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The chief executive of multi-utility company Ervia has revealed the company is rolling out a “major investment” programme to address deficiencies in infrastructure following the summer heatwave.
The company plans to invest, subject to approval and review by the economic regulator the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, €13.5 billion (£12.1 billion) between 2014-2034. It will invest €5.5 billion in the current cycle from 2014 to 2021.
Mike Quinn, CEO of Ervia says the benefits of its investment plan include reduced burst frequency, reduced supply interruptions, improved network performance and increased system capacity.
The company aims to improve water network asset information through the implementation of the plan.
Speaking to Utility Week ahead of our October congress, Quinn said resilience across the Irish firm’s gas and water sectors had been a “major concern”.
He added: “During all extreme weather events to date, our gas network has proven to be very resilient. However, we can never be complacent. We are therefore investing in the full twinning of our interconnectors to the UK to ensure security of supply in the unlikely case of a major disruption.
“In contrast, the resilience challenge to our water business is very onerous. Following decades of underinvestment, our infrastructure has considerable deficiencies and, most recently, the heatwave has placed our supply capacity under severe pressure.
“In response, we have had to act decisively with targeted conservation measures to protect our customers. In the longer term, we are rolling out a major investment programme to address this and many other issues.”
Quinn added that he was “most excited” about the various technologies being invested in by Ervia.
“In Irish Water we are currently upgrading our largest wastewater treatment plant (Ringsend) to deploy aerobic granular sludge technology. In Gas Networks Ireland, we are focusing resources on ambitious plans to contribute to Ireland’s climate action targets.
“Specifically, we are investing in compressed natural gas facilities for commercial transport and, in the wider market, we are providing funding and support for renewable gas, targeting a 20 per cent biomethane share of gas supply by 2030.
“One of the most exciting projects we are examining is the feasibility to deploy carbon capture and storage in the Cork area. Although we are at the very early stages, this project has the potential to deliver a step change in Ireland’s decarbonisation progress.”
The Utility Week Congress will be held at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre on 9-10 October.
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