SSE is the third largest electricity generator by capacity in the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM). It owns and operates 1,836MW of generation capacity, of which 544MW is from renewable sources. This makes SSE the largest wind energy generator in the SEM. The company also trades across the interconnectors between Ireland and GB.
In the six months to 30 September 2016, SSE's 464MW Great Island CCGT unit (grid connection capacity set at 431MW) exported 1.4TWh of electricity, up 41% on the same period in 2015. The improved generation performance was due to increased power demand and prevailing market conditions, including the improved position of gas plant relative to other generation types.
On 30 September 2016, Ireland’s national grid operator EirGrid announced that the 500MW East West Interconnector (EWIC) between Ireland and GB had gone out of commission due to a fault that occurred during annual maintenance. EirGrid estimates a return to service by the end of February 2017.
Delivering and developing new capacity for electricity generation
Construction of the two-phase 174MW (SSE share 120MW) Galway Wind Park project is ongoing and it is due to be commissioned by the end of 2017. The project will qualify for REFIT II support. In Northern Ireland, construction of both the Tievenameenta (35MW) and Slieve Divena II (18MW) onshore wind farms is progressing well. Both projects will be operational in 2017, meeting the criteria for Northern Ireland’s RO grace period.
SSE continues to advance its planned Doraville wind farm development (up to 115MW), a planning application for which is currently before Northern Ireland’s Department for Infrastructure. This project, if developed, will not qualify for the RO.
Engaging in the I-SEM reform process
Reform of the SEM to comply with the EU Electricity Target Model continues, with regulators in Ireland and Northern Ireland progressing the Integrated SEM (I-SEM) project due for introduction by the end of 2017. In July, regulators said they considered it very unlikely that the UK decision to leave the EU would have any significant impact on I-SEM programme delivery. In addition, the UK Prime Minster has advised the Northern Ireland First Minister that resolving the SEM will be a priority for the UK Government. For its part, SSE continues to be fully involved in all stages of the ongoing new market design and implementation process.
Wholesale Key Performance Indicators – Ireland
| GENERATION | Sep 16 | Sep 15 |
Gas- and oil-fired generation capacity (Ire) - MW | 1,292 | 1,292 |
Total thermal generation capacity - MW | 1,292 | 1,292 |
Onshore wind capacity (NI) - MW | 88 | 88 |
Onshore wind capacity (ROI) - MW | 456 | 456 |
Total renewable generation capacity - MW | 544 | 544 |
Total electricity generation capacity (Ire) - MW | 1,836 | 1,836 |
Gas- and oil-fired output (Ire) - GWh | 1,428 | 1,015 |
Total thermal generation - GWh | 1,428 | 1,015 |
Onshore wind output NI - GWh | 87 | 94 |
Onshore wind output ROI - GWh | 471 | 548 |
Total renewable generation - GWh | 558 | 642 |
Total Generation output all plant - GWh | 1,986 | 1,657 |
Note 1: Capacity is wholly-owned and share of joint ventures. Note 2: Output is electricity from power stations in which SSE has an ownership interest (output based on SSE's contractual share). | ||