Supporting Information

Supporting Information

The information below may be of interest to parties considering applying for connection to the Transmission System.

Sample Connection Agreement documents

The CER approved EirGrid's (formally ESBNG's) revised form of Connection Agreement.  In order to make the new Connection Agreement more user-friendly, it has been restructured into three parts, namely the Connection Agreement (contains the more specific provisions in respect of connecting both generation and demand customers), the General Conditions (contains the general provisions of the Connection Agreement) and Schedule 10 (contains construction and commissioning provisions).

Connection Agreement Longstop Dates

The right of EirGrid and ESB Networks (the SO’s) to terminate a connection agreement on the passing of a Longstop Date without the attainment of the relevant project milestone has been enshrined in the SO’s CER-approved Connection Agreements for some time. An information memorandum has been drafted to clarify future practice in relation to when this right to terminate a Connection Agreement will be enforced.

At the Gate 3 Liaison Group Meeting on 7 February 2012, EirGrid and ESB Networks agreed to circulate this information memorandum note for industry comment pre-publication. This information memorandum reflected the presentation on this issue given at the Gate 3 Liaison Group Meeting on 30 November 2011.  Since submissions received comprised of requests for clarification only, no changes have been made to the information memorandum since its original circulation to the Liaison Group. Click here for the Longstop Dates Information Memorandum.

Transmission Forecast Statement

The Transmission Forecast Statement presents factual information on, and projections of, electricity demand, generation, the transmission network and interconnection with other electricity systems. In addition, this Statement includes the results of analyses that indicate the most suitable locations for the connection of new generation or customer demand. The Statement also contains information about the TSO's network development plans. These plans may change from time to time and should therefore be confirmed with the TSO. Click here for the current Transmission Forecast Statement 2012-2018.

Grid Code

Generator and Demand customers are required to comply and maintain compliance with the Grid Code. It is fundamentally a technical document containing the rules governing the connection of plant, operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system, and co-ordination of the actions of all users of the transmission system. Please refer to the Grid Code page for further information and to access the Grid Code.

Transmission Use of System Charges

All customers are responsible for paying Transmission Use of System (TUoS) charges in accordance with CER-approved methodology, as set out in the Statement of Charges document. The Transmission Use of System Charges page contains further information on the above and links to the current version of the Statement of Charges document.

Transmission Loss Adjustment Factors (TLAFs)

In the Single Electricity Market (SEM) generators 'self provide' energy losses on the transmission system through the application of Transmission Loss Adjustment Factors (TLAFs). Only SEM participants are subject to TLAFs. TLAFs are applied in the market systems to determine tradable quantities and are also applied to metered generation in market settlement. TLAFs can have a significant impact on generation project economics. For further information please refer to the Transmission Loss Adjustment Factors page on this website.

Ancillary Services and System Support - Provision and Payments

Ancillary Services are services other than energy which are required to ensure the secure operation of the transmission system. The TSO procures Operating Reserve, Reactive Power, Black Start and Automatic Generation Control services from generators. The Grid Code obliges generators to ensure that their plant has the physical capabilities to supply Ancillary Services in each category appropriate to the plant technology. Generator licences issued by the CER require that generators offer Ancillary Services to the Transmission System Operator under reasonable terms. For further information on the above, please review the Ancillary Services & Other System Charges page on this website.

Licenses and Authorisations

In addition to an application to EirGrid for connection to the Transmission Network a number of key items need to be taken into account by developers and their engineering contractors. While the following Authorisation and Licences are primarily of concern to Generation Connections, Demand Customers intending to construct onsite generation that will be paralleled to the system as part of their facility should also note that under legislation anyone wishing to construct a generation facility (including onsite CHP) must obtain authorisation from the CER prior to commencing work and may also require a generation licence from the CER.

Legislation

European Union Directive 96/92/EC, Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and a number of other statutory instruments should be consulted. The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) maintains a repository of relevant legislation.

Authorisation to Construct

Under section 16 of the Electricity Regulation Act anyone wishing to construct a new generating station or reconstruct an existing generating station must obtain an authorisation from the CER prior to commencing work. The criteria used to assess an application for an authorisation are detailed in Statutory Instrument 309 of 1999.

Licences

Under section 14 of the Electricity Regulation Act all generators must obtain a generation license from the CER. The CER can consider a number of factors in evaluating a licence application. These may include, for example, the availability of sufficient appropriate financial, managerial or technical resources to ensure that the generator is able to comply with the terms and conditions that govern the electricity generation licence.