Member Info for swizz

Ireland is spending €1 million every hour to import fossil fuels as we face into not one but two winters where meeting our energy needs is going to be a major challenge, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Let the above sink in and then try and convince yourself Barryroe is not happening, you would be as delusional as Ryan’s ideology,..GL S

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2022/1019/1330179-energy-committee/

Supply tightening and it is very evident that Ireland’s demand for gas is growing and at a considerable rate, plus interesting to note Varadkar’s comments and perhaps a more pragmatic and sensible approach is developing and with the government changes only a matter of weeks away, this hopefully bodes well for Barryroe,..GL S

The electricity system will face a shortfall of supply over demand for the next decade, according to grid operator EirGrid.

Its annual Generation Capacity Statement, published today, describes the situation as "stark" and "serious" and warns the number of system alerts will increase.

Eirgrid's chief executive said there will be a 'tight' winter ahead and he can not guarantee that there will not be blackouts.

Govt is 'concerned'

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said this morning that the Government is concerned.

"I do think the risk of blackouts affecting homes, small businesses and farms is very low.

"Nobody wants to rule it out but the likelihood of it is very low, I do want to give people that assurance," he said.

"But the truth is we have had a very big increase in demand for electricity for lots of different reasons in the past couple of years and the contracted generators didn't deliver so now we need to catch up," said Mr Varadkar.

"We need a lot of investment in both gas-fired plants and renewables over the next few years and we have a plan to do exactly that."

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/1005/1327373-shortfall-in-electricity-supply-has-worsened-eirgrid/

The Irish Times and the CRU stirring from their slumber, the apathy is **** breathtaking,…GL S

Ireland is facing a renewed threat his winter after the UK’s energy regulator warned of a “significant risk” of natural gas shortages.

The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) has revealed that the UK could enter a “gas supply emergency” this winter because of the war in Ukraine.

Gas-fired power stations generate between 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the UK’s electricity. Ireland imports 75 per cent of its natural gas via Britain through a pipeline called the Moffat Interconnector, which also supplies Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Ofgem wrote a letter in response to SSE, which operates four gas-fired power stations in the UK that produce electricity. SSE fears it will be forced to pay hundreds of millions of pounds to customers if it cannot supply them according to their contracts. Ofgem warned that gas-fired power stations generating electricity will be the first to have their supplies curtailed.

In response to SSE, which also operates in the Republic, Ofgem’s head of wholesale market management Grendon Thompson explained: “Due to the war in Ukraine and gas shortages in Europe, there is a significant risk that gas shortages could occur during the winter of 2022-23 in Great Britain. As a result, there is a possibility that Great Britain could enter into a gas supply emergency.”

Ireland’s Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) said in the event of curtailment of gas in the UK, the same would also apply to gas arriving in the State through the interconnector. “In the event of a natural gas supply emergency being declared by the network emergency co-ordinator in Great Britain, the Moffat Interconnector will be treated in the same way as Great Britain’s distribution network,” a spokesman said.

https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/2022/10/03/uk-energy-regulator-warning-on-gas-could-have-knock-on-effects-on-ireland/

Another twist in the security of Oil and Gas infrastructure, with Norway reporting some concerns in regards to unidentified drones,…GL S

PSA warns of unidentified drones around Norwegian offshore facilities

OSLO, Norway — The Norwegian Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) is urging extra vigilance among offshore facility and vessel operators on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS).

This follows various recent warnings/notifications concerning observations of unidentified drones/aircraft close to offshore installations.

These airborne vehicles, the Authority warned, could bring increased risk in the helicopter traffic and movements by search and rescue helicopters; ignition source control–equipment without Ex approval close to areas presenting an explosion hazard; and dropped objects–a collision with the facility; and deliberate attacks.

According to section 58 of the framework regulations on warning and notification in connection with entry into safety zones, the PSA must receive warnings and notifications of observations.

https://www.offshore-mag.com/special-reports/norway/article/14283340/psa-warns-of-unidentified-drones-around-norwegian-offshore-facilities

PG at PDR raising a number of pertinent points in regards to Ryan’s blinkered position, he must rapidly be approaching the position where is ministerial position is untenable,..GL S

Press Release: Kinsale Gas Pipeline age not an excuse to ignore reuse options for energy security

Kinsale Gas Pipeline age not an excuse to ignore reuse options for energy security

Government must take a more pragmatic approach to decommissioning key energy infrastructure until all options for re-purposing have been properly presented

The age of the Kinsale Gas Pipeline should not be a determining factor for disregarding its potential reuse options including offshore importation of non-fracked Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). That’s according to Mag Mell Energy Ireland who today (27.09.22) called for a more pragmatic approach by Government to retaining key infrastructure which can support Ireland’s energy security needs.

Commenting CEO of Mag Mell Energy Ireland, Paul Griffiths said: “Last week the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) published its long awaited ‘review of the security of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems’. It was very encouraging to see floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) included in the review and publicly recognised as a viable option for strengthening Ireland’s energy security. This is a significant step change by the Department and Minister Eamon Ryan, who amplified how floating LNG facilities could offer a gas storage solution for Ireland.

Importance of deferring decommissioning of key energy infrastructure

“Disappointingly however, following the publication of the review, Minister Ryan went on to make a series of negative remarks regarding the decommissioning of the Kinsale Gas Pipeline. We have actively advocated how the pipeline at the now depleted Kinsale Gas Field can be quickly repurposed for offshore importation of non-fracked LNG using FSRUs. Since we shared a detailed proposal with DECC in April 2020 on this unique opportunity to ease pressure on Ireland’s gas supply there has been no response or engagement.”

A very sobering reminder of the precarious position of Ireland’s energy security and also of the UK’s, which further amplifies Ireland’s vulnerability,..GL S

Nord Stream: Ukraine accuses Russia of pipeline terror attack

Ukraine has accused Russia of causing leaks in two major gas pipelines to Europe in what it described as a "terrorist attack".

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said the damage to Nord Stream 1 and 2 was "an act of aggression" towards the EU.

He added that Russia wanted to cause pre-winter panic and urged the EU to increase military support for Ukraine.

Seismologists reported underwater blasts before the leaks emerged.
"There is no doubt that these were explosions," said Bjorn Lund of Sweden's National Seismology Centre, as quoted by local media.

The operators of Nord Stream 2 warned of a loss of pressure in the pipeline on Monday afternoon. That led to a warning from Danish authorities that ships should avoid the area near the island of Bornholm.

The operator of Nord Stream 1 said the undersea lines had simultaneously sustained "unprecedented" damage in one day.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-63044747

More criticism will be heading his way, as Ireland’s energy transition is very evidently shambolic and in complete disarray, this will send shockwaves through the energy sector, industry, international investment and beyond, as Shell are now diverting their investment towards the UK,..GL S

Exclusive: Shell withdraws from major Irish offshore wind projects

Shell, the multinational energy giant, is pulling out of the Irish renewables sector in a potentially significant blow to the country’s climate ambitions, the Business Post can reveal.

The move represents a u-turn by the company, which just last November agreed a deal to acquire a 51 per cent share in the Western Star Floating wind project off the coast of Clare from Simply Blue Group, a Cork-based energy company.

Shell’s withdrawal from the Irish renewables sector represents a potentially significant blow to Ireland’s target of achieving an 80 per cent cut in energy emissions.

Equinor, the Norwegian energy giant, confirmed last year that it was exiting the Irish market, citing frustrations with the regulatory and planning process here.
One source said Shell was focusing its efforts on countries with more accommodating legislative frameworks.

https://www.businesspost.ie/news/exclusive-shell-withdraws-from-major-irish-offshore-wind-projects/

More from Mattie McGrath..

“I thank iar-Seanadóir Brian Ó Domhnaill, my daughter Mairéad and iar-Seanadóir John Hanafin for their help in putting the motion together. I make no apologies for the motion we have brought forward today. We will take no criticism from the Minister of State or the absent Minister who was here at the start. Why is it that he has fled like snow off a ditch when questions were being asked, especially by the rural groups, the Regional Group, ourselves and Deputy McNamara who had to return to the health committee? The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan has to answer. He made one statement - and we will check the record - that a final decision will issue on Barryroe and the application in the coming weeks. We will hold him to that because he has dithered.”

This is the transcript of Ryan’s response to Michael McGrath and I think with the current backdrop of the energy security review and energy crisis, I sense he will be more inclined to approve, which to some degree kicks the can down the road, as there are a number of other regulatory stages that he will be mindful of, a refusal would instigate immediate litigation and in light of the overwhelming evidence to support the Providence claim, this is not something that Ryan would want at this stage,…GL S

Deputy Mattie McGrath
How long is it going to take?

Deputy Eamon Ryan
These are environmental, technical and financial. The countermotion also notes that broader energy policy or energy security considerations have no bearing on the regulatory process. To answer Deputy McGrath's question, I expect it shortly, within the coming weeks.

Full transcript,..

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-09-21/8/

Db, existing licenses are not being “promoted” but they are mentioned on a few occasions, although as you have pointed out and as I detailed in my brief snippet, they were not used in the CEPA modelling, due to their lack of information and what they considered there uncertainty, but that does not discount them from being a material contribution, Ryan needs to face into the reality of the precarious situation Ireland are in and get the LU granted and then it is over to Providence and Lansdowne to demonstrate what contribution Barryroe can make to the very evident gas and oil demand, …GL S

Whilst the licences weren’t specifically named, indigenous resources and existing licenses were and to anyone with an ounce of common sense, this report underlines in triplicate the importance of getting the existing licences through there relevant stages, so they can contribute in a material way, as the gas demand is very evidently high for 2 to 3 decades,..GL S

“There are currently several existing offshore exploration licences, but exploration activity has generally been low. While delivery of gas from existing exploration licenses is possible, this has not been included in our modelling as it remains uncertain and is unlikely to be of a significant magnitude relative to Irish gas demand requirements.“

It looks as if Ryan will need a new gas pipe,…GL S

?BREAKING: The fracking ban will be scrapped **tomorrow**. Planning requests for new drilling expected within weeks. Major change in UK energy rules. More in @Telegraph.

https://twitter.com/benrileysmith/status/1567617883231993858?s=21&t=oopzp3s1ymJDWqeEffkukg

FRQ, nail on the head and there has been a notable change in the tone of the Irish Times and a number of others in the media, along with industry observers and participants in recent weeks, whilst the company remains silent publicly, it is very evident that a lot of discussion is going on behind the scenes and it will be interesting to see when Alan Curry decides the time is right for the company to participate front and centre in the debate, as it is clear they will have to do so at some stage,…GL S

It would appear the first major announcement post the CEPA energy security is only a few days away,..GL S

State-owned storage and non-commercial Liquefied Natural Gas terminal among energy security review options

Long-awaited review to be published next week amid concerns for gas security across Europe

The construction of a state-owned gas storage facility, and a non-commercial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) import terminal are to be recommended as part of an energy security review to be published next week, the Business Post can reveal.
Following its publication, Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, is to launch a consultation on the proposed options, before deciding on a final government policy in early 2023.

Today, Ryan told reporters in Dublin that the government would have to consider some form of gas storage in Ireland in the future. The review, which was carried out by CEPA, the economic consultancy firm, on behalf of the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, was first commissioned in 2019 by then-Minister Richard Bruton to assess the security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems.

https://www.businesspost.ie/politics/state-owned-storage-and-liquefied-natural-gas-terminal-among-energy-security-review-options/

DB, I would have to listen back myself to capture the time line, plus we should have the transcript fairly soon and that will be easier to navigate than having to listen back,

In relation to supporting existing licensing, the response from Ryan to Senator Tim Lombard, was the most pertinent, along with his derisory comments regarding Ireland’s offshore exploration, both provide the company with a perfect opportunity to respond publicly to the farcical situation we find ourselves in, …GL S

Michael McDowell hits the nail on the head in his article in The Irish Times today,…

“We are a grand little country facing gas shortages for another 30 years. No LNG terminal to be built; no gasfields to be explored……Let’s get real.”

I would confess I thought Ryan did mention the Rockhopper and Italian arbitration award, although he didn’t mention Rockhopper by name, what was very evident is that the CEPA energy security report has been received by Ryan and he did acknowledge that LNG storage will be reviewed as a recommendation of CEPA, it would not be a huge surprise if the development of indigenous O&G resources is another energy security recommendation of CEPA, the fact that they are engaging with Nephin is a good indicator of that, plus the comments in regards to supporting previous government commitments, should be taken as a positive and encouraging sign for the Providence and Lansdowne boards, not that there was any question in regards to their legal entitlement of the LU, he clearly needs the political cover to pacify the more extreme in his party and I would suggest he now has that in abundance and I would expect a few more snippets from the CEPA report will be leaked in the days ahead to create the political environment for a number of major announcements, …GL S

Perhaps we are finally going to see a pragmatic approach towards Ireland’s indigenous resources,..GL S

Energy crisis: Corrib gas field operator tells Taoiseach Michéal Martin they can extract fuel for another decade

Plan won’t help alleviate concern about about blackouts this winter but it may reduce the dependence on imports in the future

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/energy-crisis-corrib-gas-field-operator-tells-taoiseach-micheal-martin-they-can-extract-fuel-for-another-decade-41945944.html

An absolutely astonishing admission of failure from Aoife MacEvilly and it makes you wonder how far the green party’s ludicrous ideology, in regards to energy security and energy transition has infiltrated the key offices of the energy sector and the civil service in Ireland?, it’s also very evident that the Russian and Ukrainian crisis is going to be played on repeat as the root cause of the crisis, hopefully the political debate will intensify to call out this ridiculous line of defence,...GL S

“There are no cast iron guarantees when it comes to electricity”

Chairperson of the Commission for regulation of Utilities, Aoife MacEvilly, on whether Ireland can expect power blackouts this winter.

https://twitter.com/rte_primetime/status/1562907477141848064?s=21&t=y-tMZkD9icGOJW0gemYqoA

The EU electricity market would suggest otherwise DB and more questions for Ryan next Tuesday,…GL S

Listening to European Electricity Traders Is Very, Very Scary

Keeping the lights on in Europe this winter may prove more difficult than governments are currently admitting.

Every week, the people who trade electricity in the UK get to quiz the managers of the national grid for an hour. The conference call, which anyone can monitor, offers an insight into what the men and women on the front line of the power market are worried about. Listening to them is getting scarier by the week — and suggests keeping the lights on this winter will be a lot more challenging than European governments are admitting.

Prices are worrying enough. British households were told on Friday that their power and gas bills will increase from Oct. 1 by 80%. The so-called energy price cap was set at £3,549 ($4,189) per year, up from £1,971 over the past six months and £1,277 during last winter.

Here’s a question from last week’s session: “Are you war-gaming possible options for if/when cross-border trading collapses under security of supply pressures this winter?” And another: “Can we have a session where we talk through the emergency arrangements?” Another participant said that the forecast for demand-and-supply electricity balance showed “how bad the winter could be for anyone who can do the maths.” The same caller was blunt about the grid’s own predictions: “I don't think you believe what you've written, and nobody else does.”

One intervention was particularly revealing. “Based on where winter ‘22 products are trading, where does this position yourself with respect to securing power over the winter?” asked one participant. The background? In the forward market, UK power for December 2022 is fast approaching £1,000 per megawatt hour, up 50% from current prices. The implication? Power shortages

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-08-26/european-energy-crisis-listening-to-electricity-traders-is-very-very-scary

To be fair, it's not a huge surprise, JM was certainly spinning a lot of other plates and still is, especially with the maternity hospital being such a key project and you do wonder if the judicious approach by Providence with the Irish government, was in part as result of those distractions?, there has also been a seismic shift in the ownership of the company in recent months and I am sure their influence is very significant, a more robust approach in progressing the project is long overdue and there needs to be a step change in the companies PR, this will hopefully now follow,..GL S