Elsewhere, the Commission for Energy
Regulation (CER), in association with ESB
Networks, is conducting a national trial of
Smart Meters. From 2009, 6,500 residential and
commercial customers began using the meters.
Last year a number of incentives were introduced
to the participants, including various time of use
prices, and new smart bills containing detailed
consumption and cost information. A sample group
will also receive In Home Displays and a small
proportion of all participants will have “Smart
Web” access.
This is one of the largest and most comprehensive
trials of its kind in the world. The trial is also
reviewing Smart Meter pre-payment options with
the objective of agreeing a pre-payment market
model.
Electric vehicles will also play a key role and a
grant scheme has been introduced to accelerate
their deployment. From this year, car buyers can
get a grant of up to €5,000 for the purchase of an
electric vehicle, which will be exempt from vehicle
registration tax for the first three years. The scheme
aims to get 6,000 electric vehicles on the road
by 2012.
ESB Networks, in association with the Electric
Power Research Institute and University College
Dublin, is conducting a detailed study on the level
of electricity charging that can be accommodated on
the low-voltage networks.
By the end of the year, there will be 1,500 publicly
accessible charging stations and 2,000 domestic
88
charging points installed across the country. ESB
Networks is currently testing a smart
home-charging system for electric vehicles in
advance of the rollout.
Ireland has put in place a solid foundation for
further Smart Grid developments. Recognising
the need for a strategic approach to further work,
a Smart Grid roadmap working group has been
established to identify and address critical needs.
This is key to the successful evolution of the Smart
Grid.
Ireland has already begun to play a leading role in
the development of the Smart Grid. Pivotal research
is taking place, new skills are being developed, and
new technologies are being created. All of these
make Ireland the perfect test bed and places it far
ahead in the Smart Grid journey.
Ultimately, the Smart Grid will play a critical
role in underpinning the energy needs of the
revitalised Irish economy. It will lead to the creation
of significant employment opportunities, it will
amplify the capabilities of indigenous firms and
multinational organisations, and it will generate new
leading-edge products and services.