Mr. Paul Blount:

One of the challenges as we seek to electrify heat and transport is the power system effectively gets much bigger, which puts strain on, potentially, the transmission grid, but more acutely the distribution grid where, at the lower voltage levels much more power is trying to flow through the distribution grid than would have previously. ESB Networks is currently working on that. There has been a consultation process with the CRU. That is something where shorter-duration storage could help the problem. The problem tends to arise when the largest volumes of power are trying to flow during the peak demand periods. If we can install short-duration storage on the far side of that distribution system constraint, we can effectively charge the storage during the off-peak period and allow more power to flow through the distribution system to that storage point. That then sits there as a provider of power during the peak period.

That is not necessarily just for EVs. The challenge of accommodating more EVs is effectively a challenge of accommodating more demand and storage can certainly play a role there. The other point is obviously that charging an EV off-peak reduces that need as well. Schemes allowing EVs to charge at night would also very much help with that. Where there are particular problems if we are not able to build additional distribution grid, shorter-duration storage could help get us through those peaks if it is put in exactly the right places.