2 minute read time.
SONI/Eirgrid Event: Scenario Planning for the Power System on the island of Ireland

Another extremely interesting event has been added to our calendar. Scheduled for Thursday 6th April.

Event is free with refreshments provided from 6pm, this will take place at both the SONI offices Belfast and Eirgrid Offices Dublin linked via video link.

The event follows an extremely succesful event that utilised the same format last year.


Just how do we keep the lights on with such high penetration of renewable energy and non-synchronous plant? 

What new scenarios do we need to plan for?

How many scenarios do we need to plan for?


Registration at the following link: https://localevents.theiet.org/effd79 

Speaker bios below:
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Marie Hayden, Manager Scenario Planning, EirGrid 

Marie Hayden is the Manager of Scenario Planning at EirGrid.  The Scenario Planning team was newly formed within EirGrid in March 2016.  It is responsible for developing a range of future scenarios looking at the evolution of the energy system in Ireland and its impact on the transmission system.  Marie has over 20 years’ experience in EirGrid and has previously managed Connection Policy & Contracts and Power System Operational Planning.  Over her career she has held roles in the areas of power system operation, grid development and market design and she spent five years working as a shift controller in the National Control Centre from 2001-2006.  Marie obtained her Bachelor of Engineering degree from University College Dublin in 1993 and a Masters in Engineering Management from UCD in 2011.   

Noel Cunniffe is a Senior Lead Engineer in the Operations, Planning and Innovation department in EirGrid. He is the project manager for the design, development and implementation of EirGrid's Tomorrow's Energy Scenarios 2017. He has worked in various Planning and Operations teams within EirGrid, as well as the Single Electricity Market Operator. He has a Bachelor of Engineering from National University of Ireland Galway and Masters of Engineering in Energy Systems Engineering from University College Dublin.

David McGowan PhD BEng MIET is an engineer within the Energy Systems Analysis SONI, his main area of responsibility is in economic analysis of the power system.  This role involves developing European and regional economic models to assess power system development needs based on future projections that enable a “decarbonised 2050”.  Before taking up this role David worked as a research fellow at The Queen’s University of Belfast. David’s field of research was in power system control, principally the design of digital governors and automatic voltage regulators. David was involved in a project lasting 14 years, spanning the areas of research, development and ultimately commercialisation of the product. David is named on two US patents associated with Automatic Voltage Regulator design. David has been working in the power industry since 2001 and holds a PhD in Engineering from The Queen’s University of Belfast. David is an active member of ENTSO-E, the European association of TSO, where he contributes to working groups, taskforces and market study teams.