A new €2 billion strategy has been launched to boost renewable energy use across Ireland.

Put forward by EirGrid Group, the initiative aims to more than double renewable energy in the country by 2030. This would see 70% of all electricity use be renewable.

The five-year strategy was launched at the EirGrid Group Annual Conference at the National Conference Centre today, 26 September.

Speaking at the event, EirGrid Group CEO Mark Foley said: "The strategy EirGrid is setting out today is a direct response to the significant but necessary challenges we have been set in the Government's Climate Action Plan. The need to respond to the climate change crisis is a priority and the knock-on benefits will be considerable. It is shaped by the rapid evolution of the electricity sector and its aims are reflected in our new statement of purpose; transforming the power system for future generations."

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A vital of part of the strategy will see upgrades to the national power system so that it can handle world-leading levels of renewable energy, supplied through a combination of offshore and onshore wind, along with solar energy.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton TD said: "Our electricity grid will be pivotal to the success of urgent Climate Action in Ireland. We can only break the grip of fossil fuels by building major new renewable capacity. EirGrid must ensure that our power is safe, secure and reliable as we convert more and more users in transport, in homes, and in enterprise to clean energy. But EirGrid must also accommodate much more distributed sources of generation, large and small, and help to promote smart and secure use of power. I welcome this strategy, which recognises the significance of the challenge ahead and sets out how we can lead the transformation required. We must act now and leave a better, healthier, more sustainable Ireland for future generations."

EirGrid can operate the grid at any given time with up to 65% of renewable power, including onshore wind and solar. This is a pioneering engineering achievement. By 2030, this must increase to 95%.

This will require EirGrid's engineers to operate the system in a more dynamic and responsive way. To do so will require improvements to infrastructure to make the grid stronger and more flexible. This will be achieved by using innovative solutions as well as proven technologies.

EirGrid's goal is to achieve the required increase in renewable energy while minimising new infrastructure. System interconnection - such as the proposed new North South, Celtic and Greenlink interconnectors – is a key part of this goal.

(CM/MH)