Ireland plans winter grid resilience in the wake of Storm Éowyn
Image courtesy ESB Networks
Ireland’s ESB Networks has released grid resilience plans to bolster the power system’s resilience in the face of extreme weather events, such as this year’s Storm Éowyn.
The plans were announced by Irish Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O’Brien, setting out actions across a number of key areas.
Such areas include hazard removal and surveying, forestry management, materials and spares review, resourcing and innovation measures that will increase resilience in the electricity network for the winter ahead.
ESB’s Networks Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan follows Storm Éowyn in January, which was one of the most severe weather events ever to hit Ireland.
The plan will be implemented between March and October of this year. The objective of the plan is to enhance the resilience of the grid in the most vulnerable locations for the upcoming winter, to take some immediate short-term measures to reduce the impact of potential storm in Winter 2025, whilst progressing plans and initiatives for longer term.
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Minister O’Brien said in a release: “The type of storm we have seen in recent years is becoming more frequent and more damaging and therefore it is vital that we take action to ensure the resilience of our electricity system.
“This increased resilience will help to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the people of Ireland, particularly our most vulnerable citizens, as well as helping to safeguard our economy.”
Part of the plan will involve completing the survey of the 23,000km of Ireland’s electricity network, making hazards safe and identifying remedial works needed to refurbish areas of the network weakened in the recent storm.
ESB Networks will replenish their materials supply, which was depleted during the recent storm season, with the intention to quickly double in size the storm-specific provisions.
Officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Attorney General and ESB Networks in consultation with Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Coillte will continue to assess legislation relating to forestry and its relationship to electricity infrastructure.
It is anticipated that the department will return to government shortly to seek approval to amend legislation around forestry corridors to advance future resilience work for the electricity grid.
Crews from Great Britain and Northern Ireland and across the EU assisted in the restoration of electricity supplies following Storm Éowyn and plans are being made to further strengthen relationships with European network companies through the development of mutual storm support arrangements this year.
Separately, the Chair of the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group has commenced a cross-Government Review of the Response to Storm Éowyn.
The Review, led by the Department of Housing and Local Government, is expected to be completed by the end of June.
The Review will include the coordination of response measures at local level supported by a whole-of-government response at national level.
