Nuclear power in Ireland: Difference between revisions

The [[Electricity sector in Ireland|Single Electricity Market]] encompassing the entire [[island of Ireland]] does not, and has never, produced any electricity from [[nuclear power station]]s. The production of electricity for the [[Eirgrid|Irish national grid]] (Eirgrid), by [[nuclear fission]], is prohibited in the [[Republic of Ireland]] by the ''Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (Section 18)''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1999/en/act/pub/0023/index.html|title= Electricity Regulation Act, 1999 (Section 18) |website=www.irishstatutebook.ie}}</ref> The enforcement of this law is only possible within the [[Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border|borders of Ireland]], and it does not prohibit consumption. Since [[HVDC Moyle|2001 in Northern Ireland]] and [[East-West Interconnector|2012 in the Republic]], the grid has become increasingly [[East-West Interconnector|interconnected]] with the neighbouring [[Electricity sector in the United Kingdom#Electricity per person and by power source|electric grid of Britain]], and therefore Ireland is now partly powered by overseas [[nuclear fission]] stations.<ref name="irishexaminer.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/letters/that-nukes-that-argument-233440.html|title=That nukes that argument|date=7 June 2013|publisher=}}</ref><ref name="web.archive.org">https://web.archive.org/web/20140721003556/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/DD9FFC79-E1A0-41AB-BB6D-27FAEEB4D643/0/DCENRGreenPaperonEnergyPolicyinIreland.pdf page 50</ref>

A ‘Eurobarometer’‘[[Eurobarometer]]’ survey in 2007 indicated that 27 percent of the citizens of Ireland were in favour of an “increased use” of nuclear energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2007/12/03/ireland-rejects-uranium-prospecting-applications/print|title=Ireland Rejects Uranium Prospecting Applications|website=www.nucnet.org}}</ref>

In 2015 a National Energy Forum was founded to decide upon generation mixes to be deployed in the Republic of Ireland,<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Ireland’sIreland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030|url=http://www.dccae.gov.ie/energy/SiteCollectionDocuments/Energy-Initiatives/Energy%20White%20Paper%20-%20Dec%202015.pdf|accessdateaccess-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> out to 2030. This forum has yet to be convened (Oct 2016).

In 2014 Ireland presently sourcessourced about 70% of its electricity from [[fossil gas]].<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903173000/http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_2014/Michael_G_White.pdf|title=Risk: Security of energy supplies in Ireland|date=3 September 2015|publisherarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903173000/http://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_2014/Michael_G_White.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-03}}</ref> The primary source ("95%") of this gas to Ireland is via the ''[[moffatMoffat]]-[[Isle of manMan]]-[[Gormanston, County Meath|Gormanstown]]/"Dublin"'' connection and to a lesser extent, the [[Scotland-Northern Ireland pipeline]] (SNIP),<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404163950/http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/united_kingdom_ireland_pipelines.jpg|title=Map of gas pipelines in Britain and Ireland|date=4 April 2015|publisherarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404163950/http://www.theodora.com/pipelines/united_kingdom_ireland_pipelines.jpg|archive-date=2015-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandmageestorage.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=101|title=Islandmagee Storage - Project Description|website=www.islandmageestorage.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903175817/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243255/7132.pdf|title=Transmission of Natural Gas through a Second Pipeline between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland and through a Connection to the Isle of Man|date=3 September 2015|publisherarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903175817/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243255/7132.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-03}}</ref> both of these pipes are, in of themselves, connected to the wider [[National Transmission System|British pipe-network]] and the European continent [[Interconnector (North Sea)|Dutch-British network]]. This great network of pipes is supplied with [[North Sea#Oil and gas|North Sea Gas]] and as that source is drying up,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tu-freiberg.de/oberseminar/os06_07/krause.pdf|title=Oil and Gas in the North Sea Franziska Krause TU Bergakademie Freiberg|publisher=}}</ref> a greater dependence is expected on the frequently disrupted [[European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas|European gas network]] for which [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russia being a primary provider]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://irishoilandgas.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/the-mythical-pipeline-from-russia/|title=The mythical pipeline from Russia|date=10 May 2011|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/RS21.pdf|title=A Review of Irish Energy Policy |publisher=The Economic and Social Research Institute|access-date=2015-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002332/http://www.esri.ie/UserFiles/publications/RS21.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A nuclear power plant was proposed in 1968, and resulted in the creation of the [[Nuclear Energy Board]]. It was to be built during the 1970s at Carnsore Point in [[County Wexford]] by the [[Electricity Supply Board]]. The plan envisioned four reactors to be built at the site, but was dropped in 1981 after strong opposition from [[anti-nuclear]] lobby groups throughout the 1970s, particularly in 1978 with concerts and rallies being held at [[Carnsore Point]] attended by popular musician [[Christy Moore]]. The intended generating capacity of the planned station was therefore required to be sourced from other energy sources, and such, the construction of the coal burning [[Moneypoint]] power station began in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/stationhistory/construction.jsp |title=Archived copyError |accessdateaccess-date=2014-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurlarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317091430/https://esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/stationhistory/construction.jsp |archivedatearchive-date=2016-03-17 }}</ref>

Following the completion of the [[HVDC Moyle]] cable in 2001, connecting [[Northern Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], and the larger capacity 500 MW [[East-West Interconnector]] in 2012, a [[submarine power cable|submarine cable]] that connects [[County Dublin]] with [[Wales]], Ireland has been supported with electricity from the generation of the Welsh [[Wylfa]] fission-electric power station and [[Energy in the United Kingdom#Electricity supplysector|fission electricity in Britain]] as a whole. The Wylfa power stations is however shuttered,<ref>IAEA PRIS</ref> the last reactor shut down in 2015. Ireland was a net exporter of electricity in 2016 and 2017.<ref>Energy in Ireland 2018 Report, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)</ref>

| accessdateaccess-date=2009-04-22}}

A 2012 [[International Energy Agency]] (IEA) report said that Ireland is highly dependent on imported oil and natural/[[fossil gas]]. While the push to develop renewable energies is commendable, it will result in an increased reliance on fossil gas, as [[gas-fired power plantsplant]]s will be required to provide flexibility in electricity supply when wind power is unavailable. About 60% of Ireland's electricity already comes from gas-fired generation, which adds to energy security concerns, particularly as 93% of its gas supplies come from a single transit point in Scotland.<ref name="nip102"/>

As there is a need to replace the coal burning 900 [[Megawatt|MW]] [[Moneypoint]] power station, situated in the South West of Ireland, a station which will approach its design life in 2025 <ref>{{cite web|title=Ireland’sIreland's Transition to a Low Carbon Energy Future 2015-2030 ( Page 38)|url=http://www.dccae.gov.ie/energy/SiteCollectionDocuments/Energy-Initiatives/Energy%20White%20Paper%20-%20Dec%202015.pdf|accessdateaccess-date=30 July 2016}}</ref> and until then it will remain as Ireland's primary emitter of [[greenhouse gases]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/newtech-solution-could-clean-up-moneypoint-26350785.html|title=New-tech solution 'could clean up' Moneypoint - Independent.ie|work=Independent.ie|access-date=2018-05-21|language=en}}</ref> A dependable [[baseload power]] source with a high [[capacity factor]] will be required to keep the grid stable in its absence, a role that is now being filled by Moneypoint station, this role will thus need to be filled by a [[low carbon power]] station to [[climate change mitigation|mitigate climate change]].

In 2016 proposals for a $1 billion Irish-French subsea cable, with a capacity for 700 MW, close to the 900 MW output of Moneypoint, were discussed between both countries. With [[Nuclear power in france|over 70% of French electricity]] generated from its fleet of fission-electric reactors, if connected, Ireland would further receive electricity from overseas nuclear energy suppliers, with the commencement of construction suggested for 2021, the [[Celtic Interconnector]] is expected to be completed by 2025. It would then become Ireland's only connection to an EU member state, following the withdrawal of the UK, in [[Brexit]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eirgridgroup.com/the-grid/projects/celtic-interconnector/the-project/ | title=EirGrid Group }}</ref>

In 2007, the [[Green party]] which were the political architects behind the 1999 prohibition in the [[Republic of Ireland]] of the generation of fission-electricity, further prohibited the granting of exploration contracts to 2 unnamed mineral prospecting companies, which were requesting to explore the west of county [[County Donegal|Donegal]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150304113930/http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/NR/rdonlyres/5B86970D-8FDE-4FA3-A173-C30722C5FC72/0/Uranium_Donegal.pdf Archive map of areas requested for exploration]</ref> The then energy minister, the Green party's [[Eamon Ryan]], signaled he was denying the exploration licenseslicences as he is "against" nuclear energy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ryan-signals-prohibition-of-uranium-exploration-and-mining-49457.html|title=Ryan signals prohibition of uranium exploration and mining|date=3 December 2007|publisher=}}</ref> Ryan has also stated that "It would be hypocritical to permit the extraction of uranium for use in nuclear reactors in other countries, while the nuclear generation of electricity is not allowed in Ireland".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ryan-refuses-two-uranium-mining-licences-338865.html|title=Ryan refuses two uranium mining licences|date=2 December 2007|publisher=}}</ref> The suggested mining method of [[In situ leach#Uranium|In-situ liquid extraction of underground uranium]], was deemed the most likely had the prospecting developed into a mining licenselicence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wise-uranium.org/uafaq.html|title=The Activist's Guide to Uranium Mining|website=wise-uranium.org}}</ref>

[[Category:Nuclear energyEnergy in Ireland]]