The STaTe of Ireland 2016
Transcription
The STaTe of Ireland 2016
A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd The STaTe of Ireland 2016 a revIew of InfraSTrucTure In Ireland www.engineersireland.ie www.engIneerSIreland.Ie 1 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 2 engIneerS Ireland with over 23,000 members from every discipline of engineering, engineers Ireland is the voice of the engineering profession in Ireland. we have been representing the engineering profession since 1835, making us one of the oldest and largest professional bodies in Ireland. our members represent every discipline of engineering, and range from engineering students to fellows of the profession. our responsibilities are to: ■ promote knowledge of engineering ■ establish and maintain standards of professional engineering and engineering education ■ provide opportunities for continuing professional development (cPd) for engineers ■ maintain standards of professional ethics and conduct ■ ensure that professional titles are granted to qualified candidates, and ■ act as the authoritative voice of the engineering profession in Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd DIRECTOR GENERAL’S FOREWORD The sixth in an annual series of independent reports on Ireland’s infrastructure, ‘The State of Ireland 2016’ is a timely intervention in the conversation about Ireland’s future. After more than six years of recession, we have arrived at a period of infrastructure networks. in 2016, we have taken a different approach and sustained, though fragile, growth. According to the european developed a new methodology for assessment. the main body of the commission country report for ireland (february 2016), the strong report focuses primarily on the energy sector, with short updates on the rebound of the irish economy has broadened and gained further other four areas of communications, transport, waste and water. these momentum. legacy issues nevertheless persist, and the commission other areas will be focussed on in depth in future state of ireland reports. identifies infrastructure needs as one of our key remaining challenges. 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 Infrastructure for prosperity nation, security of supply is paramount to ensure the health and if ireland is to prosper, infrastructural development will be an essential well-being of our citizens. As a member of the european union and the contributory factor. High-quality infrastructure is an important element of global community, our commitments under the eu renewable energy a modern society and economy. it strengthens economic growth through directive and coP21 mean that we have to develop a more efficient and enhancing efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. it also underpins sustainable energy system, moving away from fossil fuels and greenhouse social cohesion through providing vital facilities for citizens. engineers gas (GHG) emissions. this type of shift to renewable fuels requires ireland firmly believes that our public investment programme must investment in new technologies and infrastructure to support the increase significantly if we are to meet increased demands for a modern transition from a high-carbon, fuel import economy to one that is carbon european public infrastructure. the current capital Plan ‘Building on free and practically self-sufficient. this transition period will require recovery’ (Bor) (2015), which presents the Government’s commitment to leadership and long-term planning to develop and build the infrastructure exchequer investment of €27 billion over the six-year period 2016-2021, required. courageous decisions will have to be made now to ensure that falls short of addressing the gap. we strongly urge the new Government to future generations enjoy a carbon-free society by 2100. these decisions initiate the mid-term review provided for in Bor, and commit to increased will have to be supported by the public and a transition of this nature is funding that is both adequate to meet the investment level required and heavily dependent on their engagement. provides certainty to the public, investors and industry. importantly, any increased investment must be the result of an evidence-based discussion Expert opinion about long-term planning. infrastructure policy, planning and the energy section of this report has received input from a large group of decision-making are inexorably linked to the political process because of experienced engineers, working in organisations that specialise in energy the use of public funds. Political leadership is therefore required in infrastructure. the consolidation of their opinions into this report over a determining what kind of future societal and economic model we wish to series of round table discussions is designed to inform those who make have, where we allocate resources and how we build consensus to support policy and capital investment decisions about infrastructure in ireland, decision-making for the long term. Addressing a round table discussion including permanent members of Government as well as private investors. with industry leaders and senior policy makers, hosted by engineers we hope that the report gives rise to debate on the future development of ireland earlier this year, institution of civil engineers (ice) President sir ireland’s infrastructure and that attention is paid to the recommended John Armitt described a similar challenge faced in the uK, which led to the actions, which we believe are essential to the continued growth of the irish establishment of the national infrastructure commission – an economy and to achieving our renewable energy, GHG and energy independent body whose remit is long-term strategic decision-making to efficiency targets. build effective and efficient infrastructure for the uK. 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 Single entity needed has resulted in an informed document, which comments on policy that engineers ireland has advocated for the establishment of a single entity affects us all. 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 Caroline Spillane Director General engIneerS Ireland 3 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY this report looks at five key areas of infrastructure – enlighten and empower the energy communications, energy, transport, water and waste. our citizen, are necessary. engineering experts assign grades based on the current the introduction of res in status of key infrastructure and its ability to meet electricity generation has future demand. A number of action progressed well through the items for the short and medium public service obligation term are also recommended. (Pso) and other financial in 2016, energy infrastructure has incentives for developers. been examined in greater detail, technological advances and the given the recent publication of the development of additional res to department of communications, generate electricity will all contribute climate change and natural to the successful achievement of the resources (dcccnr) energy white target (res-e). Paper and the approaching deadline of Government leadership is required to 2020, the limit for achieving the first drive through the changes required set of renewable energy source (res), in the heating/cooling (thermal) and energy efficiency and carbon transport sectors. emission targets. Policy makers should learn from tools like the rest of europe, ireland such as the Pso and incentive schemes is obliged under the eu like refit, which were successfully used renewable energy directive to to introduce renewable energy into achieve certain targets and electricity generation and apply these to contribute to the global move towards a sustainable energy assist with accelerating efforts to reach the res-H and res-t targets. supply that is secure and affordable. failure to achieve these Policy action targets could result in significant fines Policy changes for specific technological actions that result in the from the eu. introduction of more sources of res infrastructure are required, ireland is on track to achieve the national res for electricity including building anaerobic digestion plants to generate biogas, as generation target (res-e). However, ireland needs to accelerate its well as deep retrofits of domestic, commercial and public buildings efforts, as based on its current trajectory it is not likely to reach the to reduce energy demand and decrease the amount of renewables res targets for heating/cooling (thermal) (res-H) and transport required to achieve the 2020 target and beyond. (res-t). the knock-on effect is not achieving the overall res. ireland’s private car fleet makes the biggest contribution to co2 similarly, the energy efficiency and carbon emission goals are likely emissions, and should be tackled as a priority, given that it is almost to be missed. all fossil fuel burning, with only a small portion of electric vehicles (evs) in private ownership. improvements in technology, financial Renewable energy incentives and changes in attitude towards electric cars are all ireland’s energy efficiency performance is inadequate and a required to ensure the shift that is required in the majority mindset. significant change in how we consider and measure energy our research capabilities are vibrant and diverse and should remain efficiency is required to ensure that it becomes part of long-term so, with particular focus on developing technologies that exploit the infrastructure planning in the future. A new approach to planning in natural resources we have on our doorstep. ireland is required and a non-departmental independent body All of our efforts must be supported by adequate legislation, which should be established to look at strategic infrastructure. allows for infrastructure planning and development that ensures the ireland’s citizens have a huge role to play in ensuring that ireland delivery of large infrastructure projects. successfully achieves all of the targets. changes in behaviour with regard to how we use energy, and more accepting attitudes towards Other areas new technologies, will be required. Adult and school-based shorter updates on communications, transport, water and waste education programmes, and stakeholder awareness campaigns to infrastructure are contained at the back of this report. 4 engIneerS Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd ENERGY ADVISORY GROUP ■ John Ahern, Managing director, indaver ■ Paul Hickey, Manager, systems and sustainability, esB networks ■ Dermot Byrne, vice President, engineers ireland (deputy chairman) ■ Fionnuala Kilbane, editor, 53ten technical communications ■ Kelley Cousins, Marketing and communications, ■ Dónal Kissane, chairman, energy and environment division engineers ireland (Gas networks ireland) ■ Geraldine Ann Cusack, senior Business specialist, energy ■ Eoghan Lynch, Group leader ireland, Arup and environment, siemens ■ Cormac Madden, regulation and strategy, esB ■ Prof. Tony Day, executive director, international energy ■ Terry Nolan, energy consultant research centre ■ Colm O’Mahony, energy sector Head, PM Group ■ Dr Paul Deane, senior researcher, energy Policy and ■ Paul O’Reilly, Partner, ors Modelling Group, ucc ■ Damien Owens, registrar, engineers ireland ■ Tom Egan, Head of PowerGen, Bórd na Móna ■ Tina Raleigh, director, energy Projects, fehily timoney & co. ■ Dr Kieran Feighan, vice President, engineers ireland (chairman) ■ John Ringwood, director, centre for ocean energy research, ■ John Fitzgerald, director, Grid development and interconnection, eirGrid nui Maynooth ■ PJ Rudden, Group Business director ireland and uK infrastructure, rPs Group ■ Paddy Hayes, executive director, Generation and wholesale Markets, esB ■ Henry Smyth, Head of economic regulation and technical, ■ Brendan Heneghan, interim ceo, irish wind energy Association ervia (iweA) ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS BEF – BOS CCS CER – – – CFRAM – CHP – CNG – CO2 – DCCCNR – EV – better energy financing scheme biofuels obligation scheme carbon capture and storage commission for energy regulation catchment flood risk assessment and management combined heat and power compressed natural gas carbon dioxide department of communications, climate change and natural resources electric vehicle FiT GHG PAYS PSO – – – – PV REFIT – – RES RES-E – – RES-H – RES-T – feed-in tariff greenhouse gas pay-as-you-save scheme public service obligation levy photovoltaic renewable energy feed in tariff renewable energy sources renewable energy sources contribution to electricity generation renewable energy sources contribution to heating/cooling energy renewable energy sources contribution to transport energy RHI SEAI – – renewable heat incentive sustainable energy Authority of ireland tCO2 – 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. engIneerS Ireland 5 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 SUMMARY OF KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 2016 ENERGY C 12-month ■ continue to diversify ireland’s electricity fuel generation mix and ■ 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 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 ■ 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 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, ■ 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 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 systems ■ the Government should lead by example, with ministers encouraged to replace their existing fossil fuel-powered cars with hybrids or electric vehicles (evs) distribution system ■ encourage industrial locations that are off the natural gas network to implement biomass solutions for their thermal (heating/cooling) ■ 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 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 Five-year ■ continue to build out the necessary charging infrastructure to keep ■ 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 pace with ev adoption ■ ensure that public transport is more accountable in delivering the res-t and carbon emission targets GrAdinG systeM Analysis of key areas of infrastructure includes a straightforward grading system. Engineers Ireland has assessed each area of infrastructure using the following grades: GrAdinG scAle A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 51-69% E = 50% or lower 6 engIneerS Ireland ABCDE Well maintained, in good condition, appropriate capacity and planning for future development Acceptable standard, properly maintained, able to meet demand, though investment needed in the next five years Inadequately maintained, and/or unable to meet peak demand, and requiring significant investment Below standard, poorly maintained, frequent inability to meet capacity and requiring immediate investment to avoid adverse impact on national economy Unacceptable condition, insufficient capacity, and already impacting on the national economy A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd COMMUNICATIONS B Five-year ■ Place an immediate focus on eliminating current boil water 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 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 ■ continue to reduce service costs when rates and speeds are not equal in rural/urban areas Five-year FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY ■ 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 C 12-month ■ continue to engage with local communities to develop specific measures for each regional area ■ continue to research and develop the network in anticipation of 5G services impacted by flooding ■ complete the flood risk management plans, setting out the long-term strategy for flood risk management TRANSPORT ■ complete the second cycle of river basin management plans 12-month C ■ 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 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 ■ continue to invest in improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, in particular in the major cities WASTE Five-year 12-month ■ Accelerate the prioritisation of investment in infrastructure projects to increase ireland’s competitiveness and address the unemployment challenge C ■ continue the roll-out of the organic waste supporting the national transition to pay-by-weight charging ■ Progress the planning process for port redevelopments in cork and Galway collection system to households and businesses, ■ compile and publish a live register of waste treatment facilities to ■ 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 support the roll-out of future investment ■ identify weaknesses in the current policy environment, such as ineffective economic instruments, which are not supporting and reliable network of public transport services in our cities, investment in new infrastructure, and communicate the findings to including integrating fare structures across bus and rail modes policy makers Five-year WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER D ■ ensure that the necessary policy environment and 12-month infrastructure is put in place to deliver the prevention and ■ ensure that ireland preserves a public water recycling targets as set out in the regional waste management 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 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 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 ENERGY OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH C SECTOR GRADE Energy efficiency: D Electricity (RES-E): B Heating/cooling (RES-H): C Transport (RES-T): C ■ 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 8 engIneerS Ireland ■ 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 A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd Sustainability – The provision of energy that meets current The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is a market-based demands without compromising the future in terms of energy approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for achieving reductions in the emissions of pollutants. The EU security and long-term damage to the environment. ETS covers more than 11,000 factories, power stations and other installations with a heat excess of 20MW in 31 countries, which Ireland’s economy is dependent on a sustainable energy were responsible for some 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) infrastructure that meets our future needs. the Government’s emissions in 2008. Non-ETS sectors are domestic, small business energy white Paper ‘ireland’s transition to a low carbon energy or small industry, transport, agriculture and waste. 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. reducing energy demand by 20% of the historic average energy used in this section of the report, we examine the electricity, heating during the period 2000-2005, as well as reducing carbon emissions and transport energy sectors. from sectors that are outside the eu ets (non-ets emissions) by 20% we assess their current status in light of the eu energy efficiency, compared to 2005 levels. renewable energy and carbon emission targets, plus the national with ireland’s population projected to grow by 10% to 5,247,000 by and global move towards decarbonisation. in addition, we 2030, there is a real possibility that energy needs will increase in recommend particular actions to ensure ireland’s continued parallel with our commitment to reduce carbon emissions based on journey to a low fossil fuel economy. national and eu targets. ireland has a number of targets to achieve as set out in the eu However, there may be opportunities for ireland too. ireland’s current renewable energy directive (2009/28/ec), which states that a total energy policy, laid out in the dcccnr energy white Paper published of 16% of the country’s total energy consumption must come from in december 2015, seeks to achieve the optimum benefits at the renewable energy sources (res) by 2020. in order to achieve the lowest cost, and to realise economic opportunities where these 16% overall target, the Government set a national renewable energy opportunities present themselves. electricity target of 40% (res-e) and a national renewable energy the sustainable energy Authority of ireland (seAi) has previously heat target of 12% (res-H), alongside a mandatory eu renewable reported that there is an estimated market of €300 billion per year for energy modes of transport target (res-t) of 10% specified in the sustainable energy technologies and services internationally. directive. similarly in northern ireland, the department of ireland has established a positive reputation as a global testing enterprise, trade and investment (deti) published the strategic ground for prototype renewable technologies, for example. continued energy framework (sef) in september 2010, which also sets out a research and development in, and deployment of green technologies, 40% res electricity target to be reached by 2020. Given the could assure the country’s place as a leader in this field. all-island electricity market, it makes obvious sense to work the seAi energy consumption statistics for 2014 indicate that together to accomplish a shared objective. An analysis carried out despite our economy growing by 5.2%, primary energy demand fell by the department of communications, climate change and natural in 2013 by 0.5% and energy-related co2 emissions decreased by resources (dcccnr) indicates that a shortfall in the overall res of 1.2%, indicating that energy efficiency and renewable electricity between 1% and 4% could result in a one-off cost to the exchequer policies are having a measurable impact. this is further underlined of €140m to €600m. by the decrease in the consumption of all fuels in 2014 with the simultaneously, ireland must also increase its energy efficiency by exception of peat, renewables and non-renewable wastes. However, 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% Source: DCCCNR, Energy White Paper/SEAI/EPA engIneerS Ireland 9 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 both the environmental Protection Agency (ePA) and the seAi have indicated by its fuel import dependency, which has increased since indicated in recent reports that ireland is likely to miss out on the 1990 and only decreased slightly in 2014. ireland currently imports overall 2020 renewable energy target (res overall) of 16% due to lack 90% of its gas and generates almost half of its electricity from gas. of progress introducing renewable energy into the heat and transport the corrib gas field is strategically important to ireland from an sectors, which may result in compliance costs within the eu. energy security of supply perspective because at peak production, similarly, the emissions targets will be missed as a result of both of corrib has the capacity to deliver more than 60% of ireland’s gas these combined with the impact of the agricultural sector. the good needs. news is that similar expert indications would suggest that ireland is ireland is caught in its own energy trilemma of sustainability, likely to achieve if not exceed the national renewable electricity target security of supply and affordability. the publication of the dcccnr of 40% (res-e), demonstrating that with the right incentives and energy white Paper has put the focus of energy policy firmly on the focus, the shift to renewable energy can be possible for all sectors. sustainability pillar, while ensuring that security and affordability ireland’s vulnerability in terms of security of supply is further are maintained. Ireland’s energy Trilemma world energy council, energy Trilemma Index – Ireland Overall World Index: Ireland is ranked 22 out of 130 countries, below Malaysia and above Singapore y rit ab ilit y Energy security – C cu ly pp su Su of sta in Indigenous energy sources Se Environmentally sound Affordability Economically viable 10 engIneerS Ireland Environmental sustainability –A Energy equity –B A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd ENERGY EFFICIENCY energy efficiency target and Ireland’s current position: National: Target is 20% Public bodies: Target is 33% Distance to target 16% Distance to target 11-12% 8-9% achieved 2005 17% achieved 2020 2016 (Source: SEAI) 2005 2020 2016 Target Target As europe moves to implement the Paris climate Agreement, efficiency is that ireland can reduce its volume of fuel imports and two-thirds of its low-carbon energy infrastructure investment to consequently slow down the rate at which domestic fossil fuel 2040 will need to be in energy efficiency. this implies an eightfold energy resources are depleted. while fossil fuels will eventually be increase in current levels of investment. the european phased out, during this transition period towards a zero-carbon commission’s Heating and cooling strategy has started to set out future, ireland will have to take a pragmatic approach when it the links between energy efficiency and the wider energy comes to leveraging our natural carbon-based resources, such as infrastructure system. the energy union strategy has called for a natural gas. fundamental rethinking of energy efficiency, to treat it as an energy without a major rethink, we risk the ability to meet our climate and How would you rate Ireland’s energy efficiency performance: D energy targets in 2020 and beyond, if we fail to properly grasp the ireland’s energy efficiency infrastructure, which can be defined as nature of the challenge. capital stock – residences, manufacturing plants, public and in future, energy efficiency needs to be redefined as a core part of commercial buildings, our electricity generation fuel mix and our ireland’s energy infrastructure, and there needs to be more explicit transport fleet – is currently unable to meet the demands of the integration. treating energy efficiency as infrastructure and energy efficiency targets and requires significant investment to reach integrating it into wider national infrastructure planning means that an adequate standard. energy efficiencies can be achieved from the supply side investment needs will fall as projected demand falls, point of energy generation right through to the final use in a domestic thus reducing the risk of asset stranding and reducing costs to dwelling, public building or industrial premises. similarly, electric society. energy efficiency fulfils the definition of infrastructure used vehicles (evs) charged using renewable power are more energy by the international Monetary fund and other economic institutions. efficient than those powered by traditional fuels. like traditionally recognised infrastructure, energy efficiency is reducing the demand for energy by conserving it will quite simply long-lasting capital stock, provides inputs to a wide range of goods reduce the amount of energy used, but this requires significant and services, and frees up capacity elsewhere in the economy. investment in energy efficiency at the point of use, as well as the three energy targets of improved efficiency, increased continued education about energy usage. renewable fuel sources in final consumption and a reduction in the residential sector in ireland consists of an estimated 1.7 million carbon emissions are interlinked and mutually dependent. homes and in 2014 accounted for the largest share of final thermal According to the international energy Agency, improved energy energy usage with 44%, even greater than industry at 35%. in the past efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could seven years, some 300,000 homes (17.5%) have been retrofitted to reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one-third and help to become more energy efficient. the seAi suggests that an estimated control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. conversely, if ireland fails €35 billion over 35 years will be required to make the remainder of to reduce its energy demand, more renewable energy will be the existing housing stock low carbon by 2050 at an average cost of required to meet the 2020 targets. An additional benefit of energy €20,000 per retrofit. source in its own right, representing the value of energy saved. engIneerS Ireland 11 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 industry management is starting to realise that this is to be commended as it was achieved during there are increased savings to be made when what was a difficult time for many public energy efficiencies are introduced to bodies, there needs to be an acceleration of offices and manufacturing processes. activity in the next four years if the public 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 sector is to contribute as planned to the A culture change in how we approach long-term planning and infrastructure is undoubtedly required. important role to play in continuing to 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 educate both businesses and consumers 2050. However, the organisation is somewhat on their responsibilities with regard to concerned at the lack of a robust balancing their demand for energy and implementation plan with clear targets and adapting energy efficiency measures if ireland’s milestones, supported by the appropriate enabling future generations are to benefit from a carbon-free society. policies and with an effective governance framework. the example of though transport primary energy use fell by 28% between 2007 having such an implementation framework can be seen through the and 2013, transport accounts for 34% of primary energy successful delivery of over 2,000Mw of renewable generation and the requirement in ireland. with 56% of all transport energy delivery of the east–west interconnector under the auspices of the consisting of diesel and just 0.06% of passenger cars being 2007 energy white Paper. we need a similar approach to deliver the plug-in evs, ireland’s transport sector could not be described as key projects identified across all energy sectors – electricity, energy efficient. heating/cooling and transport – and a step change in our attitude towards how we think about energy efficiency infrastructure. What does the future hold? it is clear that the responsibility for achieving the eu mandatory ireland is just below halfway (8-9%) to its eu mandatory 2020 targets falls across many Government departments, whereas an energy efficiency target of 20%, even though Government- integrated approach is necessary, with leadership at cabinet level. A supported policy initiatives were introduced to save households’ culture change in how we approach long-term planning and and businesses’ fuel costs. while policies are in place to infrastructure is undoubtedly required. encourage greater energy efficiency, it is clear that accelerated we can learn from other jurisdictions, such as the uK, which has action will be necessary to further this progress if ireland is to established the national infrastructure commission (nic). the successfully reach its obligations under the eu renewable energy commission was set up on an interim basis in 2015 and looked at the directive. the energy white Paper references the active energy uK’s future needs for nationally significant infrastructure, taking a citizen and it is imperative that our citizens are engaged in the long-term approach to the major investment decisions facing the energy transition ahead and fully support it. country. the aim of the nic is to enable long-term strategic while there are serious changes and disruption to come, decision-making to build effective and efficient infrastructure for the individuals need to learn about how these new technologies can uK, and it is to be established by legislation as a non-departmental enhance their lives and provide them with opportunities for cost independent body. this type of structure allows it to operate savings. independently of Government yet still remaining accountable to the An education programme designed to engage the active citizen or treasury for its performance and allocation of public funds. create more energy citizens needs to be implemented over many More specifically, if we accept that we need to invest in energy years as the transition will take generations to take effect in efficiency infrastructure, a deep retrofit of ireland’s domestic changing attitudes and behaviours. dwellings and public buildings should be undertaken to reduce smart metering also has a role to play in ireland’s successful energy demand and increase energy efficiency. the deployment of implementation of energy efficiency strategies, as information energy efficiency retrofits for domestic, commercial and public coupled with technology is a key enabler of energy management. buildings provides an important pathway for increasing energy the ‘internet of things’ (iot), big data and real-time information security, decreasing energy demand, reducing GHG emissions, and all provide opportunities to engage the active energy citizen in reducing demand for new energy production and distribution controlling their energy consumption and encouraging them to facilities. contribute to ireland’s climate change strategy. A dedicated long-term resource needs to be allocated to educating the public sector has an even more ambitious energy efficiency citizens about their energy responsibilities, including specific target of 33% to reach by 2020. in the 2015 analysis, a 17% programmes aimed at the adult generation and a new programme improvement in energy consumption had been achieved. while developed for the primary and secondary school curriculums. 12 engIneerS Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd ELECTRICITY (RES-E) reS-e target and Ireland’s current position: National renewable: Target is 16% RES-E contribution: Target is 40% Distance to target 17.3% Distance to target 7.4% 8.6% achieved 22.7% achieved 2020 2016 2005 2005 2020 2016 Target Target (Source: SEAI) electricity is vital to virtually every aspect of people’s lives and to distances. Power then flows into the distribution system, which is the economy. today’s society is very heavily reliant on ‘smart’ used to bring power to customers’ premises. tools that manage everything from traffic signals to home eirGrid is responsible for the operation and development of the heating. there would be a massive impact on the running of the transmission system and also oversees the maintenance of the state and private enterprise if the supply of continuous power is transmission network. in 2007 an all-island single electricity interrupted. technology requires power and there is a real need Market (seM) was established, which has unified the market to balance this growing demand with decarbonising the network between ireland and northern ireland. in 2009, eirGrid acquired and security of supply. system operator northern ireland (soni), which operates the infrastructure of wires and cables around the country can be northern ireland’s national grid, further solidifying the electricity divided into the distribution network and the transmission relationship between the two jurisdictions. network. Generators feed power into both the transmission and esB networks is the asset owner of both the distribution and distribution system, with larger units connecting at transmission transmission networks, and is responsible for the operation, level and smaller units connecting at distribution level. the maintenance and development of the electricity distribution transmission system is used to transport bulk power over long network in ireland. Irish electricity supply chain GENERATION Large fossil fuel generation TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION Transmission EirGrid Distribution ESB Networks SUPPLY Domestic customers Large and medium renewable and CHP generators Business/ commercial Microgeneration Competitive market Regulated monopoly Competitive market (Source: ESB) engIneerS Ireland 13 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 What is the current status of Ireland’s electricity generation, transmission and fuel mix: B Advancements in telecommunications and information technology while overall electricity in terms of achieving res-e is of an acceptable meet customers’ new requirements. driven by the move to renewable standard, properly maintained and able to meet demand, investment variable generation, the desire for customers to install local will be required over the next five years to ensure that ireland continues distributed generation, the requirement for storage and the have enabled the esB to develop the electricity network to operate to on its path to likely meet its res-e targets in 2020, with particular electrification of heat and transport, network management has emphasis on introducing more renewable fuels into the mix. changed profoundly in the last number of years. continued investment Affordability is perhaps the highest priority when it comes to has ensured that ireland’s electricity network is benchmarked electricity because of the importance of energy prices for internationally as among the most advanced in the world. competitiveness and growth, plus the risk of hardship to low-income it is fair to say that significant progress has been made on the households. decarbonisation of ireland’s fuel mix and ireland is likely to meets its electricity in ireland is generated from a number of different sources. 2020 res-e target of 40%. this is a result of a consistent policy the main fuel used to generate electricity is gas. However, through a approach ensuring investor confidence allied with incentives such as number of different schemes renewable electricity production is on the the Accelerated capital Allowance (AcA) tax to encourage companies increase and now represents almost a quarter of electricity generation, to invest in energy-efficient equipment, and encourage businesses to primarily through wind. ireland’s fuel mix means that ireland’s ability to introduce renewables into their energy consumption. this has led to a generate electricity is high when it comes to economic cost, security of demand from customers to have ‘green’ energy in their electricity supply and environmental impact. supply or to be assured that the products they consume have come the security of supply of ireland’s electricity is an imperative across the from sustainable sources. As a result, businesses are beginning to energy sector given the severe economic and social consequences that change their behaviours to incorporate renewable electricity into their would result from a high-impact, low-probability event such as a total business models. Apple’s proposed data centre in Athenry is based on interruption of electrical supply. the challenges for ireland’s electricity its ability to use 100% renewable energy. similarly, facebook has O recently announced that its new data centre in Meath and generation sector include a high dependence on gas and the increasing proportion of indigenous variable generation from renewables. headquarters in dublin will be powered by wind energy. corporate ireland’s electricity system has been bolstered in recent years, with thought leaders with the level of influence on the general public that the east–west interconnector that links to mainland Britain allowing Apple and facebook have can begin to influence the mindset of the for the import and export of power, thereby increasing competition average irish consumer. interestingly, a recent iweA/iPsos MrBi and facilitating renewables. Both the transmission and distribution survey revealed that when consumers were asked “whether they would networks have received significant investment in recent years to prefer to power their homes with fossil fuels or renewable energy, with ensure that they are system ready for the increasing number of both being a similar cost and level of service” that 86% chose renewables being introduced into the energy mix. eirGrid’s delivering renewables compared to 9% who opted for fossil fuels. this clearly a secure sustainable electricity system (ds3) programme is indicates that there is an appetite for change among energy citizens. underway to address the challenges of integrating renewable the Public service obligation (Pso) levy charged to all electricity generation onto our power system through innovation in technology customers has also played a huge role in incentivising investment in application in consultation with market participants. renewable generation. However, the increasing levels of renewables fuel mix in Ireland 2014 average fuel mix on a typical day in Ireland – april 22, 2016 Peat 10% Waste 0.5% Oil 0.1% Net import 8% Other renewable 0.7% Renewable hydro 2.7% Pumping 1% 26 TWh Wind 19% ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Gas 44% Consumption 99% Coal 15% (Source: EirGrid) 14 engIneerS Ireland (Source: EirGrid) Coal Gas Net import Other Renewables 23.50% 55.08% 0.00% 6.28% 15.14% A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd Edenderry Power Plant – an industry success story each year edenderry Power Plant generates enough electricity for sector than it is to utilise the biomass to displace diesel oil or the national grid to power the needs of above 150,000 households natural gas from the heating sector. across ireland. However, in addition to contributing to renewable originally designed as a peat-fired power station, edenderry Power energy and carbon emission reduction targets, the power plant is an Plant is currently the largest dispatchable renewable electricity important element in ireland’s energy infrastructure, not only in source on the island of ireland. it is a source of electricity that can terms of electricity generation, but also in terms of fuel security and be dispatched at the instant it is needed. the 118Mw power station the provision of system services, including reactive power, inertia utilises a modern fluidised bed boiler, which enables co-firing of and frequency control, which are crucial to the overall stability and peat with a wide range of biomass fuels without the need of a major safe operation of the power system as levels of intermittent capital investment into the boiler or the fuel handling system. renewable generation (wind) increase. co-fuelling of peat with biomass at the power plant commenced in displacement of carbon-intensive fuels in electricity production, 2008, at a relatively modest rate of 2%, increasing to just under 30% such as coal and peat, with biomass,* have been shown to lead to in 2014, with an aim of achieving a 37% co-firing rate in 2016. such a carbon savings of 1,200-1,450tco2, respectively, for every 1,000t of high co-fuelling rate will result in carbon savings of over biomass used, whereas displacement of fuels typical for the heating 350,000tco2. sector, such as natural gas and kerosene, lead to carbon saving of * Biomass is organic matter derived from living, or recently living, 600-850tco2, respectively, for every 1,000t of biomass used. from a organisms. Biomass can be used as a source of energy and it most carbon emissions savings point of view, it is more effective to utilise often refers to plants or plant-based materials, which are not used biomass to displace peat or coal from the electricity-generating for food or feed, and are specifically called lignocellulosic biomass. adopt a pragmatic approach to the electricity in the generation mix, supported by the refit generation fuel mix and continue to rely to a 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. 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. 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 despite being in a prime location for ocean will have to almost completely decarbonise the energy capture, ireland does not currently have electricity sector by 2050, with significant progress by any commercial-scale ocean, wave or tidal power feeding into the national grid. ireland has, however, established a certain extent on fossil fuels while actively 2030. positive reputation as a global testing ground for prototype renewable the seAi has clearly identified the need to accelerate our progress to technologies, and in the period beyond 2030 this could become a meet the 2020 carbon emissions and res-e targets. the deployment significant source of renewable energy. of more wind capacity per annum is certainly desirable to help us to achieve both these goals, alongside employing other clean energy What does the future hold? generation technology. indeed, the eirGrid capacity Generation while the electricity sector has made considerable advances, ireland statement 2016 states that there would need to be an average of needs to continue on the journey from an electricity generation fleet about 300Mw of extra wind energy capacity installed per year to 2020 primarily based on fossil fuels to one that will essentially be zero alone. carbon and should include renewables, biomass and, potentially, carbon capture and storage. in the longer term, as new and safer What actions do we need to take? nuclear technologies are developed, and as the nuclear waste issue is the decarbonisation of ireland’s electricity is happening gradually and satisfactorily resolved, this form of energy may need to be considered. inexorably, but the move away from the predominant use of fossil in the short to medium-term transition period, ireland will have to fuels in transport and heating energy will have a major impact on engIneerS Ireland 15 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 but less so in rural areas, where increased capacity can be A smart grid is an electricity network that can cost-efficiently accommodated without investment. landowner and customer integrate the behaviour and actions of all users connected to acceptance of the additional infrastructure which will be required to it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order move to a low-carbon society is also vital and is likely to need to ensure an economically efficient, sustainable power system considerable engagement. with low losses, high levels of quality, security of supply As indigenous renewables such as wind, solar and wave are variable and safety. and changeable, while tidal is variable but predictable, they will require new demand-side management and technology electricity generation and distribution in ireland. capital expenditure will be required to build the solutions, such as energy storage for both electrical and thermal power, as renewable generation 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 increases. Additional interconnection with 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. 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, 16 engIneerS Ireland 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 review of infrAstructure in irelAnd HEATING/COOLING (THERMAL) RES-H reS-h target and Ireland’s current position: National renewable: Target is 16% RES-H contribution: Target is 12% Distance to target 5.4% Distance to target 7.4% 8.6% achieved 2005 6.6% achieved 2016 (Source: SEAI) 2020 Target 2005 2016 2020 Target res-H refers to thermal energy that is used for space, process and water usage of our renewable generation resources and electricity network heating, cooling and also for cooking. the residential sector in ireland assets. accounts for the largest share of thermal energy usage at 44%, followed district heating is a goal of the new energy white Paper and is a proven by industry at 35%, services at 16% and agriculture at 4%. method of increasing energy efficiency. while it has been successfully implemented in many other european countries, it has not been deployed What is the current status of Ireland’s heating/cooling systems: C the vast majority of heating systems in ireland are domestic and powered by fossil fuels (gas, oil and solid fuels) compared to other economies that have developed renewable heating system technologies such as wood-burning boilers, air-source and geothermal ground-heat pumps or solar water heaters. ireland also has the added challenge of eradicating peat harvesting in rural areas, which is often viewed as a ‘free’ resource. renewable energy accounted for 6.6% of thermal demand in 2014 and is growing steadily, but not quickly enough to achieve the 2020 targets. oil is the dominant fuel, accounting for 41% of fuel inputs in 2014. with oil prices at an all-time low, this option of carbon-intensive, affordable heating/cooling is attractive. Persuading citizens and businesses alike to invest in capital improvements to replace their oil-burning infrastructure with new, energy-efficient, renewable fuel thermal alternatives will require large-scale financial incentives and education programmes from Government and its agencies. 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. What does the future hold? ireland’s dispersed rural population means that it is always going to be electrification of heat, particularly using heat pumps, is an often stated more difficult and expensive to install district heating systems that goal across europe. Heat pumps and thermal storage, coupled with smart operate effectively and efficiently in rural areas. grid and distributed generation, could have a very positive impact on According to the institute of international and european Affairs (iieA), an reducing energy demand. However, peak heat demand in winter can be estimated figure of €14 billion is required to bring the residential housing five to six times greater than peak electricity demand. rapid transition to stock up to an average Building energy rating (Ber) of c1, and for even high-performing heat pumps without management and control of Government targets to be met. specific technical measures include energy infrastructure and household demand could stress parts of the building insulation retrofits of wall, roof and floor insulation, existing network. further capital investment in the network and energy-efficient glazing and draught proofing alongside heating/cooling transmission systems will be required, and therefore impacts on the system replacements with heating controls, heat pumps or solar water long-term affordability of these solutions. conversely, if this transition is heating, energy-efficient lighting, and more efficient household managed appropriately, it could result in more efficient and cost-effective appliances and electronics. the technical improvements towards engIneerS Ireland 17 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 energy flow – Thermal uses 2014 % OF ENERGY FLOW % OF FINAL ENERGY USE 6.5% 44% Residential Oil 41.5% 35% Industry 16% Services 4% Agriculture 1% Lost in refining Renewables Natural gas 38% Coal 8% Peat 5% Wastes 1% (Source: SEAI) more energy-efficient and low-carbon renewable fuels need to be medium-term res-H targets. one recommendation is to electrify the coupled with behavioural measures that include reducing the target 900,000 homes that are not connected to the gas network, and which temperature by one degree celsius, such as turning off heating in use solid fuel or oil for heat. Priority should be given to electrifying unused rooms, turning off lights when not in use, installing a the heating systems in these homes through a funded Government low-flow shower head and air-drying rather than tumble-drying programme. not only would this immediately contribute to the clothes. small, targeted behavioural changes can all contribute to heating target, but it would also benefit the 20% carbon emissions increased energy efficiency and improved comfort levels for obligation if renewables are used in the electricity generation. householders as a deep retrofit will naturally lead to reduced energy However, this has to be done in conjunction with changes to how consumption. we have seen recent tv ads encouraging householders electric domestic emissions are treated in the Building regulations to to switch off and save. facilitate adoption of all available electric heating solutions. while However, uptake of energy efficiency in the residential sector is likely noting that there have been very positive developments regarding the to be low without additional intervention. the seAi has identified a treatment of heat pumps in recent months, the Building regulations number of potential and existing interventions including regulation, continue to be a barrier to the adoption of electric storage heating for pay as you save (PAys), information campaigns and direct financial apartment dwellings. support. PAys is a type of residential retrofit financing scheme of the remaining 700,000 homes that are connected to the gas currently under consideration in ireland. A number of research network, 100% of these homes could be switched from natural gas to papers were produced examining the PAys concept, which formed a biogas with no need to change the gas distribution infrastructure. starting point for the Better energy financing (Bef) project. Bef is However, biogas is produced from anaerobic digestion and currently intended to overcome the financial barrier in the residential sector by there are only six plants in ireland, compared to 26 in northern providing accessible finance to householders in ireland. there is ireland. some of the reasons for the low level of plants in ireland currently an €800,000 capital budget set aside for a suite of project include a complex planning and licensing system, with eight different trials in 2016. essentially, the task of Bef is to identify the level of permissions required, grid connection costs, unattractive electricity cost at which energy efficiency becomes acceptable to a critical mass tariffs, financing issues and uncertainty in waste policy. this is an of the population, and then identify the nature, and extent, of the area that has the potential to grow, with the help of policy subsidy required to make that level of cost available. development and financial incentives to support the industry. it is estimated that just replacing 20% of natural gas with biogas could What actions do we need to take? allow 100% of domestic customers and up to 15% of industrial and radical changes are needed to the vast majority of ireland’s thermal commercial customers to operate on biogas, contributing to the technology, which must include switching households to a fuel source res-H target. that requires a total retrofit of their heating system. the role of Bef is As well as supporting ireland’s achievement of its renewable targets, critical to the success of this switch to ensure that the final solution is development of anaerobic digestion plants assists with the affordable for the householder when it is combined with energy implementation of ireland’s waste policy. efficiency measures. Power-to-gas is another option to replace 20% of natural gas A blend of gas and electricity is needed to meet the short to whereby surplus renewable electricity is converted into hydrogen gas 18 engIneerS Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd Astellas – an industry success story Astellas ireland ltd operates a modern pharmaceutical finishing forest resources in Kerry, supporting local jobs and helping to facility in Killorglin, co. Kerry, where it employs 350 people. the develop a wood supply market. other renewable projects saw the facility serves the worldwide market as the production base for the erection of an on-site wind turbine for electricity supply in 2012, formulation and packaging of anti-rejection drugs used in organ and the installation of a solar water heating system in 2014. transplant surgery. in december 2015, Astellas was generating 62% of all energy Astellas has a longstanding commitment to the energy agenda. required for the site through renewable energy. Joining the seAi’s energy Agreements programme in 2005, the site the on-site wind turbine generates 20% of the company’s has been certified to a variety of standards since 2007, with the electricity and the wood chip boiler supplies 95% of the company’s most recent one being the international standard for energy thermal needs. the installation of a biomass heating system has Management – iso 50001. Astellas places a high value on helped Astellas to secure major contracts from international sustainability and corporate social responsibility and as a result in clients that prioritise world-class environmental credentials in the 2010, the company began to examine alternatives to oil as the main companies they partner with. source of energy for the plant. Astellas used to burn 700,000 litres of oil annually for thermal Planning permission was approved for the installation of a new energy. By switching to a more energy-efficient thermal system, it 352m2 utilities building comprising a 1.6Mw biomass boiler and reduced co2 emissions by 92%, reduced overall manufacturing ancillary biomass fuel store, which came on stream in 2012. costs, secured the company’s sustainability and increased its Astellas sources its wood chip from predominantly local coillte competitiveness. by rapid response electrolysis and is subsequently injected into the incentivise businesses to recycle as much waste as possible. gas distribution network. ireland already owns a vast energy storage As ireland cannot meet its decarbonisation ambitions without tackling heating in the residential sector, a domestic rHi infrastructure in the form of its existing gas is a necessary part of the strategy to incentivise transmission and distribution pipeline. it is likely homeowners to undertake energy retrofit that the shift to renewable heating will have to projects. 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 the task of Bef is to identify for industrial locations that are off the natural gas network, the implementation the level of cost at which of biomass solutions, like those used by energy efficiency becomes Astellas in Killorglin, would assist with acceptable to a critical mass increasing energy efficiency, achieving the renewables target and reducing of the population, and then carbon emissions. identify the nature, and extent, the Government should provide of the subsidy required leadership on this and prioritise to make that level of sweeping changes in the public sector to cost available. support a consumer education programme, leading by example. ireland’s hospitals, which solar photovoltaic (Pv) electricity in Germany are among the most intensive energy users, account and spain. However, lessons need to be learned for around 500,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, about how incentives can skew the market and provide unsustainable market growth. it is important to set levels at and in 2014 were responsible for 21% of total energy consumption in moderate rates of return, with the guaranteed tariff reducing each the public sector. the 2020 target for hospitals is just less than half year. details around the rHi need to be put in place by the irish this at 11.8%, which means significant inroads will have to be made to Government as promised by 2016 for producers and consumers of achieve this in the next four years. renewable heat. Mandatory energy audits have been an essential driver in making the energy white Paper states that the proposed rHi should energy efficiency visible within the industrial sector. once energy incentivise the change to renewable heating for the equivalent of an becomes a visible cost to production, companies are prompted to additional 200 large industrial sites or 2,000 large services sector develop methodologies to reduce unnecessary or wasted energy by buildings or 300,000 residential dwellings between now and 2020 or optimising their processes. some combination of the three. As industry emits more co2 and is the requirements to undertake energy audits should be widened to more likely to realise the business benefits that can be made through incorporate small to medium-sized businesses as well as retail energy efficiency as well as switching to alternative fuels, then the centres, similar to those introduced in the public sector and for large focus should primarily be on business to lead the change. commercial enterprises under the eu energy efficiency regulations waste-to-energy would benefit from inclusion in the rHi to 2014. engIneerS Ireland 19 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 TRANSPORT (RES-T) reS-T target and Ireland’s current position: National renewable: Target is 16% RES-T contribution: Target is 10% Distance to target 4.8% Distance to target 7.4% 8.6% achieved 2005 5.2% achieved 2016 (Source: SEAI) 2020 Target 2005 2016 2020 Target ireland’s obligation under the eu renewable energy directive is to replace owners charge their cars at home overnight, thereby contributing to the transport fuel with 10% renewable energy by 2020. transport energy electricity demand profile, leading to more efficient use of the generation demand, which is responsible for a third of total energy use in ireland, assets. despite a €5,000 subsidy, low road tax rates and a vehicle grew by 4% in 2014. over half of all transport energy consists of diesel registration tax (vrt) exemption, there are only 1,700 evs registered in (56%) and currently biofuels account for only 3.1% of the fuel mix in ireland. this is 0.9% of the total car fleet. in norway, with a similar transport (or 5.2% when the weightings for double certificates are applied population to ireland but a sparser population spread per square in accordance with the directive). kilometre – 14 versus ireland’s 67 – the passenger car market share for What is the current status of Ireland’s transport energy infrastructure: C 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 road-based transport equates to 80.6% of all journeys, with private cars exists is at Gas networks ireland’s cork office where it has conducted making up the majority of that figure at 55.8%. there are about two million trials with Bus Éireann. private cars in ireland and it is the preferred mode of transport for the dublin Bus applied for funding from the national transport Authority in majority of irish people as 75% of all journeys are taken by car. this ratio 2014 to trial three hybrid fuel buses over a three-year period but the increases outside of dublin to 77% and drops in the city to 61%, with request was declined because no funds were available from the public transport and other sustainable modes used more in the capital. department of transport. Hybrids are considered ideal for stop-start res-t reached 5.2% in 2014 and this was mostly through the use of driving conditions in cities and, as well as fuel efficiencies through the use biofuels mixed with diesel and petrol. the ev charge point network of renewable energy, they can contribute to the overall reduction of co2 currently meets demand, with evidence to suggest that the majority of ev and noise in urban centres. plug-in electric passenger cars is 22%. compressed natural gas (cnG), Double certification 8% A fundamental aspect of the Biofuels obligation scheme (Bos) is that it is a certificate-based system in which a single Bos certificate represents one litre of biofuels. for sustainable biofuels produced from first-generation feed stocks, for example vegetable oil, sugar or starch, one certificate is awarded for each litre placed on the market. two Bos certificates per litre may be awarded for advanced biofuels, which are typically produced from wastes and residues. the obligated parties have relied on double certification to meet their biofuels obligations in previous years: in 2014, over 60% of the biofuels placed on the market received two Bos certificates per litre. the implication of counting advanced biofuels twice is that the volume of biofuels placed on the market is reduced (see graph). 7% 20 engIneerS Ireland 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0% 2010 2011 % Bio (by volume) Source: Byrne O’Cleirigh 2012 2013 % Bio (by certificate) 2014 2015 Obligation A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd The rise of electric cars By 2022 electric vehicles (evs) will cost the same as their internal combustion counterparts. that’s the point of lift-off for sales. Electric vehicles would account for 35% of all new vehicle sales. 500 million vehicles 400 300 200 100 0 2015 ‘16 ‘17 ‘18 ‘19 ‘20 ‘21 ‘22 ‘23 ‘24 ‘25 ‘26 ‘27 Sources: Data compiled by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Marklines ‘28 ‘29 ‘30 ‘31 ‘32 ‘33 ‘34 ‘35 ‘36 ■ Projected annual sales ‘37 ‘38 ‘39 ‘40 ■ cumulative sales What does the future hold? or produced from indigenous resources. However, it is clear that in the the use of biofuels mixed with petrol and diesel will continue to play a short to medium term, ireland will continue to rely on imported petroleum major part in reducing co2 emissions in the future. the current mix is 6% for much of our transport. the infrastructural capability to produce refined under the Biofuels obligation scheme (Bos) and is expected to increase to petroleum products on the island of ireland is of key importance in the 8% on January 1, 2017. However, the maximum realistic mix for petrol and context of the security of supply element of the trilemma as we transition diesel in ireland is unlikely to be above 10% and so the potential impact of towards a carbon-free society over the coming years. not having refinery this solution is limited in the longer term. evs have the potential to make a capability will effectively mean that in an oil supply crisis, ireland would be real impact over time, although uptake is slow and the Government’s reduced to sourcing our transport requirements in the refined product white Paper has revised the target for evs down from 10% of the total market and not the wider crude oil market. it is in this context that it is fleet (approximately 194,400 cars) by 2020 to just 50,000 or 2.5%. recommended that the infrastructural capability to produce refined the question of fees for evs to access public charging infrastructure is petroleum products to serve these needs be retained. currently under review by the commission for energy regulation (cer). fees could well prove a deterrent for those who already own this mode of What actions do we need to take? transport to remain with this type of vehicle and for new entrants to if the resolution of this target rests on achieving significant purchases of choose this as a future option despite grants on offer. the seAi’s research evs by irish citizens, then awareness, advocacy and influencing opinions into behaviour will prove significant in identifying the barriers to should be the primary focus for Government in the next four years. this consumers availing of clean electric technology for their transport needs. should also include soft incentives such as the use of bus corridors for A recent report by Bloomberg new energy finance looked at the evs, revisiting the registration tax and exploring other financial incentives. technology and concluded that as battery prices fell by 35% in 2015, they the affordability of the solution is also a factor, and with prices of evs set are on a trajectory to make unsubsidised evs as affordable as their fossil to fall to more competitive levels in the future, evs should form a bigger fuel counterparts in the next six years. Bloomberg predicts that by 2040, part of the fuel mix in transport. 35% of new cars worldwide will have a plug. the cnG network of fuel currently the choice of evs is limited in the consumer’s mind, though the refilling points is set to roll out in 2016, and will build on the existing gas range has become more extensive in recent years. the majority of vehicles transmission and distribution systems, which bodes well for affordability. available are small in size, lower in horsepower and limited in range, with However, from a security perspective, as the network is yet to be built out the ability to travel an average of 150km before needing a charge. there are no immediate gains to be made from this more environmentally However, the technology is moving on, with new models offering real friendly fuel mix. there are currently no plans to electrify the intercity rail choice in the mid-price saloon marketplace. these models can offer an network and as rail energy equates to just 0.9% of the primary energy improved driving performance and a driving range closer to 320km. tesla consumption for transport, bigger wins would be generated from focusing and other manufacturers are also offering choice in the luxury on the private car network. marketplace and these may help to change the perception of evs in the this report strongly advocates the accelerated move to renewable energy eyes of consumers. leadership by Government and the public sector is modes of transport, particularly where the renewable energy is generated necessary to change the attitude of the irish public to evs. As the majority engIneerS Ireland 21 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 Stockholm and electric hybrid buses – an industry success story A bus route that is entirely served by volvo’s quiet, fuel-efficient and that is powered by biodiesel. compared with conventional buses, the practically emission-free electric hybrid buses is now a reality in electric hybrids provide considerable environmental gains. the total stockholm. A total of eight electric hybrid buses deployed on route 73 energy consumption is 60% lower. climate-impacting emissions are pass through the central areas of the swedish capital. reduced by 90%, since the buses use biodiesel and wind power. the volvo’s electric hybrid buses replaced all of the existing fleet on route noise level during electrical operation is at the same level as ordinary 73, which runs between ropsten and the Karolinska institute in conversational tone. central stockholm. the driver for the city to introduce electrified bus services using electric hybrid buses in stockholm comprise a traffic was because it is a cost-efficient way of reducing the problems demonstration project conducted by volvo Buses, sl (stockholm of poor air quality and noise. the buses assist with improving the Public transport) and energy provider vattenfall. it is part-financed by environment without the need for large investments in new the eu through the Zeeus (Zero emission urban Bus system) project, infrastructure. volvo’s electric hybrid buses operate quietly and free of in which more than 40 companies and organisations are participating. emissions on renewable electricity for seven of the route’s slightly following the initial demonstration project, which will continue until more than eight kilometre total distance, and the batteries are the end of 2016, the intention is to continue using the electric hybrids quick-charged for only six minutes at the terminus at each end of the in commercial operation. volvo’s electric hybrids have also been used route. As a complement, the buses also have a small diesel engine in commercial service in Hamburg, Germany, since december 2014. of the ministerial fleet is privately owned by individual ministers, they vehicles. Measures such as the Green Bus fund included in the dcccnr should be encouraged to replace their existing fossil fuel-powered cars energy white Paper should also be extended to freight transport to create with hybrids or evs. irish state agency car, van and bus fleets should also a Green freight transport fund. the continued roll-out of cost-effective be updated accordingly to electric, cnG and hybrid modes, respectively, public transport should also be prioritised on urban and inter-city routes, while public procurement processes for Government contracts involving providing an alternative to the large number of journeys by transport should include key performance indicators linked to renewable single-occupancy private car. energy. there is clearly a need for public transport to be more accountable in the delivery of the res-t targets. Carbon emissions A comprehensive national strategy needs to be put in place to create the from 1990 to 2014, energy-related co2 emissions increased by 17% – an necessary infrastructure for ev adoption to thrive in the short term. this average of 0.7% per annum. transport recorded the largest increase at would involve further incentives to encourage consumers to switch from 120% (3.3% per annum) over the period. transport’s share of fossil fuels to evs in parallel with an education campaign to advise the energy-related co2 emissions was 37% in 2014. the residential sector in active citizen on how his or her choice of fuel impacts on the global ireland consists of an estimated 1.7 million homes and, after agriculture environment, climate change and flooding. and transport, is the third largest emitter of energy-related GHG incentives could include the obligatory reservation of charging spaces for emissions. evs by local authorities, reduced parking fees, preferential access to As previously stated, the three energy targets of improved efficiency, restricted areas, reduced tolls and the provision of charging facilities in increased renewable fuel sources in final consumption and a reduction in new buildings. similar measures have been proven to grow ev numbers carbon emissions are interlinked and mutually dependent. with the rapidly in other countries. the cnG network should be rolled out as introduction of more renewables, then GHG emissions will fall. However, planned to enable the van and bus fleets to switch from diesel to a fuel this report has quite clearly identified that not enough measures are on that emits less GHGs. Government tenders should specify the types of fuel track to increase renewables in the fuel mix for heat (res-H) and that private service operators must use in their fuel mix and grants should transport (res-t). similarly, a lack of buy-in to the energy efficiency target be offered to encourage the private sector to invest in cnG-powered means that ireland is a long way from achieving the 20% obligation. 22 engIneerS Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Main research areas of focus to 2050. 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 Energy technologies for ireland, there is no single silver bullet. the adoption of different capability, built up over many years and across a range of technologies will depend on the maturity and relative cost of the institutions. Particular progress has been made over the past technology, bearing the affordability question in mind. this report decade, due in part to good policy decisions such as the initiation of has endeavoured to recommend actions that are achievable with the charles Parsons Awards and the strategy report of the irish current technologies and resources available to ireland today. energy research council. the energy research mandate given to However, ireland needs to stop closing the door on technologies that science foundation ireland (sfi), including the current proposed may have to be considered in the future and remain open to those large biomass research centre, plus the establishment and funding that have yet to be developed. of the international energy research centre in cork, the energy the recently published energy white Paper sets a very clear research institute in ucd and the Marine and renewable energy direction for energy policy, in line with ireland's commitments under ireland (Marei) centre, is critical to developing further technologies the Paris Agreement: "our vision of a low-carbon energy system in the renewable space. the work of the seAi and other state means that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the energy sector agencies, and the proactive response of industry and academia to will be reduced by between 80% and 95% compared to 1990 levels, these policy decisions, is also a major contributor. by 2050, and will fall to zero or below by 2100”. the role of energy research in facilitating ireland's transition to a in order to achieve this, a major transition is required in how we low-carbon future is highlighted in the energy white Paper. the meet our energy needs in a sustainable, secure and affordable way Paper refers to the forthcoming publication of the report of the across the transport, heating and electricity sectors. in fact, this energy research strategy Group (ersG), which will include a transition is already underway. it is widely recognised that new roadmap comprising areas of focus to 2050, while also identifying technologies, and the further development of existing technologies, the key elements of a world-class energy system capable of will be required in order to effect this transition, and to this end addressing the challenges of energy security, sustainability and governments, institutions and enterprises across the world are competitiveness. committing significant resources to energy research and innovation. Added to those research areas of focus listed in the white Paper are for example, the eu strategic energy technology (set) Plan seeks to two additional areas where ireland should adopt a 'watching brief'. accelerate knowledge development, technology transfer and these are carbon capture and storage (ccs), and developments in deployment of low-carbon energy technologies and systems in order nuclear energy. to achieve the eu's 2030 energy and climate change goals and to in relation to ccs, this technology has the potential to substantially enable the transition to a low-carbon economy by 2050. the eu set reduce carbon emissions, and it features strongly in low-carbon Plan is underpinned by the eu's Horizon 2020 €70 billion funding scenarios developed by the ieA and other bodies. However, programme for research and development, of which €6 billion is depending on the energy required to convert the co2 gas into a earmarked for non-nuclear energy research. storable and transportable form, it could be expensive and its ireland has developed a diverse and vibrant energy research utilisation may reduce significantly the overall process efficiency of engIneerS Ireland 23 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 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. the power plant or industrial application to which it is applied. A ‘Soft infrastructure’ prerequisite for the large-scale deployment of ccs is, therefore, the ireland’s ambitions to reach the renewable energy targets need demonstration of the technical and economic feasibility of existing support from the legislature. High investment costs are incurred by technologies, together with a comprehensive research programme developers in preparing planning applications for major to reduce costs, increase efficiencies across the whole ccs infrastructure with very little certainty of the planning outcome. technology chain, and to optimise the technology for use in all currently, the application fee for a strategic infrastructure carbon-intensive industrial sectors. development (sid) is €100,000 and there are other additional costs, in relation to nuclear energy, the eu energy roadmap shows that such as preparing environmental impact statements. there needs to this will remain an important part of the eu power generation mix in be a more unified and integrated approach to the regulations, as well the years to come. research and development in this area as more clarification. for example, in the case of an upstream internationally is focusing on the development of new fission reactor pipeline coming ashore, we have the foreshore Act, the strategic technologies, on enhancing safety across the full nuclear power infrastructure Act, section 40 of the Gas Act 1976, that is consent to value chain, and in the development of new and smaller modular construct and consent to operate, and a safety Permit under the reactor concepts. A particular ongoing focus is the development of Petroleum (exploration and extraction) safety (Pees) Acts 2010 sustainable solutions for the management of nuclear waste. in the and 2015. these consents are determined by different Government longer term, fusion technology is seen as a potentially attractive departments or agencies. one Government agency should take energy solution for clean and large-scale electricity generation the lead. towards the end of the century. ireland is one of a number of delays to projects, including sid projects, mean that the legislation countries that does not have nuclear power in its domestic electricity is falling short of its ambition. when it comes to planning appeals mix. At some point in the future, as the transition to a low-carbon and the strategic infrastructure Act, timelines are aspirational. future gathers momentum, and as these new technologies develop a there should be fixed deadlines. there are no timelines for other record of successful, commercial and safe operation, it is consents. obtaining a foreshore licence is a very time-consuming conceivable that nuclear power could become an attractive option for process. ireland. eu regulation 347 of 2013 introduced a consenting regime for the white Paper also highlights the enterprise opportunities that flow trans-european energy networks (ten-e) projects, which are from a vibrant energy research and innovation ecosystem. ireland is designated as ‘projects of common interest’. the overall duration developing a reputation as a world-class location for research across must be no more than 42 months, with the consent stage taking no a number of sectors, including life sciences and information and more than 18 months. where multiple consents are required, the communications technology, with many global companies actively regulation requires each member state to nominate an agency to engaged in research activities in ireland. the energy research sector co-ordinate the consents. for projects in ireland, which are not has the potential to achieve similar success – this is recognised in the ‘projects of common interest’ and which require multiple consents, a ambition to establish ireland as an 'energy innovation Hub'. co-ordinating agency should be appointed. 24 engIneerS Ireland A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd COMMUNICATIONS Ireland’s communications network is responsible for saving lives, supporting business as well as providing citizens with access to entertainment and social media. Our voice and data networks are critical to our smarter living modes. OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH B n Award the National Broadband Plan (NBP) intervention to a contractor(s) and confirm the deployment schedule nationally n Continue the roll-out of the 4G mobile networks nationally and protect the quality of traditional mobile services such as voice n continue to reduce service costs when rates and speeds are not equal in rural/urban areas What is the current state of infrastructure? FIVE-YEAR n Roll-out of affordable high-speed broadband services nationally n Ireland’s national broadband infrastructure should be in the top five of European league tables in terms of availability, uptake and speed n Continue to research and develop the network in anticipation of 5G services contractor(s) for the deployment of this infrastructure, with construction A recent report by the european commission (digital economy and expected to start in 2017. this initiative is likely to have a major impact on society index) ranks ireland 8th in the eu for a range of digital integration the market as a whole. 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 Mobile infrastructure be ‘lagging ahead’. in the mobile category ireland is ranked 7th of the eu the infrastructure supporting mobile services has been upgraded, driven 28 at 67.7%, ahead of the eu average of 62.4%. ireland has significantly by the roll-out of 4G networks by all mobile operators to serve data users improved its performance in the connectivity dimension in the last year, and the need to reduce the operating costs of the networks through site jumping from 16th to 13th place. consolidation and the sharing of towers and masts. there has been convergence of technologies during the last five years – cable tv providers now provide broadband and traditional telecoms What does the future hold? companies now deliver tv content. Quad play bundles (voice, mobile voice, since 2010, worldwide internet data demand has grown by over 40% year data and video) are now commonplace in the market and the focus has on year. the telecommunications infrastructure is challenged, with shifted to content now that the required broadband speeds are more ever-increasing demands on the networks by consumers who demand prevalent. that both business and lifestyle requirements are met. services are now expected to be always available irrespective of location. Broadband the future includes the adaptation of the network for 5G services, with €2bn plus has been invested in the network infrastructure by industry research already underway to facilitate these requirements. over the past four years. industry anticipates that 1.6m homes will have access to high-speed broadband provided by commercial operators in the What actions do we need to take? near future: approximately 70% of all premises in ireland. international the continued investment by commercial operators is fundamental to connectivity has improved, with the landing of transatlantic cables to both increasing ireland’s competitiveness in the years ahead. cork and Mayo in 2015, which lessen the dependency on dublin-based the implementation of the nBP intervention is a cornerstone to ensuring connectivity. Achievements include advances in fibre-to-the-home that rural ireland gets access to high-speed broadband and enabling connectivity, which barely existed in ireland five years ago. ireland had the digital services in all homes throughout ireland. seventh fastest broadband speed in the world in 2014, ahead of the uK and Mobile networks need to ensure that high-quality services are made Germany, but dropped to 12th in europe in 2015 and 23rd in the world. available for traditional services, as well as enhancing the services available for mobile broadband users. Additional spectrum is likely to be Broadband in rural Ireland made available in the near term and this needs to be harnessed wisely to the remaining 30% of premises not served by broadband represent the improve the performance and capacity of the networks. in addition, the target for state intervention. the national Broadband Plan (nBP) continued roll-out of the 4G networks is an essential enhancement to the procurement process was initiated in december 2015, to select the communications infrastructure nationally. engIneerS Ireland 25 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 TRANSPORT Developing a transport infrastructure that meets the requirements of Irish society and the Irish economy is essential to the future prosperity of the State. Critical to this is an integrated approach to road, rail, air and sea transport. OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH C SECTOR GRADE Roads: Motorways B Roads: Other routes D Sustainable transport D Rail C Airports B Sea ports C 26 engIneerS Ireland n Progress funding mechanisms for delayed national road projects countrywide n Improve road management systems in conjunction with increased road maintenance funds n Progress development of second runway at Dublin Airport n Develop solution for North Dublin and Dublin Airport rail n Continue to invest in improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists, in particular in the major cities FIVE-YEAR n Accelerate the prioritisation of investment in infrastructure projects to increase Ireland’s competitiveness and address the unemployment challenge n Progress the planning process for port redevelopments in Cork and Galway n Agree standards for data formats and communication protocols for integrated traffic systems to enable information sharing n 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 A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd Roads routes. the announcement of the dArt extension to Balbriggan, limited investment during the economic downturn has left national Hazelhatch and Maynooth, along with Metro north, is welcomed. A light roads badly in need of investment. the motorway network is currently rail network in cork should be examined. the extension of the luAs able to cope with levels of traffic, but the M50 has started to suffer lines is welcome. However, a longer term plan for future tram lines is congestion due to increased traffic volumes. needed instead of the current ‘stop-start’ approach. Beyond the motorways, ireland’s remaining road network is in very variable condition and is not capable of meeting usual demand, Airports certainly not to an international level. Austere budgetary measures have ireland’s international air connectivity is critical for tourism and seen the road maintenance programmes significantly reduced to business travel. irish airports are well maintained and the authorities unsustainable levels. reduced budgets mean that national and local continue to invest to maintain the safety and security of the authorities have insufficient resources to maintain their road networks infrastructure. in acceptable condition. the announcement of the construction of a new runway at dublin Airport, on hold since 2007, is an indication of ireland’s growing Public, integrated and sustainable transport economic confidence. existing regional airports should be maintained A holistic approach is required when it comes to transport and energy, because of their importance for the economic development of ireland given ireland’s dispersed population and the need for a private outside of dublin. passenger car fleet. investment in urban cycle routes, bus corridors, hybrid/electric buses Sea ports and pedestrian facilities are critical to improve ireland’s urban spaces, ireland’s commercial sea ports are vital for most exports and imports, making them pollution and noise free as well as contributing to the eu as well as for the tourism sector. furthermore, our marine renewable energy directive to increase energy efficiency, use more infrastructure includes both large and small fishing harbours and small renewable fuel sources and reduce carbon emissions. leisure harbours. the Port of Galway is currently awaiting the green light to commence expansion of a new deep-water port and Rail reclaim land from Galway Bay under the strategic infrastructure Act. ireland’s heavy rail network is certainly fit for purpose but increasing the connectivity, particularly for freight, of our seaports to the overall numbers of commuters and tourists will put a strain on certain urban transport network needs to be prioritised. engIneerS Ireland 27 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER The quality of Ireland’s drinking water is underpinned by investment in water treatment plants, and the quality of the receiving aquatic environment is underpinned by investment in wastewater treatment plants. OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH n 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 n Ensure that adequate funding is available to allow the utility to meet its objectives, including eliminating boil water notices and reducing the number of supplies at risk n Provide investment in infrastructure capacity to support critical housing needs and employment growth D SECTOR GRADE Water supply C Wastewater D FIVE-YEAR n Place an immediate focus on eliminating current boil water notices and ensure that the risk of further notices is addressed by 2021 n 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 Water supply What does the future hold? ■ irish water supplies drinking water to 3.3 million people/80% of the irish water’s Business Plan, published in october 2015, has identified a population €5.5bn capital investment need up to 2021, and the investment required to ■ 63,000km of water pipelines have been mapped address all known deficits is estimated to be €13bn. ■ 1,600 million litres of drinking water are produced daily for water and wastewater, the most critical item at present is the future of ■ Average age of an irish water main: 75 years; average age of an eu ireland’s public water and wastewater utility – irish water – and resolving 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 investment levels are met. 1,600 mIllIon lITreS of drInKIng waTer daIly ■ 47% of treated water is lost through leakage – almost twice the level of the question of the funding model that will ensure that the required Produced water main: 36 years water treatment plants are to be implemented by 2016 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 28 engIneerS Ireland average age of IrISh waTer maInS 75 ■ 70% of the population is served by public sewerage schemes, operated yearS Wastewater A review of infrAstructure in irelAnd FLOOD MANAGEMENT AND WATER QUALITY Many parts of Ireland remain at high risk of flooding. In other areas that are currently not associated with flooding, the risk will increase. This presents considerable challenges in terms of flood risk management. OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH C SECTOR GRADE Flood management D Water quality C n Continue to engage with local communities to develop specific measures for each regional area impacted by flooding n Complete the flood risk management plans, setting out the long-term strategy for flood risk management n Complete the second cycle of river basin management plans 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. FIVE-YEAR n Develop a national future flood forecasting service n Implement the measures and actions set out in the flood risk management plans in a timely manner n Provide annual updates on the progress of the implementation of the Water Framework Directive ■ 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 Flood management framework directive, is unlikely to be achieved ■ 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 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. cost of €240m, providing protection to over 7,000 properties and the minor works scheme funded through local authorities supports more than €1bn in net present value benefits minor works to alleviate specific problems identified locally. this ■ €33m has been approved for 500 projects under minor works schemes with local authorities funding model, which should continue for the foreseeable future, has resulted in a total of 500 projects receiving approval in the past six ■ An arterial drainage maintenance programme is ongoing years and contributes to the monitoring and maintenance ■ capital investment is to increase per annum from €50 million in programme. 2016 to €100 million over the next six years As part of the second river basin management plan, the seven river basin districts (rBds) will be reconfigured into three rBds and new Water quality biological tools will be developed for the monitoring programme. ■ 99% of ireland’s groundwater is classed as ‘good’ – an increase from this cycle will run until 2021 and the draft plans are currently being 85.4% in the last assessment by the environmental Protection Agency developed in consultation, led by local authorities at regional level. engIneerS Ireland 29 The STaTe of Ireland 2016 WASTE The waste management sector has a key role to play in Ireland’s transition to a circular economy but a strong national policy framework is required to deliver national targets and support market practitioners to continue to invest in the collection and treatment infrastructure needed. OVERALL GRADE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 2016 12-MONTH C n Continue the roll-out of the organic waste collection system to households and businesses, supporting the national transition to pay-by-weight charging n Compile and publish a live register of waste treatment facilities to support the roll-out of future investment n 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 n 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 n 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 n 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 What is the current state of waste infrastructure? increasingly difficult to secure outlets for this exported waste in europe. in 2014, the environmental Protection Agency (ePA) released some the collection and treatment of organic wastes from households, up-to-date statistics on progress towards eu waste recycling, recovery businesses and the agricultural sector represents an opportunity for and diversion targets, which indicate that ireland has already met or is on innovation and jobs but requires continuous investment. More treatment track to meet a range of waste targets, including the amount of total facilities are required, as outlined in the regional waste plans. However, biodegradable municipal waste permitted to go to landfill by 2016. the policy environment in ireland has not sufficiently incentivised the Achieving these goals has required progress on a number of fronts, with market to attract the investment needed, with developments moving to policy playing a key part in creating roles for both the public and private northern ireland, where more attractive fiscal supports are available. sectors. resource efficiency programmes such as the national waste Prevention Programme and rx3 – rethink, recycle, remake – have been What does the future hold? extremely effective. As the circular economy increasingly becomes the european waste policy is in the process of changing, which will require core resource policy of the european commission, the discontinuation of ireland to rethink our approach to managing waste, by viewing our waste rx3 appears to be an opportunity missed to build on the initial work. streams as valuable material resources. Making better use of our in waste planning terms, waste management plans for the new southern, resources and reducing the leakage of materials, as wastes, from our eastern-Midlands, and connacht-ulster regions, and the national economy, will deliver benefits economically and environmentally to Hazardous waste Management Plan 2014-2020, have called for further ireland. the move to a circular economy, replacing outdated industrial investment in treatment infrastructure for inert, non-hazardous and take-make-consume and dispose models, is essential if we are to make hazardous wastes. it is important that the investment in treatment better use of our resources and become more resource efficient. the infrastructure identified in these waste plans is delivered to ensure that waste sector has the potential to play a leading role in the development of ireland’s policy objectives and targets are achieved. the circular economy in ireland, and we must ensure that the policy Alongside these policy developments has been the provision of thermal environment supports the investment required. recovery infrastructure, replacing landfills, for the treatment of residual municipal and industrial wastes. the waste-to-energy facility in Meath is What actions do we need to take? operational and the new facility in Poolbeg, dublin, will commence ireland needs to develop additional waste treatment facilities, including production in 2017. Planning applications for a facility in co. cork and in further biological treatment, reprocessing and recovery capacity, to northern ireland’s arc21 waste region have also been lodged and should ensure that the necessary indigenous infrastructure is in place to deliver help to address the geographical imbalance in infrastructure on the the waste management plans and provide for sustainable final treatment island. Municipal waste that is not treated in ireland is currently being of our wastes. we also need to ensure resilience and contingency in the exported for recovery abroad. this activity is a lost economic and resource sector, so that unforeseen waste events can be managed safely. these opportunity and, if this waste was treated at home, would contribute developments will support the policy shift necessary to ensure that waste significantly to meeting renewable energy targets. it is also becoming is treated as a valuable resource rather than as a burden on our economy. 30 engIneerS Ireland ThinkMedia.ie Engineers Ireland 22 clyde road Ballsbridge dublin 4. tel: 00 353 1 665 1300 fax: 00 353 1 668 5508 www.engineersireland.ie