Identifying the challenges to position Ireland to a leading innovator in smart grids / renewable energy Innovation from good idea to commercial reality

2Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd  What is a smart grid?  What does it involve and what is required to make it work? Is it confined to the Grid?  What makes countries good at innovation ?  How does policy effect innovation and how to create the right environment  Technology is the easy bit, getting it to deliver what is needed in the right environment is the difficult bit.  50 years ago next year a decision was made to allow innovation take place in the US, that happened on the back of policy.  The need to identify and set challenges  How to meet the challenge ?

3Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd  Vision Big problem needs a big leader to deliver the vision.  Willingness for the state and semi state companies to embrace and support this vision. Ease of implementing new technology?  People and customers ie a community ! Customers are either “informed and engaged” or “uninformed and disengaged”  Willingness and joined up thinking of the organizations to deliver this vision.  Willingness to make the community a green leader to promote green energy and sustainability “ Innovation and engineering“ Required to meet the challenge

4Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd What can “old-fashioned” Innovation and Engineering contribute to it ?  Testing new generation technology, why does ireland not manufacture equipment for the grid or renewable energy sector?  Ensuring on a small scale that what we build today will deliver what we require in the future In finding solutions to these constraints, we need to consider whether we are addressing the needs of  each generator individually of the needs of the cluster as a whole.  Brings people together from different backrounds to solve problems including communications, controls, planners, utilities and venture monies.  Job Creation  Product and export opportuntity for Irish business  R&D must change to being a bottom up approach rather than a top down

5Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd What can Ireland offer in the smart grid area  Ireland has very valuable unique advantages as a perfect test validation and demonstration location  It has an island Grid with limited interconnectivity coupled with highly variable wind and hydro inputs throughout the seasons.  We have the opportunity to invite world leading technology developers and providers to base their leading edge smart grid demos in Ireland  ESB Through Networks offers a new 20kv network with a strong International credibility  Large consumers that want to participate in smart being part of efficient energy usage

6Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd SMART GRIDS THE CHALLENGES  1: REGULATORY CHALLENGES  2: END USERS  3: POLICY / VISION JOINED UP THINKING IE 1 OWNER  4: STIMULATE INNOVATION AND CULTURE CHANGE TO BRING ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY TO ALLOW UTILITIES REDUCE THEIR COSTS AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT INDUSTRY.

7Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd DON’T KNOW, DON’T CARE … WHATS GOING ON: -Malicious Media ? -Ignorant Public ? - Manipulation by vested interests?...OR LACK OF WISDOM BY THE SECTOR

8Oisin McCann, Enersol BMCC Energy Ltd How does Ireland become a leader in to meet the challenge ? What is required to Position Ireland as a Leading innovator in Embedded Generation and Smart Technology THANK YOU