operate

independently of Government yet still remaining accountable to the

treasury for its performance and allocation of public funds.

More specifically, if we accept that we need to invest in energy

efficiency infrastructure, a deep retrofit of ireland’s domestic

dwellings and public buildings should be undertaken to reduce

energy demand and increase energy efficiency. the deployment of

energy efficiency retrofits for domestic, commercial and public

buildings provides an important pathway for increasing energy

security, decreasing energy demand, reducing GHG emissions, and

reducing demand for new energy production and distribution

facilities.

A dedicated long-term resource needs to be allocated to educating

citizens about their energy responsibilities, including specific

programmes aimed at the adult generation and a new programme

developed for the primary and secondary school curriculums.

A culture change in how we approachlong-term planning and infrastructure

is undoubtedly required.


ELECTRICITY (RES-E)

electricity is vital to virtually every aspect of people’s lives and to

the economy. today’s society is very heavily reliant on ‘smart’

tools that manage everything from traffic signals to home

heating. there would be a massive impact on the running of the

state and private enterprise if the supply of continuous power is

interrupted. technology requires power and there is a real need

to balance this growing demand with decarbonising the network

and security of supply.

the infrastructure of wires and cables around the country can be

divided into the distribution network and the transmission

network. Generators feed power into both the transmission and

distribution system, with larger units connecting at transmission

level and smaller units connecting at distribution level. the

transmission system is used to transport bulk power over long

distances. Power then flows into the distribution system, which is

used to bring power to customers’ premises.

eirGrid is responsible for the operation and development of the

transmission system and also oversees the maintenance of the

transmission network. in 2007 an all-island single electricity

Market (seM) was established, which has unified the market

between ireland and northern ireland. in 2009, eirGrid acquired

system operator northern ireland (soni), which operates

northern ireland’s national grid, further solidifying the electricity

relationship between the two jurisdictions.

esB networks is the asset owner of both the distribution and

transmission networks, and is responsible for the operation,

maintenance and development of the electricity distribution

network in ireland.


Irish electricity supply chain

GENERATION TRANSMISSION ANDDISTRIBUTION

SUPPLY

Competitive market Regulated monopoly Competitive market

Large fossil fuel generation

Microgeneration

Large andmediumrenewable and CHPgenerators

Domesticcustomers

TransmissionEirGrid

DistributionESB Networks

Business/commercial

2020Target

2005

reS-e target and Ireland’s current position:

National renewable: Target is 16%

2020Target

2005 2016 2016

RES-E contribution: Target is 40%

Distance to target 7.4%

8.6% achieved


22.7% achieved

(Source: SEAI)

(Source: ESB)



What is the current status of Ireland’s electricitygeneration, transmission and fuel mix: Bw hile overall electricity in terms of achieving res-e is of an acceptable

standard, properly maintained and able to meet demand, investment

will be required over the next five years to ensure that ireland continues

on its path to likely meet its res-e targets in 2020, with particular

emphasis on introducing more renewable fuels into the mix.

Affordability is perhaps the highest priority when it comes to

electricity because of the importance of energy prices for

competitiveness and growth, plus the risk of hardship to low-income

households.

electricity in ireland is generated from a number of different sources.

the main fuel used to generate electricity is gas. However, through a

number of different schemes renewable electricity production is on the

increase and now represents almost a quarter of electricity generation,

primarily through wind. ireland’s fuel mix means that ireland’s ability to

generate electricity is high when it comes to economic cost, security of

supply and environmental impact.

the security of supply of ireland’s electricity is an imperative across the

energy sector given the severe economic and social consequences that

would result from a high-impact, low-probability event such as a total

interruption of electrical supply. the challenges for ireland’s electricity

generation sector include a high dependence on gas and the increasing

proportion of indigenous variable generation from renewables.

ireland’s electricity system has been bolstered in recent years, with

the east–west interconnector that links to mainland Britain allowing

for the import and export of power, thereby increasing competition

and facilitating renewables. Both the transmission and distribution

networks have received significant investment in recent years to

ensure that they are system ready for the increasing number of

renewables being introduced into the energy mix. eirGrid’s delivering

a secure sustainable electricity system (ds3) programme is

underway to address the challenges of integrating renewable

generation onto our power system through innovation in technology

application in consultation with market participants.

Advancements in telecommunications and information technology

have enabled the esB to develop the electricity network to operate to

meet customers’ new requirements. driven by the move to renewable

variable generation, the desire for customers to install local

distributed generation, the requirement for storage and the

electrification of heat and transport, network management has

changed profoundly in the last number of years. continued investment

has ensured that ireland’s electricity network is benchmarked

internationally as among the most advanced in the world.

it is fair to say that significant progress has been made on the

decarbonisation of ireland’s fuel mix and ireland is likely to meets its

2020 res-e target of 40%. this is a result of a consistent policy

approach ensuring investor confidence allied with incentives such as

the Accelerated capital Allowance (AcA) tax to encourage companies

to invest in energy-efficient equipment, and encourage businesses to

introduce renewables into their energy consumption. this has led to a

demand from customers to have ‘green’ energy in their electricity

supply or to be assured that the products they consume have come

from sustainable sources. As a result, businesses are beginning to

change their behaviours to incorporate renewable electricity into their

business models. Apple’s proposed data centre in Athenry is based on

its ability to use 100% renewable energy. similarly, facebook has

recently announced that its new data centre in Meath and

headquarters in dublin will be powered by wind energy. corporate

thought leaders with the level of influence on the general public that

Apple and facebook have can begin to influence the mindset of the

average irish consumer. interestingly, a recent iweA/iPsos MrBi

survey revealed that when consumers were asked “whether they would

prefer to power their homes with fossil fuels or renewable energy, with

both being a similar cost and level of service” that 86% chose

renewables compared to 9% who opted for fossil fuels. this clearly

indicates that there is an appetite for change among energy citizens.

the Public service obligation (Pso) levy charged to all electricity

customers has also played a huge role in incentivising investment in

renewable generation. However, the increasing levels of renewables

Gas 55.08%

■ 6.28%

■

Oil 0.1%

Net import 8%

Gas 44%26 TWh

Consumption 99%

Pumping 1%

Peat 10%Waste 0.5%

Other renewable 0.7%

Renewable hydro 2.7%

Wind 19%

Coal 15%

■ Coal 23.50%■ Gas 55.08%■ Net import 0.00%■ Other 6.28%■ Renewables 15.14%

O

fuel mix in Ireland 2014 average fuel mix on a typical day in Ireland – april 22, 2016

(Source: EirGrid) (Source: EirGrid)



in the generation mix, supported by the refit

scheme, have resulted in a decrease in the

wholesale price of electricity, which partially

offsets the cost of the Pso levy charged to

all electricity customers to fund the

scheme.

res-e has to date been driven by the

introduction of onshore wind energy

deployment and biomass combustion.

waste-to-energy also has a role to play

in achieving the renewable electricity

targets, as approximately 50% of the

electricity produced from waste is

considered to be renewable.

despite being in a prime location for ocean

energy capture, ireland does not currently have

any commercial-scale ocean, wave or tidal power

feeding into the national grid. ireland has, however, established a

positive reputation as a global testing ground for prototype renewable

technologies, and in the period beyond 2030 this could become a

significant source of renewable energy.

What does the future hold?while the electricity sector has made considerable advances, ireland

needs to continue on the journey from an electricity generation fleet

primarily based on fossil fuels to one that will essentially be zero

carbon and should include renewables, biomass and, potentially,

carbon capture and storage. in the longer term, as new and safer

nuclear technologies are developed, and as the nuclear waste issue is

satisfactorily resolved, this form of energy may need to be considered.

in the short to medium-term transition period, ireland will have to

adopt a pragmatic approach to the electricity

generation fuel mix and continue to rely to a

certain extent on fossil fuels while actively

promoting fuel switching from coal and

peat to gas. As ireland moves through

that transition period, low to zero

carbon generation technologies, which

provide electricity that can be

dispatched or stored at the same time

it is generated, may also be required,

along with energy storage for

renewables, increased interconnection

and demand side participation.

the targets for 2030 have yet to be fully

agreed but many projections show that society

will have to almost completely decarbonise the

electricity sector by 2050, with significant progress by

2030.

the seAi has clearly identified the need to accelerate our progress to

meet the 2020 carbon emissions and res-e targets. the deployment

of more wind capacity per annum is certainly desirable to help us to

achieve both these goals, alongside employing other clean energy

generation technology. indeed, the eirGrid capacity Generation

statement 2016 states that there would need to be an average of

about 300Mw of extra wind energy capacity installed per year to 2020

alone.

What actions do we need to take?the decarbonisation of ireland’s electricity is happening gradually and

inexorably, but the move away from the predominant use of fossil

fuels in transport and heating energy will have a major impact on

Edenderry Power Plant – an industry success story

each year edenderry Power Plant generates enough electricity for

the national grid to power the needs of above 150,000 households

across ireland. However, in addition to contributing to renewable

energy and carbon emission reduction targets, the power plant is an

important element in ireland’s energy infrastructure, not only in

terms of electricity generation, but also in terms of fuel security and

the provision of system services, including reactive power, inertia

and frequency control, which are crucial to the overall stability and

safe operation of the power system as levels of intermittent

renewable generation (wind) increase.

displacement of carbon-intensive fuels in electricity production,

such as coal and peat, with biomass,* have been shown to lead to

carbon savings of 1,200-1,450tco2, respectively, for every 1,000t of

biomass used, whereas displacement of fuels typical for the heating

sector, such as natural gas and kerosene, lead to carbon saving of

600-850tco2, respectively, for every 1,000t of biomass used. from a

carbon emissions savings point of view, it is more effective to utilise

biomass to displace peat or coal from the electricity-generating

sector than it is to utilise the biomass to displace diesel oil or

natural gas from the heating sector.

originally designed as a peat-fired power station, edenderry Power

Plant is currently the largest dispatchable renewable electricity

source on the island of ireland. it is a source of electricity that can

be dispatched at the instant it is needed. the 118Mw power station

utilises a modern fluidised bed boiler, which enables co-firing of

peat with a wide range of biomass fuels without the need of a major

capital investment into the boiler or the fuel handling system.

co-fuelling of peat with biomass at the power plant commenced in

2008, at a relatively modest rate of 2%, increasing to just under 30%

in 2014, with an aim of achieving a 37% co-firing rate in 2016. such a

high co-fuelling rate will result in carbon savings of over

350,000tco2.

* Biomass is organic matter derived from living, or recently living,

organisms. Biomass can be used as a source of energy and it most

often refers to plants or plant-based materials, which are not used

for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass.

the security of supply of ireland’s electricity is an imperative across theenergy sector given the

severe economic and socialconsequences that wouldresult from a high-impact,low-probability event such

as a total interruption of electrical supply.



electricity generation and distribution in ireland.

capital expenditure will be required to build the

infrastructure necessary to supply the

energy to power a larger ev fleet, for

example, whereas a ‘smart grid’ network

is essential to manage ireland’s future

energy fuel mix and consumer

demand. continued investment in

additional network and smart network

strategies is essential to meet

customer needs so that they can

decide how they consume their

electricity. the network also needs

configuration to allow microgenerators to

sell power to energy companies, and the

impact of the greater electrification of heat and

transport may lead to capacity issues in urban areas,

but less so in rural areas, where increased capacity can be

accommodated without investment. landowner and customer

acceptance of the additional infrastructure which will be required to

move to a low-carbon society is also vital and is likely to need

considerable engagement.

As indigenous renewables such as wind, solar and wave are variable

and changeable, while tidal is variable but predictable, they will

require new demand-side management and technology

solutions, such as energy storage for both electrical

and thermal power, as renewable generation

increases. Additional interconnection with

other countries may also be required to

facilitate renewables, to augment and

diversify competition and security of

supply. the potential for increased

renewable generation in ireland

should be explored further, including

the use of different technologies as

they become increasingly available

and cost competitive.

with our island status, ireland’s energy

future is inextricably linked with northern

ireland, and the north–south interconnector

is imperative to further bolster security of supply

and reduce the cost to the consumer.

A smart grid is an electricity network that can cost-efficiently

integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to

it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order

to ensure an economically efficient, sustainable power system

with low losses, high levels of quality, security of supply

and safety.

the sustainable energy Authority of ireland(seAi) has clearly identified

the need to accelerate our progress to meet

the 2020 carbon emissions and res-e targets.



HEATING/COOLING (THERMAL) RES-H

reS-h target and Ireland’s current position:

(Source: SEAI)

2020Target

2005


2020Target

2005 2016 2016

RES-H contribution: Target is 12%


8.6% achieved


6.6% achieved

res-H refers to thermal energy that is used for space, process and water

heating, cooling and also for cooking. the residential sector in ireland

accounts for the largest share of thermal energy usage at 44%, followed

by industry at 35%, services at 16% and agriculture at 4%.

What is the current status of Ireland’s heating/coolingsystems: Cthe vast majority of heating systems in ireland are domestic and poweredby fossil fuels (gas, oil and solid fuels) compared to other economies thathave developed renewable heating system technologies such aswood-burning boilers, air-source and geothermal ground-heat pumps orsolar water heaters. ireland also has the added challenge of eradicatingpeat harvesting in rural areas, which is often viewed as a ‘free’ resource.renewable energy accounted for 6.6% of thermal demand in 2014 and isgrowing steadily, but not quickly enough to achieve the 2020 targets. oil isthe dominant fuel, accounting for 41% of fuel inputs in 2014. with oilprices at an all-time low, this option of carbon-intensive, affordableheating/cooling is attractive. Persuading citizens and businesses alike toinvest in capital improvements to replace their oil-burning infrastructurewith new, energy-efficient, renewable fuel thermal alternatives willrequire large-scale financial incentives and education programmes fromGovernment and its agencies.

What does the future hold?electrification of heat, particularly using heat pumps, is an often stated

goal across europe. Heat pumps and thermal storage, coupled with smart

grid and distributed generation, could have a very positive impact on

reducing energy demand. However, peak heat demand in winter can be

five to six times greater than peak electricity demand. rapid transition to

even high-performing heat pumps without management and control of

energy infrastructure and household demand could stress parts of the

existing network. further capital investment in the network and

transmission systems will be required, and therefore impacts on the

long-term affordability of these solutions. conversely, if this transition is

managed appropriately, it could result in more efficient and cost-effective

usage of our renewable generation resources and electricity network

assets.

district heating is a goal of the new energy white Paper and is a proven

method of increasing energy efficiency. while it has been successfully

implemented in many other european countries, it has not been deployed

to any significant extent in ireland. one of the key advantages of district

heating networks are the efficient use of surplus heat from ‘low grade’

combined heat and power (cHP) plants, waste incineration plants, waste

heat from industrial processes, natural geothermal heat sources, and

fuels that are more easily used centrally, including renewables like wood

waste and residues. the development of district heating networks could

help to meet ireland’s renewable heat (res-H) target, help to reduce

ireland’s GHG emissions and external energy dependency.

significant savings can be achieved with the right applications, such as

high heat densities in towns and cities using biomass fuel. there are

opportunities for cHP systems that can, with proper thermal storage,

become part of the smarter electricity grid. However, heat distribution

networks are expensive to install and further assessment of the

economics is required. the business case tends to rely on guaranteed

uptake of end users before a project is underway, and such guarantees are

hard to secure. ireland should look at countries with similar climates, such

as denmark, to assess the potential for knowledge transfer in this area.

ireland’s dispersed rural population means that it is always going to be

more difficult and expensive to install district heating systems that

operate effectively and efficiently in rural areas.

According to the institute of international and european Affairs (iieA), an

estimated figure of €14 billion is required to bring the residential housing

stock up to an average Building energy rating (Ber) of c1, and for

Government targets to be met. specific technical measures include

building insulation retrofits of wall, roof and floor insulation,

energy-efficient glazing and draught proofing alongside heating/cooling

system replacements with heating controls, heat pumps or solar water

heating, energy-efficient lighting, and more efficient household

appliances and electronics. the technical improvements towards



more energy-efficient and low-carbon renewable fuels need to be

coupled with behavioural measures that include reducing the target

temperature by one degree celsius, such as turning off heating in

unused rooms, turning off lights when not in use, installing a

low-flow shower head and air-drying rather than tumble-drying

clothes. small, targeted behavioural changes can all contribute to

increased energy efficiency and improved comfort levels for

householders as a deep retrofit will naturally lead to reduced energy

consumption. we have seen recent tv ads encouraging householders

to switch off and save.

However, uptake of energy efficiency in the residential sector is likely

to be low without additional intervention. the seAi has identified a

number of potential and existing interventions including regulation,

pay as you save (PAys), information campaigns and direct financial

support. PAys is a type of residential retrofit financing scheme

currently under consideration in ireland. A number of research

papers were produced examining the PAys concept, which formed a

starting point for the Better energy financing (Bef) project. Bef is

intended to overcome the financial barrier in the residential sector by

providing accessible finance to householders in ireland. there is

currently an €800,000 capital budget set aside for a suite of project

trials in 2016. essentially, the task of Bef is to identify the level of

cost at which energy efficiency becomes acceptable to a critical mass

of the population, and then identify the nature, and extent, of the

subsidy required to make that level of cost available.

What actions do we need to take?radical changes are needed to the vast majority of ireland’s thermal

technology, which must include switching households to a fuel source

that requires a total retrofit of their heating system. the role of Bef is

critical to the success of this switch to ensure that the final solution is

affordable for the householder when it is combined with energy

efficiency measures.

A blend of gas and electricity is needed to meet the short to

medium-term res-H targets. one recommendation is to electrify the

900,000 homes that are not connected to the gas network, and which

use solid fuel or oil for heat. Priority should be given to electrifying

the heating systems in these homes through a funded Government

programme. not only would this immediately contribute to the

heating target, but it would also benefit the 20% carbon emissions

obligation if renewables are used in the electricity generation.

However, this has to be done in conjunction with changes to how

electric domestic emissions are treated in the Building regulations to

facilitate adoption of all available electric heating solutions. while

noting that there have been very positive developments regarding the

treatment of heat pumps in recent months, the Building regulations

continue to be a barrier to the adoption of electric storage heating for

apartment dwellings.

of the remaining 700,000 homes that are connected to the gas

network, 100% of these homes could be switched from natural gas to

biogas with no need to change the gas distribution infrastructure.

However, biogas is produced from anaerobic digestion and currently

there are only six plants in ireland, compared to 26 in northern

ireland. some of the reasons for the low level of plants in ireland

include a complex planning and licensing system, with eight different

permissions required, grid connection costs, unattractive electricity

tariffs, financing issues and uncertainty in waste policy. this is an

area that has the potential to grow, with the help of policy

development and financial incentives to support the industry. it is

estimated that just replacing 20% of natural gas with biogas could

allow 100% of domestic customers and up to 15% of industrial and

commercial customers to operate on biogas, contributing to the

res-H target.

As well as supporting ireland’s achievement of its renewable targets,

development of anaerobic digestion plants assists with the

implementation of ireland’s waste policy.

Power-to-gas is another option to replace 20% of natural gas

whereby surplus renewable electricity is converted into hydrogen gas

% OF ENERGY FLOW % OF FINAL ENERGY USE

6.5%

41.5%

38%

8%

5%

1%

44%

35%

16%

4%

1%

Renewables

Oil

Natural gas

Coal

Peat

Wastes

Residential

Industry

Services

Agriculture

Lost in refining

energy flow – Thermal uses 2014

(Source: SEAI)



by rapid response electrolysis and is subsequently injected into the

gas distribution network. ireland already owns a vast energy storage

infrastructure in the form of its existing gas

transmission and distribution pipeline. it is likely

that the shift to renewable heating will have to

be incentivised in order to change consumer

behaviour on both the generation and

demand side. A firm policy is needed to

drive these changes such as

feed-in-tariffs (fits) similar to how the

Pso/refit scheme has driven the

introduction of renewables in

electricity generation. the renewable

Heat incentive (rHi) has been shown to

drive rapid deployment of new

technologies, for example, solar and

biomass heat in the uK and fits-developed

solar photovoltaic (Pv) electricity in Germany

and spain. However, lessons need to be learned

about how incentives can skew the market and provide

unsustainable market growth. it is important to set levels at

moderate rates of return, with the guaranteed tariff reducing each

year. details around the rHi need to be put in place by the irish

Government as promised by 2016 for producers and consumers of

renewable heat.

the energy white Paper states that the proposed rHi should

incentivise the change to renewable heating for the equivalent of an

additional 200 large industrial sites or 2,000 large services sector

buildings or 300,000 residential dwellings between now and 2020 or

some combination of the three. As industry emits more co2 and is

more likely to realise the business benefits that can be made through

energy efficiency as well as switching to alternative fuels, then the

focus should primarily be on business to lead the change.

waste-to-energy would benefit from inclusion in the rHi to

incentivise businesses to recycle as much waste as possible.

As ireland cannot meet its decarbonisation ambitions without

tackling heating in the residential sector, a domestic rHi

is a necessary part of the strategy to incentivise

homeowners to undertake energy retrofit

projects.

for industrial locations that are off the

natural gas network, the implementation

of biomass solutions, like those used by

Astellas in Killorglin, would assist with

increasing energy efficiency, achieving

the renewables target and reducing

carbon emissions.

the Government should provide

leadership on this and prioritise

sweeping changes in the public sector to

support a consumer education programme,

leading by example. ireland’s hospitals, which

are among the most intensive energy users, account

for around 500,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually,

and in 2014 were responsible for 21% of total energy consumption in

the public sector. the 2020 target for hospitals is just less than half

this at 11.8%, which means significant inroads will have to be made to

achieve this in the next four years.

Mandatory energy audits have been an essential driver in making

energy efficiency visible within the industrial sector. once energy

becomes a visible cost to production, companies are prompted to

develop methodologies to reduce unnecessary or wasted energy by

optimising their processes.

the requirements to undertake energy audits should be widened to

incorporate small to medium-sized businesses as well as retail

centres, similar to those introduced in the public sector and for large

commercial enterprises under the eu energy efficiency regulations

2014.

Astellas – an industry success story

Astellas ireland ltd operates a modern pharmaceutical finishing

facility in Killorglin, co. Kerry, where it employs 350 people. the

facility serves the worldwide market as the production base for the

formulation and packaging of anti-rejection drugs used in organ

transplant surgery.

Astellas has a longstanding commitment to the energy agenda.

Joining the seAi’s energy Agreements programme in 2005, the site

has been certified to a variety of standards since 2007, with the

most recent one being the international standard for energy

Management – iso 50001. Astellas places a high value on

sustainability and corporate social responsibility and as a result in

2010, the company began to examine alternatives to oil as the main

source of energy for the plant.

Planning permission was approved for the installation of a new

352m2 utilities building comprising a 1.6Mw biomass boiler and

ancillary biomass fuel store, which came on stream in 2012.

Astellas sources its wood chip from predominantly local coillte

forest resources in Kerry, supporting local jobs and helping to

develop a wood supply market. other renewable projects saw the

erection of an on-site wind turbine for electricity supply in 2012,

and the installation of a solar water heating system in 2014.

in december 2015, Astellas was generating 62% of all energy

required for the site through renewable energy.

the on-site wind turbine generates 20% of the company’s

electricity and the wood chip boiler supplies 95% of the company’s

thermal needs. the installation of a biomass heating system has

helped Astellas to secure major contracts from international

clients that prioritise world-class environmental credentials in the

companies they partner with.

Astellas used to burn 700,000 litres of oil annually for thermal

energy. By switching to a more energy-efficient thermal system, it

reduced co2 emissions by 92%, reduced overall manufacturing

costs, secured the company’s sustainability and increased its

competitiveness.

the task of Bef is to identifythe level of cost at which

energy efficiency becomesacceptable to a critical massof the population, and then

identify the nature, and extent,of the subsidy required

to make that level of cost available.

TRANSPORT (RES-T)

ireland’s obligation under the eu renewable energy directive is to replace

transport fuel with 10% renewable energy by 2020. transport energy

demand, which is responsible for a third of total energy use in ireland,

grew by 4% in 2014. over half of all transport energy consists of diesel

(56%) and currently biofuels account for only 3.1% of the fuel mix in

transport (or 5.2% when the weightings for double certificates are applied

in accordance with the directive).

What is the current status of Ireland’s transport energy infrastructure: Croad-based transport equates to 80.6% of all journeys, with private cars

making up the majority of that figure at 55.8%. there are about two million

private cars in ireland and it is the preferred mode of transport for the

majority of irish people as 75% of all journeys are taken by car. this ratio

increases outside of dublin to 77% and drops in the city to 61%, with

public transport and other sustainable modes used more in the capital.

res-t reached 5.2% in 2014 and this was mostly through the use of

biofuels mixed with diesel and petrol. the ev charge point network

currently meets demand, with evidence to suggest that the majority of ev

owners charge their cars at home overnight, thereby contributing to the

electricity demand profile, leading to more efficient use of the generation

assets. despite a €5,000 subsidy, low road tax rates and a vehicle

registration tax (vrt) exemption, there are only 1,700 evs registered in

ireland. this is 0.9% of the total car fleet. in norway, with a similar

population to ireland but a sparser population spread per square

kilometre – 14 versus ireland’s 67 – the passenger car market share for

plug-in electric passenger cars is 22%. compressed natural gas (cnG),

which emits 22% less co2 than diesel, is an alternative fuel for ireland’s

truck and inter-city bus fleet but the only refuelling point that currently

exists is at Gas networks ireland’s cork office where it has conducted

trials with Bus Éireann.

dublin Bus applied for funding from the national transport Authority in

2014 to trial three hybrid fuel buses over a three-year period but the

request was declined because no funds were available from the

department of transport. Hybrids are considered ideal for stop-start

driving conditions in cities and, as well as fuel efficiencies through the use

of renewable energy, they can contribute to the overall reduction of co2

and noise in urban centres.

Double certification

A fundamental aspect of the Biofuels obligation scheme (Bos) isthat it is a certificate-based system in which a single Bos certificaterepresents one litre of biofuels. for sustainable biofuels producedfrom first-generation feed stocks, for example vegetable oil, sugaror starch, one certificate is awarded for each litre placed on themarket. two Bos certificates per litre may be awarded for advancedbiofuels, which are typically produced from wastes and residues.the obligated parties have relied on double certification to meettheir biofuels obligations in previous years: in 2014, over 60% of thebiofuels placed on the market received two Bos certificates per litre.the implication of counting advanced biofuels twice is that thevolume of biofuels placed on the market is reduced (see graph).



reS-T target and Ireland’s current position:

(Source: SEAI)

2020Target

2005


2020Target

2005 2016 2016

RES-T contribution: Target is 10%


8.6% achieved


5.2% achieved

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

8%

7%

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0%

% Bio (by volume) % Bio (by certificate) Obligation

Source: Byrne O’Cleirigh



What does the future hold?the use of biofuels mixed with petrol and diesel will continue to play a

major part in reducing co2 emissions in the future. the current mix is 6%

under the Biofuels obligation scheme (Bos) and is expected to increase to

8% on January 1, 2017. However, the maximum realistic mix for petrol and

diesel in ireland is unlikely to be above 10% and so the potential impact of

this solution is limited in the longer term. evs have the potential to make a

real impact over time, although uptake is slow and the Government’s

white Paper has revised the target for evs down from 10% of the total

fleet (approximately 194,400 cars) by 2020 to just 50,000 or 2.5%.

the question of fees for evs to access public charging infrastructure is

currently under review by the commission for energy regulation (cer).

fees could well prove a deterrent for those who already own this mode of

transport to remain with this type of vehicle and for new entrants to

choose this as a future option despite grants on offer. the seAi’s research

into behaviour will prove significant in identifying the barriers to

consumers availing of clean electric technology for their transport needs.

A recent report by Bloomberg new energy finance looked at the

technology and concluded that as battery prices fell by 35% in 2015, they

are on a trajectory to make unsubsidised evs as affordable as their fossil

fuel counterparts in the next six years. Bloomberg predicts that by 2040,

35% of new cars worldwide will have a plug. the cnG network of fuel

refilling points is set to roll out in 2016, and will build on the existing gas

transmission and distribution systems, which bodes well for affordability.

However, from a security perspective, as the network is yet to be built out

there are no immediate gains to be made from this more environmentally

friendly fuel mix. there are currently no plans to electrify the intercity rail

network and as rail energy equates to just 0.9% of the primary energy

consumption for transport, bigger wins would be generated from focusing

on the private car network.

this report strongly advocates the accelerated move to renewable energy

modes of transport, particularly where the renewable energy is generated

or produced from indigenous resources. However, it is clear that in the

short to medium term, ireland will continue to rely on imported petroleum

for much of our transport. the infrastructural capability to produce refined

petroleum products on the island of ireland is of key importance in the

context of the security of supply element of the trilemma as we transition

towards a carbon-free society over the coming years. not having refinery

capability will effectively mean that in an oil supply crisis, ireland would be

reduced to sourcing our transport requirements in the refined product

market and not the wider crude oil market. it is in this context that it is

recommended that the infrastructural capability to produce refined

petroleum products to serve these needs be retained.

What actions do we need to take?if the resolution of this target rests on achieving significant purchases of

evs by irish citizens, then awareness, advocacy and influencing opinions

should be the primary focus for Government in the next four years. this

should also include soft incentives such as the use of bus corridors for

evs, revisiting the registration tax and exploring other financial incentives.

the affordability of the solution is also a factor, and with prices of evs set

to fall to more competitive levels in the future, evs should form a bigger

part of the fuel mix in transport.

currently the choice of evs is limited in the consumer’s mind, though the

range has become more extensive in recent years. the majority of vehicles

available are small in size, lower in horsepower and limited in range, with

the ability to travel an average of 150km before needing a charge.

However, the technology is moving on, with new models offering real

choice in the mid-price saloon marketplace. these models can offer an

improved driving performance and a driving range closer to 320km. tesla

and other manufacturers are also offering choice in the luxury

marketplace and these may help to change the perception of evs in the

eyes of consumers. leadership by Government and the public sector is

necessary to change the attitude of the irish public to evs. As the majority

2015 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 ‘19 ‘20 ‘21 ‘22 ‘23 ‘24 ‘25 ‘26 ‘27 ‘28 ‘29 ‘30 ‘31 ‘32 ‘33 ‘34 ‘35 ‘36 ‘37 ‘38 ‘39 ‘40

500 million vehicles

400

300

200

100

0

� Projected annual sales � cumulative sales

By 2022 electric vehicles (evs) will cost the same as their internal combustion counterparts. that’s the point of lift-off for sales.

Sources: Data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Marklines

Electric vehicles would account for 35% of all new vehicle sales.

The rise of electric cars



of the ministerial fleet is privately owned by individual ministers, they

should be encouraged to replace their existing fossil fuel-powered cars

with hybrids or evs. irish state agency car, van and bus fleets should also

be updated accordingly to electric, cnG and hybrid modes, respectively,

while public procurement processes for Government contracts involving

transport should include key performance indicators linked to renewable

energy. there is clearly a need for public transport to be more accountable

in the delivery of the res-t targets.

A comprehensive national strategy needs to be put in place to create the

necessary infrastructure for ev adoption to thrive in the short term. this

would involve further incentives to encourage consumers to switch from

fossil fuels to evs in parallel with an education campaign to advise the

active citizen on how his or her choice of fuel impacts on the global

environment, climate change and flooding.

incentives could include the obligatory reservation of charging spaces for

evs by local authorities, reduced parking fees, preferential access to

restricted areas, reduced tolls and the provision of charging facilities in

new buildings. similar measures have been proven to grow ev numbers

rapidly in other countries. the cnG network should be rolled out as

planned to enable the van and bus fleets to switch from diesel to a fuel

that emits less GHGs. Government tenders should specify the types of fuel

that private service operators must use in their fuel mix and grants should

be offered to encourage the private sector to invest in cnG-powered

vehicles. Measures such as the Green Bus fund included in the dcccnr

energy white Paper should also be extended to freight transport to create

a Green freight transport fund. the continued roll-out of cost-effective

public transport should also be prioritised on urban and inter-city routes,

providing an alternative to the large number of journeys by

single-occupancy private car.

Carbon emissionsfrom 1990 to 2014, energy-related co2 emissions increased by 17% – an

average of 0.7% per annum. transport recorded the largest increase at

120% (3.3% per annum) over the period. transport’s share of

energy-related co2 emissions was 37% in 2014. the residential sector in

ireland consists of an estimated 1.7 million homes and, after agriculture

and transport, is the third largest emitter of energy-related GHG

emissions.

As previously stated, the three energy targets of improved efficiency,

increased renewable fuel sources in final consumption and a reduction in

carbon emissions are interlinked and mutually dependent. with the

introduction of more renewables, then GHG emissions will fall. However,

this report has quite clearly identified that not enough measures are on

track to increase renewables in the fuel mix for heat (res-H) and

transport (res-t). similarly, a lack of buy-in to the energy efficiency target

means that ireland is a long way from achieving the 20% obligation.

A bus route that is entirely served by volvo’s quiet, fuel-efficient and

practically emission-free electric hybrid buses is now a reality in

stockholm. A total of eight electric hybrid buses deployed on route 73

pass through the central areas of the swedish capital.

volvo’s electric hybrid buses replaced all of the existing fleet on route

73, which runs between ropsten and the Karolinska institute in

central stockholm. the driver for the city to introduce electrified bus

traffic was because it is a cost-efficient way of reducing the problems

of poor air quality and noise. the buses assist with improving the

environment without the need for large investments in new

infrastructure. volvo’s electric hybrid buses operate quietly and free of

emissions on renewable electricity for seven of the route’s slightly

more than eight kilometre total distance, and the batteries are

quick-charged for only six minutes at the terminus at each end of the

route. As a complement, the buses also have a small diesel engine

that is powered by biodiesel. compared with conventional buses, the

electric hybrids provide considerable environmental gains. the total

energy consumption is 60% lower. climate-impacting emissions are

reduced by 90%, since the buses use biodiesel and wind power. the

noise level during electrical operation is at the same level as ordinary

conversational tone.

services using electric hybrid buses in stockholm comprise a

demonstration project conducted by volvo Buses, sl (stockholm

Public transport) and energy provider vattenfall. it is part-financed by

the eu through the Zeeus (Zero emission urban Bus system) project,

in which more than 40 companies and organisations are participating.

following the initial demonstration project, which will continue until

the end of 2016, the intention is to continue using the electric hybrids

in commercial operation. volvo’s electric hybrids have also been used

in commercial service in Hamburg, Germany, since december 2014.

Stockholm and electric hybrid buses – an industry success story



OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Energy technologiesfor ireland, there is no single silver bullet. the adoption of different

technologies will depend on the maturity and relative cost of the

technology, bearing the affordability question in mind. this report

has endeavoured to recommend actions that are achievable with

current technologies and resources available to ireland today.

However, ireland needs to stop closing the door on technologies that

may have to be considered in the future and remain open to those

that have yet to be developed.

the recently published energy white Paper sets a very clear

direction for energy policy, in line with ireland's commitments under

the Paris Agreement: "our vision of a low-carbon energy system

means that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the energy sector

will be reduced by between 80% and 95% compared to 1990 levels,

by 2050, and will fall to zero or below by 2100”.

in order to achieve this, a major transition is required in how we

meet our energy needs in a sustainable, secure and affordable way

across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. in fact, this

transition is already underway. it is widely recognised that new

technologies, and the further development of existing technologies,

will be required in order to effect this transition, and to this end

governments, institutions and enterprises across the world are

committing significant resources to energy research and innovation.

for example, the eu strategic energy technology (set) Plan seeks to

accelerate knowledge development, technology transfer and

deployment of low-carbon energy technologies and systems in order

to achieve the eu's 2030 energy and climate change goals and to

enable the transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. the eu set

Plan is underpinned by the eu's Horizon 2020 €70 billion funding

programme for research and development, of which €6 billion is

earmarked for non-nuclear energy research.

ireland has developed a diverse and vibrant energy research

capability, built up over many years and across a range of

institutions. Particular progress has been made over the past

decade, due in part to good policy decisions such as the initiation of

the charles Parsons Awards and the strategy report of the irish

energy research council. the energy research mandate given to

science foundation ireland (sfi), including the current proposed

large biomass research centre, plus the establishment and funding

of the international energy research centre in cork, the energy

research institute in ucd and the Marine and renewable energy

ireland (Marei) centre, is critical to developing further technologies

in the renewable space. the work of the seAi and other state

agencies, and the proactive response of industry and academia to

these policy decisions, is also a major contributor.

the role of energy research in facilitating ireland's transition to a

low-carbon future is highlighted in the energy white Paper. the

Paper refers to the forthcoming publication of the report of the

energy research strategy Group (ersG), which will include a

roadmap comprising areas of focus to 2050, while also identifying

the key elements of a world-class energy system capable of

addressing the challenges of energy security, sustainability and

competitiveness.

Added to those research areas of focus listed in the white Paper are

two additional areas where ireland should adopt a 'watching brief'.

these are carbon capture and storage (ccs), and developments in

nuclear energy.

in relation to ccs, this technology has the potential to substantially

reduce carbon emissions, and it features strongly in low-carbon

scenarios developed by the ieA and other bodies. However,

depending on the energy required to convert the co2 gas into a

storable and transportable form, it could be expensive and its

utilisation may reduce significantly the overall process efficiency of

A. Active consumers at the centre of the energy system A.1 social and behavioural aspects of the energy transition, including: i) energy

efficiency; ii) transport; iii) social acceptance of energy infrastructure; and, iv)

approaches to societal engagement.

B. demand focus B.1 energy efficiency

c. system optimisation c.1 electricity

c.2 Gas/water

c.3 smart cities/communities

c.4 integrated energy systems modelling

d. secure, cost-effective, clean and competitive supply d.1 wind/solar energy

d.2 Bioenergy

d.3 ocean energy

d.4 sustainable transport systems

d.5 sustainable heating/cooling

Main research areas of focus to 2050.



the power plant or industrial application to which it is applied. A

prerequisite for the large-scale deployment of ccs is, therefore, the

demonstration of the technical and economic feasibility of existing

technologies, together with a comprehensive research programme

to reduce costs, increase efficiencies across the whole ccs

technology chain, and to optimise the technology for use in all

carbon-intensive industrial sectors.

in relation to nuclear energy, the eu energy roadmap shows that

this will remain an important part of the eu power generation mix in

the years to come. research and development in this area

internationally is focusing on the development of new fission reactor

technologies, on enhancing safety across the full nuclear power

value chain, and in the development of new and smaller modular

reactor concepts. A particular ongoing focus is the development of

sustainable solutions for the management of nuclear waste. in the

longer term, fusion technology is seen as a potentially attractive

energy solution for clean and large-scale electricity generation

towards the end of the century. ireland is one of a number of

countries that does not have nuclear power in its domestic electricity

mix. At some point in the future, as the transition to a low-carbon

future gathers momentum, and as these new technologies develop a

record of successful, commercial and safe operation, it is

conceivable that nuclear power could become an attractive option for

ireland.

the white Paper also highlights the enterprise opportunities that flow

from a vibrant energy research and innovation ecosystem. ireland is

developing a reputation as a world-class location for research across

a number of sectors, including life sciences and information and

communications technology, with many global companies actively

engaged in research activities in ireland. the energy research sector

has the potential to achieve similar success – this is recognised in the

ambition to establish ireland as an 'energy innovation Hub'.

‘Soft infrastructure’ireland’s ambitions to reach the renewable energy targets need

support from the legislature. High investment costs are incurred by

developers in preparing planning applications for major

infrastructure with very little certainty of the planning outcome.

currently, the application fee for a strategic infrastructure

development (sid) is €100,000 and there are other additional costs,

such as preparing environmental impact statements. there needs to

be a more unified and integrated approach to the regulations, as well

as more clarification. for example, in the case of an upstream

pipeline coming ashore, we have the foreshore Act, the strategic

infrastructure Act, section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, that is consent to

construct and consent to operate, and a safety Permit under the

Petroleum (exploration and extraction) safety (Pees) Acts 2010

and 2015. these consents are determined by different Government

departments or agencies. one Government agency should take

the lead.

delays to projects, including sid projects, mean that the legislation

is falling short of its ambition. when it comes to planning appeals

and the strategic infrastructure Act, timelines are aspirational.

there should be fixed deadlines. there are no timelines for other

consents. obtaining a foreshore licence is a very time-consuming

process.

eu regulation 347 of 2013 introduced a consenting regime for

trans-european energy networks (ten-e) projects, which are

designated as ‘projects of common interest’. the overall duration

must be no more than 42 months, with the consent stage taking no

more than 18 months. where multiple consents are required, the

regulation requires each member state to nominate an agency to

co-ordinate the consents. for projects in ireland, which are not

‘projects of common interest’ and which require multiple consents, a

co-ordinating agency should be appointed.

in relation to nuclear energy, the eu

energy roadmap shows that this will remain

an important part of the eu power generation

mix in the years to come.

What is the current state of infrastructure?

A recent report by the european commission (digital economy and

society index) ranks ireland 8th in the eu for a range of digital integration

issues. However, this rate of growth in the last year is behind the average

growth across the eu, placing ireland in a cluster of countries deemed to

be ‘lagging ahead’. in the mobile category ireland is ranked 7th of the eu

28 at 67.7%, ahead of the eu average of 62.4%. ireland has significantly

improved its performance in the connectivity dimension in the last year,

jumping from 16th to 13th place.

there has been convergence of technologies during the last five years –

cable tv providers now provide broadband and traditional telecoms

companies now deliver tv content. Quad play bundles (voice, mobile voice,

data and video) are now commonplace in the market and the focus has

shifted to content now that the required broadband speeds are more

prevalent.

Broadband€2bn plus has been invested in the network infrastructure by industry

over the past four years. industry anticipates that 1.6m homes will have

access to high-speed broadband provided by commercial operators in the

near future: approximately 70% of all premises in ireland. international

connectivity has improved, with the landing of transatlantic cables to both

cork and Mayo in 2015, which lessen the dependency on dublin-based

connectivity. Achievements include advances in fibre-to-the-home

connectivity, which barely existed in ireland five years ago. ireland had the

seventh fastest broadband speed in the world in 2014, ahead of the uK and

Germany, but dropped to 12th in europe in 2015 and 23rd in the world.

Broadband in rural Irelandthe remaining 30% of premises not served by broadband represent the

target for state intervention. the national Broadband Plan (nBP)

procurement process was initiated in december 2015, to select the

contractor(s) for the deployment of this infrastructure, with construction

expected to start in 2017. this initiative is likely to have a major impact on

the market as a whole.

Mobile infrastructurethe infrastructure supporting mobile services has been upgraded, driven

by the roll-out of 4G networks by all mobile operators to serve data users

and the need to reduce the operating costs of the networks through site

consolidation and the sharing of towers and masts.

What does the future hold?since 2010, worldwide internet data demand has grown by over 40% year

on year. the telecommunications infrastructure is challenged, with

ever-increasing demands on the networks by consumers who demand

that both business and lifestyle requirements are met. services are now

expected to be always available irrespective of location.

the future includes the adaptation of the network for 5G services, with

research already underway to facilitate these requirements.

What actions do we need to take?the continued investment by commercial operators is fundamental to

increasing ireland’s competitiveness in the years ahead.

the implementation of the nBP intervention is a cornerstone to ensuring

that rural ireland gets access to high-speed broadband and enabling

digital services in all homes throughout ireland.

Mobile networks need to ensure that high-quality services are made

available for traditional services, as well as enhancing the services

available for mobile broadband users. Additional spectrum is likely to be

made available in the near term and this needs to be harnessed wisely to

improve the performance and capacity of the networks. in addition, the

continued roll-out of the 4G networks is an essential enhancement to the

communications infrastructure nationally.

COMMUNICATIONS

OVERALL GRADE12-MONTHn Award the National Broadband Plan (NBP)intervention to a contractor(s) and confirmthe deployment schedule nationally

n Continue the roll-out of the 4G mobilenetworks nationally and protect thequality of traditional mobile services suchas voice

n continue to reduce service costs whenrates and speeds are not equal inrural/urban areas

FIVE-YEARn Roll-out of affordable high-speedbroadband services nationally

n Ireland’s national broadbandinfrastructure should be in the top five of European league tables in terms ofavailability, uptake and speed

n Continue to research and develop thenetwork in anticipation of 5G services

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016

B



Ireland’s communications network is responsible for saving lives, supporting business as well as providingcitizens with access to entertainment and social media. Our voice and data networks are critical to oursmarter living modes.



TRANSPORT

SECTOR GRADE

Roads: Motorways B

Roads: Other routes D

Sustainable transport D

Rail C

Airports B

Sea ports C

OVERALL GRADE

12-MONTHn Progress funding mechanisms for delayednational road projects countrywide

n Improve road management systems inconjunction with increased roadmaintenance funds

n Progress development of second runwayat Dublin Airport

n Develop solution for North Dublin andDublin Airport rail

n Continue to invest in improved facilities forpedestrians and cyclists, in particular inthe major cities

FIVE-YEARn Accelerate the prioritisation of investmentin infrastructure projects to increaseIreland’s competitiveness and address theunemployment challenge

n Progress the planning process for portredevelopments in Cork and Galway

n Agree standards for data formats andcommunication protocols for integratedtraffic systems to enable informationsharing

n Continue to work towards the developmentof an integrated, frequent and reliablenetwork of public transport services in ourcities, including integrating farestructures across bus and rail modes


C

Developing a transport infrastructure that meets the requirements of Irish society and the Irish economyis essential to the future prosperity of the State. Critical to this is an integrated approach to road, rail, airand sea transport.



Roadslimited investment during the economic downturn has left national

roads badly in need of investment. the motorway network is currently

able to cope with levels of traffic, but the M50 has started to suffer

congestion due to increased traffic volumes.

Beyond the motorways, ireland’s remaining road network is in very

variable condition and is not capable of meeting usual demand,

certainly not to an international level. Austere budgetary measures have

seen the road maintenance programmes significantly reduced to

unsustainable levels. reduced budgets mean that national and local

authorities have insufficient resources to maintain their road networks

in acceptable condition.

Public, integrated and sustainable transportA holistic approach is required when it comes to transport and energy,

given ireland’s dispersed population and the need for a private

passenger car fleet.

investment in urban cycle routes, bus corridors, hybrid/electric buses

and pedestrian facilities are critical to improve ireland’s urban spaces,

making them pollution and noise free as well as contributing to the eu

renewable energy directive to increase energy efficiency, use more

renewable fuel sources and reduce carbon emissions.

Railireland’s heavy rail network is certainly fit for purpose but increasing

numbers of commuters and tourists will put a strain on certain urban

routes. the announcement of the dArt extension to Balbriggan,

Hazelhatch and Maynooth, along with Metro north, is welcomed. A light

rail network in cork should be examined. the extension of the luAs

lines is welcome. However, a longer term plan for future tram lines is

needed instead of the current ‘stop-start’ approach.

Airportsireland’s international air connectivity is critical for tourism and

business travel. irish airports are well maintained and the authorities

continue to invest to maintain the safety and security of the

infrastructure.

the announcement of the construction of a new runway at dublin

Airport, on hold since 2007, is an indication of ireland’s growing

economic confidence. existing regional airports should be maintained

because of their importance for the economic development of ireland

outside of dublin.

Sea portsireland’s commercial sea ports are vital for most exports and imports,

as well as for the tourism sector. furthermore, our marine

infrastructure includes both large and small fishing harbours and small

leisure harbours. the Port of Galway is currently awaiting the

green light to commence expansion of a new deep-water port and

reclaim land from Galway Bay under the strategic infrastructure Act.

the connectivity, particularly for freight, of our seaports to the overall

transport network needs to be prioritised.



The quality of Ireland’s drinking water is underpinned by investment in water treatment plants, and the qualityof the receiving aquatic environment is underpinned by investment in wastewater treatment plants.

WATER SUPPLY ANDWASTEWATER

year

S75

1,600 mIllIonlITreS of

drInKIng waTer

SECTOR GRADEWater supply C

Wastewater D

OVERALL GRADE

12-MONTHn Ensure that Ireland preserves a public water utility as thebest way of ensuring that the water industry is brought to thestandards required by a modern economy

n Ensure that adequate funding is available to allow the utilityto meet its objectives, including eliminating boil waternotices and reducing the number of supplies at risk

n Provide investment in infrastructure capacity to supportcritical housing needs and employment growth

FIVE-YEARn Place an immediate focus oneliminating current boil waternotices and ensure that the risk offurther notices is addressed by 2021

n Progress construction of requiredwastewater infrastructure so as toachieve compliance with the UrbanWaste Water Treatment Directiveand eliminate the 45 untreateddischarges by 2021


Water supply� irish water supplies drinking water to 3.3 million people/80% of the

population

� 63,000km of water pipelines have been mapped

� 1,600 million litres of drinking water are produced daily

� Average age of an irish water main: 75 years; average age of an eu

water main: 36 years

� 47% of treated water is lost through leakage – almost twice the level of

the uK

� 119 water treatment plants on the ePA’s remedial action list (rAl) (Q1

2016), supplying 800,000 people, need investment

� over half of the 900 water supplies have one or more deficiency and

are below the industry standard

� 29,165 customers are currently under boil water notices

� nine new water treatment plants and 19 major upgrades to existing

water treatment plants are to be implemented by 2016

Wastewater� 70% of the population is served by public sewerage schemes, operated

by irish water

� wastewater infrastructure consists of 1,100 treatment plants and

25,000km of sewers

� there are 45 locations where sewage is being discharged untreated or

with preliminary treatment only

� 156 wastewater treatment plants are overloaded and do not meet the

required standards

� Major and extensive upgrades to the wastewater networks are

required to meet eu directive standards

What does the future hold?irish water’s Business Plan, published in october 2015, has identified a

€5.5bn capital investment need up to 2021, and the investment required to

address all known deficits is estimated to be €13bn.

for water and wastewater, the most critical item at present is the future of

ireland’s public water and wastewater utility – irish water – and resolving

the question of the funding model that will ensure that the required

investment levels are met.

Prod

uced

daIly

D

average age of IrISh waTer maInS

water quality deals with water in the natural environment – lakes, rivers,

groundwater, and coastal bays and estuaries. A major programme – the

river basin management plans – is underway to meet the objectives of the

eu’s water framework directive, which is designed to protect all

high-status waters, prevent further deterioration of all waters, and restore

degraded surface and ground waters to good status.

Flood management� 300 areas for further assessment (AfAs) have been identified,

including 90 coastal communities at risk

� detailed flood maps were published in november 2015

� More than 300 community public consultation days have been held

nationwide under the catchment flood risk Assessment and

Management (cfrAM) Programme

� six flood relief schemes are in construction and 30 are at design

and planning stage

� thirty-six flood relief schemes have been completed to date at a

cost of €240m, providing protection to over 7,000 properties and

more than €1bn in net present value benefits

� €33m has been approved for 500 projects under minor works

schemes with local authorities

� An arterial drainage maintenance programme is ongoing

� capital investment is to increase per annum from €50 million in

2016 to €100 million over the next six years

Water quality� 99% of ireland’s groundwater is classed as ‘good’ – an increase from

85.4% in the last assessment by the environmental Protection Agency

� 48% of rivers, 57% of lakes, 55% of estuaries and 4% of coastal

waters assessed were impacted

� the two most important suspected causes of river pollution are

agriculture and municipal sources, accounting for 53% and 34% of

cases, respectively

� the 13.6% target for improvement in surface water as set out in

the first river basin management plan, as per the water

framework directive, is unlikely to be achieved

What does the future hold?Adverse weather has contributed to significant flooding events in

2015/2016, and with sudden, unfavourable weather likely to be a

future regular occurrence, the publication of the flood risk

management plans scheduled for summer 2016 is timely. flooding

caused by intense rainfall (pluvial) is compounded because the

amount of solid material going into gullies and drains increases,

causing blockages and flooding.

the minor works scheme funded through local authorities supports

minor works to alleviate specific problems identified locally. this

funding model, which should continue for the foreseeable future, has

resulted in a total of 500 projects receiving approval in the past six

years and contributes to the monitoring and maintenance

programme.

As part of the second river basin management plan, the seven river

basin districts (rBds) will be reconfigured into three rBds and new

biological tools will be developed for the monitoring programme.

this cycle will run until 2021 and the draft plans are currently being

developed in consultation, led by local authorities at regional level.

Many parts of Ireland remain at high risk of flooding. In other areas that are currently not associated withflooding, the risk will increase. This presents considerable challenges in terms of flood risk management.

FLOOD MANAGEMENTAND WATER QUALITY

SECTOR GRADEFlood management D

Water quality C

OVERALL GRADE

12-MONTHn Continue to engage with localcommunities to develop specificmeasures for each regional areaimpacted by flooding

n Complete the flood risk managementplans, setting out the long-term strategyfor flood risk management

n Complete the second cycle of river basinmanagement plans

FIVE-YEARn Develop a national future floodforecasting service

n Implement the measures and actions setout in the flood risk management plansin a timely manner

n Provide annual updates on the progressof the implementation of the WaterFramework Directive




C

What is the current state of waste infrastructure?in 2014, the environmental Protection Agency (ePA) released some

up-to-date statistics on progress towards eu waste recycling, recovery

and diversion targets, which indicate that ireland has already met or is on

track to meet a range of waste targets, including the amount of total

biodegradable municipal waste permitted to go to landfill by 2016.

Achieving these goals has required progress on a number of fronts, with

policy playing a key part in creating roles for both the public and private

sectors. resource efficiency programmes such as the national waste

Prevention Programme and rx3 – rethink, recycle, remake – have been

extremely effective. As the circular economy increasingly becomes the

core resource policy of the european commission, the discontinuation of

rx3 appears to be an opportunity missed to build on the initial work.

in waste planning terms, waste management plans for the new southern,

eastern-Midlands, and connacht-ulster regions, and the national

Hazardous waste Management Plan 2014-2020, have called for further

investment in treatment infrastructure for inert, non-hazardous and

hazardous wastes. it is important that the investment in treatment

infrastructure identified in these waste plans is delivered to ensure that

ireland’s policy objectives and targets are achieved.

Alongside these policy developments has been the provision of thermal

recovery infrastructure, replacing landfills, for the treatment of residual

municipal and industrial wastes. the waste-to-energy facility in Meath is

operational and the new facility in Poolbeg, dublin, will commence

production in 2017. Planning applications for a facility in co. cork and in

northern ireland’s arc21 waste region have also been lodged and should

help to address the geographical imbalance in infrastructure on the

island. Municipal waste that is not treated in ireland is currently being

exported for recovery abroad. this activity is a lost economic and resource

opportunity and, if this waste was treated at home, would contribute

significantly to meeting renewable energy targets. it is also becoming

increasingly difficult to secure outlets for this exported waste in europe.

the collection and treatment of organic wastes from households,

businesses and the agricultural sector represents an opportunity for

innovation and jobs but requires continuous investment. More treatment

facilities are required, as outlined in the regional waste plans. However,

the policy environment in ireland has not sufficiently incentivised the

market to attract the investment needed, with developments moving to

northern ireland, where more attractive fiscal supports are available.

What does the future hold?european waste policy is in the process of changing, which will require

ireland to rethink our approach to managing waste, by viewing our waste

streams as valuable material resources. Making better use of our

resources and reducing the leakage of materials, as wastes, from our

economy, will deliver benefits economically and environmentally to

ireland. the move to a circular economy, replacing outdated industrial

take-make-consume and dispose models, is essential if we are to make

better use of our resources and become more resource efficient. the

waste sector has the potential to play a leading role in the development of

the circular economy in ireland, and we must ensure that the policy

environment supports the investment required.

What actions do we need to take?ireland needs to develop additional waste treatment facilities, including

further biological treatment, reprocessing and recovery capacity, to

ensure that the necessary indigenous infrastructure is in place to deliver

the waste management plans and provide for sustainable final treatment

of our wastes. we also need to ensure resilience and contingency in the

sector, so that unforeseen waste events can be managed safely. these

developments will support the policy shift necessary to ensure that waste

is treated as a valuable resource rather than as a burden on our economy.

WASTE



OVERALL GRADE

12-MONTHn Continue the roll-out of the organic wastecollection system to households and businesses,supporting the national transition topay-by-weight charging

n Compile and publish a live register of wastetreatment facilities to support the roll-out offuture investment

n Identify weaknesses in the current policyenvironment, such as ineffective economicinstruments, which are not supportinginvestment in new infrastructure, andcommunicate the findings to policy makers

FIVE-YEARn Ensure that the necessary policy environmentand infrastructure is put in place to deliver theprevention and recycling targets as set out in theregional waste management plans

n Prioritise the development of indigenous wastetreatment facilities including anaerobic digestionand biological treatment capacity, soil recoverycapacity, mechanical processing capacity andadditional thermal recovery capacity

n Review the need for contingency landfill capacityas a national backstop to prevent seriouswaste-related events that threaten the health ofcitizens and our environment


C

The waste management sector has a key role to play in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy but a strong nationalpolicy framework is required to deliver national targets and support market practitioners to continue to invest in thecollection and treatment infrastructure needed.

Engineers Ireland22 clyde roadBallsbridgedublin 4.tel: 00 353 1 665 1300 fax: 00 353 1 668 5508www.engineersireland.ie ThinkMedia.ie

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