This paper sets out the commission’s policy in relation to decision on renewable connection offers and transmission reinforcement works.
Decision
Letter
The Commission has decided to waive the requirement that all deep reinforcement works cited in connection offers be completed before any output from a renewable generating plant is accepted on to the system. This will allow the plant, once the necessary shallow connection works are completed, export some or all of its capacity to the system prior to the deep reinforcement works being completed. The plant would, however, be subject to being constrained down or off in certain circumstances during this period and would have to have the necessary constraining equipment in place.
Before making a final decision on issuing the Direction the Commission invited comments from interested parties. Six comments were received by market participants. One was not in favour of the proposal, the remaining sought further information on the impact of constraint levels to their offers.
The Commission understands that ESB National Grid is currently developing a methodology to enable reasonable estimates to be made of the likely level of constraints for different scenarios. It is expected that information will soon be made available by ESB National Grid to individual applicants, allowing these applicants to determine constraint levels based on what they believe to be the appropriate assumptions for their project.
Draft Decision
Consultation
The background, rationale and details of the proposed direction are set out in the draft letters to the system operators (see above). Before making a final decision on issuing the Direction the Commission invites comments from interested parties.
Background
The Commission is proposing to direct the transmission and distribution system operators to waive the requirement that all deep reinforcement works cited in connection offers be completed before any output from a renewable generating plant be accepted on to the system. This would allow the plant, once the necessary shallow connection works are completed, export some or all of its capacity to the system prior to the deep reinforcement works being completed. The plant would, however, be subject to being constrained down or off in certain circumstances during this period and would have to have the necessary constraining equipment in place.