EirGrid sounded alarm on supply issues eight times already in 2022

EirGrid says the increase in alerts is down to a number of factors, mainly additional demand for energy. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

The country's energy grid operator has sounded the alarm about the gap between supply and demand eight times this year, after just 10 such warnings in the previous five years.

Figures released to Sinn Féin's climate action spokesman, Darren O'Rourke, by EirGrid show that system or amber alerts were issued eight times this year. That comes after one in 2017, none in 2018 or 2019, three in 2020, and six last year.