Power shortage: Calls to address deficit in Athlone's electrical grid capacity

A call has been made for immediate action to be taken to address a 9.5% deficit in electricity grid capacity in the Athlone area, which could threaten the future status of the town as a Regional Growth Centre.

The grid deficit in Athlone came to light at the June meeting of Westmeath County Council, during a wide-ranging presentation on the Midlands EV Charging Infrastructure Strategy by consultants from SYSTRA and KPMG, which outlined how Westmeath and four neighbouring counties plan to meet their electric vehicle (EV) charging targets by 2030.

A grid capacity assessment for Westmeath which was outlined to members at the meeting as part of a powerpoint presentation estimated that, by 2030, Athlone would have a net available grid capacity of 9.51%, which is the lowest capacity across all the locations assessed in Westmeath.

The consultants who prepared the EV strategy for the county as a whole identified a number of constraints in supporting the deployment of a widspread EV charging network.

Moate and Kilbeggan were found to have “ample capacity” to support the required chargers, while Athlone was found to be one of six locations to have “zero capacity.”

Cllr Frankie Keena was one of a number of councillors to express their alarm at the shortfall in grid capacity in Athlone at the June council meeting. He has now called on local government Ministers Moran, Burke and Troy to take “immediate action” to address what he describes as “a very serious issue” for the town.

“It is just not good enough for Athlone, with the status of a Regional Growth Centre under the National Spatial Strategy, to have a limited supply of electric power,” said Cllr Keena, who has raised questions as to the impact of the grid capacity shortfall on the provision of any new major housing, industrial and educational buildings in the town.

“To be honest, I am fearful that Athlone may lose out to other towns in the region if we don't correct this deficit as soon as possible” he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Eirgrid told the Westmeath Independent that uprate works currently being carried out on power lines across three specific areas of Westmeath will “contribute to strengthening the energy grid” right across the county.

The Eirgrid statement outlined the three areas where uprate works are currently in progress, namely:

The Athlone - Lanesboro 110 kV line uprate; The Blundelstown - Mullingar 110 kV line uprate; and The Lanesboro – Mullingar 110kV line uprate Eirgrid is responsible for “balancing electricity supply and demand from the National Control Centre, while also planning for Ireland’s long-term electricity needs,” according to their statement, which added that ESB Networks is in charge of the connection of EV charging infrastructure.

Eirgrid has estimated that overall electricity demand is expected to “increase by 45%” between 2023 and 2034, while the proportion of overall demand from electric cars will rise from 1% this year to 8% by 2034.

Cllr Keena plans to raise the grid deficit in Athlone at the September meeting of Athlone Moate Municipal District, but is hoping that, in the interim period, the three government ministers from Westmeath will “present urgent solutions” as to how the shortfall can be addressed.