Bord Gais: there's no place like home

While Bord Gais takes the first step towards aggressively tackling the UK market, gains to be made back home cannot be ignored. In the lull after Ireland's final move towards liberalization, Bord Gais must seize the moment to reap rewards and protect its position before other European power suppliers arrive on Irish shores.

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Buyingpower: can it push into Europe fast enough?

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ePower: rough ride for new entrant in Ireland

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ESB divestiture: too little too late

Ireland's incumbent power utility, ESB, has spent years trying to stave off a break-up. Together with the Irish Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), the company instituted a system of virtual power plant auctions to help Ireland comply with the letter of the EU Electricity Directive, if not the spirit. But it seems this will not be enough to prevent a new round of dramatic changes for ESB.

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ESB: an Anglo-Irish agreement

Increasing interconnection with the UK will bring further opportunities for ESB in the UK market, with the new contract with Smartest Energy the first steps towards this. An integrated UK-Ireland market will give ESB the opportunity to expand and manage its own portfolio more effectively across a larger market.

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EU electricity: regional market merger will benefit Irish generators

The future merger of the Irish and British electricity markets is reliant upon the EU supporting a new Interconnector between Ireland and Wales. The merging of markets will have ramification for both countries, with the formerly isolated Irish generators facing future competition from the streamlined British utilities.

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Irish electricity: market opening in name alone

The electricity market opening mechanism introduced in Ireland is based on supplementing independent power producer (IPP) capacity with released capacity from monopoly ESB (virtual IPP), so that new entrants have the volumes to supply customers. Initially, enough IPP and discounted VIPP capacity was available for new entrants, but there is not yet enough for full market opening in 2005.

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Irish energy: retail competition depends on wholesale opening

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) argues that the Irish market is too small to cater for new entrants' needs. This stems from insufficient independent power production (IPP) and a lack of capacity created through virtual-IPP auctions. As Ireland needs a competitive wholesale environment to stimulate retail competition, ESRI has identified the right problem.

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Irish energy: wind in its sails?

On the back of a recent expansion of wind power in the Irish Republic, the government has announced an increased renewables target of 15% of total generated output by 2010. The increase is supported by the recently-announced renewable energy feed-in tariff (REFIT) program, but this method of financial support raises more questions than answers over the economics of Irish green power.

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Irish power market development continues, despite lack of ESB break up

With relatively robust regulatory polices and demand growth, the Irish power market has future developmental prospects not enjoyed by a number of markets elsewhere in Europe. Recent developments further highlight how the Irish power market remains a market to watch, although the decision not to break up former power monopolist ESB will curtail the development of true competitive intensity.

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