Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action
Engagement with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities
Mr. John Melvin:
Batteries are still being dispatched through a non-automated system in the control room. That is one of many pieces of software changes and upgrades that are scheduled. Each one is complex and is released in what is called a drop where we take five, six or seven significant pieces of software changes, test them with market participants and then drop them into the market. Such drops can happen once or twice per year, so it could be some time before there is a more automated system. However, the batteries are being dispatched. In fact, the batteries currently on the system are being dispatched for the next period in a way that generally maximises their availability during the peak time or security of supply concerns.