Conservative grid development planning and substation construction for PV in Ireland

Network planning standards in Ireland are considered conservative. Standards are based on the principle of “future capacity needs modelled on the basis of near-impossible circumstances of maximum renewable energy production”. However, the standards may lead to additional and unnecessary works for solar PV connections that are not considered necessary in other jurisdictions, thus creating additional cost.  

Apart from that, the use of containerised modular solutions with less construction cost and time are limited to 20kV and below. Instead, substation buidlings are made of bricks. This obligations creates unncessary additional costs, as containerised modular solutions have been successfully use in equipment rated for 38 kilovolts (kV) up to 40kV.