Ireland’s electricity network is potentially facing a challenging number of years, due to expected increased demands on its power grid.
An analysis of demand by EirGrid over ten years reveals it’s forecast to increase by 45 per cent between 2023 and 2034.
Peak demand is forecast to increase by 24 per cent by 2034, compared with 2023 levels.
Ireland recorded a new peak demand of 6,024 MW on 8 January this year, the first time that peak electricity demand passed the 6,000 MW mark. Demand first passed the 5,000 MW mark during the extreme cold snap of December 2010. By 2034, EirGrid’s analysis shows that it will be above the 7,000 MW mark.
EirGrid’s analysis shows that further new electricity generation will be required to secure the transition to high levels of renewable electricity over the coming decades.
It also shows that towards the end of the decade, electricity demand from electric vehicles is expected to grow significantly. Similarly, the residential sector is expected to account for the majority of electrified heating demand through the installation of heat pumps.
Its says the delivery of the new Celtic Interconnector, which will connect the electricity transmission systems of Ireland and France, along with new gas capacity, improves the outlook for the period of 2027 to 2028.
