CRU Publishes New Generation Connections Policy

The full decision and policy can be found here.

We have published the new Electricity Connection Policy – Generation and System Services (ECP-GSS), that will provide greater clarity and an improved process for accelerated permitting for connection to the electricity network for both large-scale and small-scale projects.

This will support security of supply, accelerated delivery of Ireland’s renewable electricity targets, including carbon budget and sectoral emissions ceilings, and the optimal use of existing and future grid infrastructure. This will deliver value to the consumer through the regular processing of connection offers for renewable electricity and other technologies.

Current Connection Policy

New generators and storage technologies apply to the electricity system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, to connect to the electricity grid. Projects which connect can then progress to participate in energy markets and supply electricity. Accelerated permitting and delivery of electricity generation and storage projects and associated infrastructure is important such that increasing demand from a growing economy and population can be catered for.

In addition to the technically and commercially complex processes for connecting these projects to the network, the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) includes requirements for the permit granting process for renewable energy projects.

Since publication of the first ECP in 2018, there have been several updates to connections policy that have reflected the increased Government policy focus on renewable generation. This has also focused on Government defined community-led renewable energy projects, and the requirement for other generation sources and system service technologies.

ECP- GSS – New Connection Policy

The previous connection policy comprised a single annual batch application which generally opened for one month to allow applications to be processed. This restricted the number of projects that may have applied for a connection due to the differing stages of their development.

One of the key differences to the new ECP-GSS is the inclusion of six-monthly rather than 12-monthly application deadlines combined with a pre-engagement process in advance of applications being submitted. The new process will commence in Spring/Summer 2025, with the first deadline for applications to take place in September 2025.

The bi-annual approach will provide greater flexibility for renewable and conventional generation to progress their projects to the stage of applying for their connections, increasing the number of generation sources.

In addition, the new connection policy will also only require completed planning permission applications to be acknowledged (and not fully granted planning permission as per the previous policy) for renewable projects to enter the application process.  This is to allow the parallel processing of both planning and grid permits and to speed up permitting timelines.

The new policy will also provide greater opportunities for connection to the electricity network for smaller-scale and non-exporting projects, including mini-generation, small scale generation, repowering of existing renewable generation and community-led projects.

Commenting on the decision, Phil Hemmingway, Director of Decarbonisation, said “Electricity connection policy has evolved over the last number of years to take account changes in Government and European policy, as well as greater innovation and new technologies. 

The objective of this new connection policy is to provide increased opportunities for generation projects to connect to the network in an accelerated timeframe. This will deliver a high level of renewable sources of generation that, in the long term, will provide greater sustainability and security of supply to our electricity network for customers.”