The Gate 3 Offer Project refers to the third round of connection offers that are currently being issued to generators under the Group Processing Approach (GPA). The GPA allows for strategic processing of generation applications for grid connection and was introduced by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in 2004. It allows applications to be processed by the System Operators (EirGrid and ESB Networks) in groups or batches known as ‘Gates’.

The scope is based on the CER’s decision papers CER/08/260 CER Direction on Criteria for Gate 3 Renewable Generator Offers and CER/09/191 Direction on Conventional Offer Issuance Criteria and Matters Related to Gate 3. It involves offers for connection to circa 4000 MW of wind generation and 1700MW of conventional generation. The 4000MW of wind developments to receive an offer as part of Gate 3 provides for the 40% renewable generation target.

Latest News April 2013

Further to the publication of the decision paper Treatment of Curtailment in Tie-break Situations (SEM-13-010) by the SEM committee on the 29th of March 2013, EirGrid are now in a position where the Gate 3 Constraints Reports can be completed and issued to Gate 3 applicants as per the CER Direction CER-08-260. EirGrid had previously commenced preliminary studies on the basis of the proposed decision, SEM-12-090, which was published in October 2012. The final decision does not require any fundamental changes to the work completed to date and EirGrid is now in the process of finalising its constraint models. The results of these models will be analysed and translated into Gate 3 constraints reports. EirGrid will commence issuing Gate 3 Constraints Reports in April 2013 and will complete the issuance of all reports in September 2013.  

To view the issuance dates of the Gate 3 Constraint Reports click on the following link:

Issuance of Gate 3 Constraint Reports 2013