Grid energy reports contradict each other

Two articles, in the same edition of the (Irish Examiner, March 28) elegantly expose EirGrid’s dilemma in regard to the Government’s plan to meet EU 2020 targets for renewable energy by doubling the amount of on-shore wind power in the Irish system.

In “Blackout risk unless grid updated“, Grid Link project manager John Lowry claimed that “changes in generation mix and increased use of wind power... make transmission upgrades essential to avoid the risk of the system collapsing.”

Yet, in a second article that day, “Report urged investment in biomass”, EirGrid spokesman Michael Walsh claimed that it was not true that the grid upgrade was necessitated by the need to accommodate more wind.