East-West HVDC Interconnector

6 May 2015 – ISGAN Webinar

Séamus Power (EirGrid)

6 May 2015

Context

Min / Max Demand (All-Island)

2,300 MW / 6,500 MW

Installed Generation

Conventional: 9,901 MWWind: 2,825 MW

Interconnection

750 MW

2020 RES Targets

40%

Fuel Mix

GasCoalWindImportsPeatCHPHydroOther

6 May 2015 3

• 500 MW HVDC-VSC Interconnector linking Ireland & Northern Ireland system to Great Britain system

• €570m investment

• 264 km of DC cable

• Commenced: 2007

• Completed: 2012

• Contracts to

commercial operation

in 45 months

What is the East-West Interconnector?

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Objectives and Benefits

• Provide additional capacity

• Reduce dependence on imported fuels

Security of Supply

• Exert downward pressure on price

• Direct access to GB market

Promote Competition

• Reduce RES curtailment

• Assist meeting RES targets Accommodate

RES

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• Choice of technology key - HVDC VSC – Represents the optimum whole-

life techno-economic solution

– Well-suited to the technical characteristics of island systems

• Environmentally friendly XLPE cable utilised

• Performance during transient events

Technology

6 May 2015

6

Advanced Ancillary Services

• Very fast active power response for high and low frequency events

Frequency Response

• Speed up restoration of grid in event of major blackout Black Start

• Steady-state reactive power

• Voltage support during faults Voltage Control

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7

Community Engagement

(construction phase)

Full-time community

liaison officers

Funding for local projects & improved

safety

Engagement with primary

schools

Disruption minimised

Local information

offices

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Current Status and Results

30

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90100

110120

130140

150

0%10%

20%30%

40%50%

60%70%

80%90%

100%

Load

-Wei

ghte

d A

vera

ge S

MP

(€/

MW

h)

Percentage of Days in Year

Load-Weighted Average SMP per Trading Day with EWIC ON vs EWIC OFF

01/05/2013 - 30/04/2014

EWIC ONEWIC OFF

9% Average

Saving

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• Countertrading reducing RES curtailment

• 300 GWh between July and December 2013

Current Status and Results

-300

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-100

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EWIC

Flo

w (

MW

) (I

mp

ort

po

siti

ve)

De

man

d /

Win

d G

en

era

tio

n (

MW

)

Time

Demand Wind EWIC

20/10/2014 21/10/2014

6 May 2015 10

• Choice of technology key

• Developing and maintaining good stakeholder relationships

• Separate project managers for Ireland, Great Britain and marine works

Lessons Learned and Best Practices

6 May 2015 11

Next Steps

6 May 2015 12

Thank You!