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Energy Needs Ireland, known as ENI is an undergraduate interdisciplinary summer education programme
based in University College Dublin, Ireland. ENI consists of students from across the country
that have come together to research topics regarding Ireland's energy sector.
ENI began in 2007 and has been run every two years since
and now in 2013 we're bigger and better than ever. So let's meet the family.
We are 21 motivated students working together under the ENI umbrella.
This year ENI are looking at researching a variety of innovative smart grid solutions that we hope will make Ireland's current electricity grid smarter
in ways that will benefit everyone.
ENI has decided to tackle this from 5 main angles, each of which focuses on a different area of the Smart Grid.
We are putting you, the consumer, first. By gauging public opinion,
and looking at the ways in which the Smart Grid can benefit the Irish consumer to the fullest.
Have you ever thought your tweets and posts could help the national grid?
Well its ideas like these that ENI believe will help revolutionise forecasting electricity demand.
Of course we can't forget those who will be making these changes possible.
Enhancing government policy will be the key to implementing all of our ideas.
Now let's look at the bigger picture.
ENI recognises that Ireland is part of a much larger network and will analyse the impact of exportation of electricity.
ENI recognises that Ireland is part of a much larger network and will analyse the impact of exportation of electricity.
Today the world has become connected through data. ENI will attempt to find innovative ways to capture this flow of information
to benefit you and consumers worldwide.
If you would like more information about ENI and our research, do not hesitate to contact us;
ENI, "an unbiased perspective on the Energy Industry"
The Irish electricity grid is in for some major changes in the coming years.
The National Smart Metering Programme will see an In Home Display and a smart meter being installed in over 2.2 million homes by 2020.
The National Smart Metering Programme will see an In Home Display and a smart meter being installed in over 2.2 million homes by 2020.
This will give Irish consumers more power in managing their energy consumption than ever before.
Correct consumer engagement is a key element to a successful rollout
ENI feel that our recommendations have come at the right time to have an impact on the future rollout.
ENI found that information regarding the Irish public views on this topic was not readily available.
ENI found that information regarding the Irish public views on this topic was not readily available.
As a result, ENI completed an extensive survey on the Irish consumers view on the Smart Grid.
ENI surveyed over 400 residential consumers in various geographical regions
and took into account various socio-economic backgrounds. Our survey gave some interesting results.
ENI found that 88% of respondents were unfamiliar with Smart Grid concepts.
76% of people were in favour of installing a smart meter, while 81% of people were in favour of installing an In Home Display.
From the survey ENI also found that an In Home display would make 95% of respondents play a more active role in managing their energy usage.
From the survey ENI also found that an In Home display would make 95% of respondents play a more active role in managing their energy usage.
ENI have analysed global case studies from North America, Canada,
Scandinavia, Europe and Australia, in order to see what these countries did right, did wrong
and attempt to ensure that Ireland gets this right the first time.
ENI have also gained views regarding the rollout through the help various industry specialists
who have lent us their opinions and expertise. ENI have made a number of recommendations
regarding the Irish consumer and the Smart Grid. These include topics such as:
the best ways of ensuring consumer engagement, Educating the Irish public, technology, smart meters and IHDs,
the evolution of dynamic pricing structures, finance and rollout and finally, market structures.
ENI, "An unbiased perspective on the energy industry."
ENI, "An unbiased perspective on the energy industry."
Today the world has become connected through data. As our current electricity system evolves towards a smarter grid, the volume of data can only grow.
Today the world has become connected through data. As our current electricity system evolves towards a smarter grid, the volume of data can only grow.
Through our research Energy needs Ireland have attempted to find the killer application for this information.
Of course, data is not the only thing that is increasing. As the world's population grows, so too does their need for energy.
Is there a way of connecting both data collected from the smart grid and energy usage in order to make Ireland more energy efficient?
Energy Needs Ireland believe that there is. A behavioural science experiment was carried out
In San Marcos, California, graduate students put one of four leaflets through residential consumers' doors.
This leaflet asked them to turn off their air conditioning and turn on their fan
In order to either: Save money and Help the environment or Be a better citizen. Surprisingly none of these had any impact on reducing energy consumption.
In order to either: Save money and Help the environment or Be a better citizen. Surprisingly none of these had any impact on reducing energy consumption.
However, the fourth message went out saying: '77% of your neighbours have turned off their air conditioning
and turned on their fan, why don't you join them?'
This was the message that worked.
Energy Needs Ireland believes that the road to a Smart Energy future
lies in the hands of the consumer and their participation. As a result, we have developed a website
called ENI Smart Communities, which we believe can help domestic consumers in Ireland
reach new levels of energy efficiency. This idea uses the two main concepts:
social pressure and competition. For more information about our idea
Visit our ENI smart communities website at the link shown
ENI, "an unbiased perspective on the Energy Industry"
Any implementation of a Smart Grid, or associated technology, will require detailed studies to be completed.
For this reason, ENI chose to conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis, or CBA, to assess if a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout.
For this reason, ENI chose to conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis, or CBA, to assess if a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout.
For this reason, ENI chose to conduct a Cost Benefit Analysis, or CBA, to assess if a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout.
is the best way to improve Ireland's electricity supply, in order to make it more efficient
and environmentally friendly. While the Commission for Energy Regulation
has conducted a CBA 'for a National Electricity Smart Metering Rollout in Ireland',
ENI chose to take a more macro view of the Smart Grid concept.
The group introduced a clear definition of a Smart Grid, to ensure that there is no ambiguity in the study. This strict definition states that a Smart Grid is comprised of the following aspects:
Smart Metering systems implemented into every building, Upgraded grid infrastructure,
Smart Appliances installed in every household
Smart Appliances installed in every household
A population that is fully educated on Smart Grid concepts,
The facilitation of two-way data flow between consumer, supplier and grid operator
and finally Increased wind generation on the grid. ...Cost Benefit Analyses are notoriously subjective.
To combat this, and to maximise the reliability of the study, best and worst case scenarios were included.
The outcome of the calculations is very intriguing.
The best case scenario illustrates a net monetary benefit of greater than half a billion Euro;
Whereas the worst case scenario details a net cost of approximately 1.3 billion Euro.
An important fact to remember is that monetary values could not be calculated
on a large number of both the costs and benefits. These intangibles would affect the overall result of the CBA.
All costs and benefits were considered when forming the final conclusions and recommendations.
These are based on the study and research carried out.
ENI has determined that a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout in Ireland is not a wise decision at this time.
ENI has determined that a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout in Ireland is not a wise decision at this time.
ENI has determined that a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout in Ireland is not a wise decision at this time.
ENI has determined that a full and immediate Smart Grid rollout in Ireland is not a wise decision at this time.
The amount of risk associated with this is too great for justification.
The amount of risk associated with this is too great for justification.
The amount of risk associated with this is too great for justification.
The amount of risk associated with this is too great for justification.
The amount of risk associated with this is too great for justification.
For more information on the CBA, or to read the full document, it is available to download online at eni.ucd.ie.
For more information on the CBA, or to read the full document, it is available to download online at eni.ucd.ie.
ENI believe that the future of Ireland's smart grid will expand. Ireland is now being considered as a potential exporter of renewable energy as part of a much larger network.
ENI believe that the future of Ireland's smart grid will expand. Ireland is now being considered as a potential exporter of renewable energy as part of a much larger network.
ENI believe that the future of Ireland's smart grid will expand. Ireland is now being considered as a potential exporter of renewable energy as part of a much larger network.
To understand the justification for the export projects we must look at the current British power system.
Britain is struggling to meet their 2020 renewable energy targets
and will have to invest heavily to meet having 16% of renewables on their grid.
However, they are running out of appropriate sites for wind turbines on land,
and offshore wind generation is still too expensive to be viable. These issues, coupled with the shutdown of old power plants
in the UK mean that Britain will be facing an energy shortage in the near future.
Long story short, the lights will go out. Could wind turbines be placed onshore in Ireland at a price between those of British onshore and offshore wind?
Long story short, the lights will go out. Could wind turbines be placed onshore in Ireland at a price between those of British onshore and offshore wind?
This is what is being suggested for the Irish midlands.
However, the benefits for Ireland will need to be analysed. The proposed export projects have been, without doubt, surrounded by controversy.
People are concerned with many aspects of the projects from the size of the turbines, the noise levels,
health issues, and the benefits wind energy can actually pose.
These are all legitimate concerns which could have drastic consequences.
ENI 2013 feel that these projects need to be analysed
from an unbiased perspective incorporating all areas of the development.
Decisions surrounding future policies will have a large influence on these projects.
Having already signed a Memorandum of Understanding, the Irish and British governments
are now involved in an Intergovernmental Agreement on exportation, expected to be completed in early 2014.
ENI recommend that a key feature of this agreement
is that Ireland future proof the Irish grid and utilise the connection to Britain
for more than just pure exportation. Policy can also be used to minimise the impact to communities
by setting in stone wind turbine distances and noise levels.
We agree with the current scientific peer-reviewed material that there are no adverse physical health effects
associated with living in reasonable proximity of wind turbines.
associated with living in reasonable proximity of wind turbines.
Let's now look at the employment opportunities of these projects.
Here, facts can become lost and numbers misleading with every project
quoting their own figures. ENI recommend that any job figure estimates
clearly differentiate between direct and indirect jobs.
Regarding the environment. Wind turbines should not be put on unspoilt bog lands
and each project's environment assessment reinstatement plan should contain a section on recycling of wind turbines
and their blades. ENI's final verdict
is that these projects have the potential to go ahead but only if our recommendations are introduced.
Otherwise, Ireland face to lose more than it will gain.
If you'd like any more information on any of the topics discussed please check the energy export section of the ENI white paper.
ENI, "an unbiased perspective on the energy industry"
ENI, "an unbiased perspective on the energy industry"