Risk of energy system alerts over winter months ‘significantly lower’ than anticipated [Video]

THE NATIONAL ENERGY grid operator has said there is a “significantly lower” risk for system alerts in the next six months, compared to what was anticipated last year.

EirGrid has released its annual ‘Winter Outlook’, which provides expectations for the electricity supply and demand in the country to help inform the electricity industry and support preparation for the coming months. 

The Winter Outlook report identifies the Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE), which is the number of hours that energy generation will likely fall short of demand. The higher this number is, the greater the risk that there will be insufficient generation available.

According to the report, the LOLE between 4 November this year and 6 April next year is 3.6 hours.

This is down considerably from 21 hours last winter, and from 51 hours the previous winter.

However, it is just outside the 3-hour annual LOLE Standard which is set …