EirGrid has 'warned of power supply challenges since 2017'

Amber alerts were issued by EirGrid on August 9 and August 10 in response to tight margins on the power system. Picture: Larry Cummins

An expert on power systems has said Government surprise at energy shortages is "strange", as EirGrid has been highlighting the discrepancy in predicted supply and demand since 2017. 

Barry Hayes, lecturer and principal investigator in power systems engineering at University College Cork, said that the risks to supply "should not come as a surprise".