1. Renewables Integration Development Project North West of the Island of Ireland Louis Fisher, EirGrid

2. RIDP Project Joint Project between EirGrid, NIE and SONI Common costs shared equally Part funded by EU Objective of project is to –determine options for transmission reinforcements in the study area to meet demand and provide access to renewable generation; –to determine feasibilities and costs of options; –to bring elements of preferred scheme through public planning.

3. Republic of Ireland Context Government 40% target for renewables 4,000 MW of wind generation in Gate 3 Grid25 sets out strategy for development –2,300 km uprating of existing circuits –1,150 km new build Identified primary corridors for reinforcement Major studies ongoing in each region to whittle down the myriad of options to preferred solutions

4. Renewable Generation in Donegal ARDNAGAPPARY 105 97 85 99 47 61 132 15 2 TIEVEBRACK Connected + Contracted + Gate 3 642 MW +29 +26 +36 +73 +76 +33 +16 + In queue 930 MW

5. Northern Ireland Context NI Strategic Energy Framework – consultation on 40% renewables target (2020) SEA starting in Oct 2009 Wind Farm Status (Sept 2009) MW Connected297 Contracted140 Applications / Live Offers148 Total “Committed”585 Seeking Planning Permission961 Total1,546

7. Northern Ireland Renewables ARDNAGAPPARY 15 MW 72 MW 50 MW 195 MW 105 MW 11 MW 24 MW 44 MW 13 MW 22 MW 47 MW 54 MW 70 MW 230 MW 49 MW 94 MW 56 MW 217 MW 150 MW 250 MW 32 MW TIEVEBRACK

8. Renewable Generation in the RIDP Study Area ARDNAGAPPARY 105 MW 97 MW 85 MW 99 MW 47 MW 61 MW 15 MW 72 MW 50 MW 195 MW 105 MW 11 MW 24 MW 44 MW 13 MW 22 MW 47 MW 54 MW 70 MW 230 MW 49 MW 94 MW 56 MW 217 MW 132 MW 150 MW 250 MW 15 MW 2 MW TIEVEBRACK 642 MW 954 MW 792 MW 32 MW Connected Contracted Gate 3 2,388 MW TOTAL

9. Project Plan 2008 2009201020112012 Project Setup Phase 1 Screening Studies Phase 2: Detailed Technical Studies Phase 3: Feasibility and Cost Studies Phase 4: Planning Preparations Communications / Stakeholder Consultation Peer Review Progress to Build What options are reasonable to study? Technical performance studies Stakeholder impacts assessments Preferred option(s) and EIS / planning approval

10. Progress to Planning Permission Wide Range of Possible Options (all must be adequately assessed) Smaller Range of Options Single Option Environmental Assessment Detailed Techno- Economic Modelling Detailed Technical & Environmental Analysis of Alternatives Statutory Consultation on Alternative Routes Planning Application Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement and Planning Submission Consultation Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

11. Progress to Date Peer Review An initial list of potential study options based on technical screening studies, peer reviewed A short list of scheme options, based on Development and expansion of Phase 1 options Technical and environmental studies and costs Option evaluation Peer Review

12. Areas of Development ARDNAGAPPARY 202 184 108 137 92 22 171 230 199 364 450 250 2 TIEVEBRACK 32

13. Next Steps Environmental assessments of schemes Consultation with stakeholder representatives Option ranking Reporting Technical designs Routing Preparation for Planning Submission

14. What are we doing to improve capacity in the interim period? Short term –Maximising the capacity to transmit wind power on the existing system –Uprating with a combination of conductors and pole height increases Medium term –In Northern Ireland, NIE is progressing a new 110 kV circuit from near to Dungannon to Omagh via new wind farms –In Donegal, final RIDP schemes are required to provide the necessary additional capacity

15. Conclusion Very high levels of renewable generation in Donegal and Northern Ireland requiring significant network reinforcements RIDP will optimise grid development in this region Project entering critical “public” stage Delivery will require significant industry, regulatory and political support