Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The policy decision by Government is clear. We are going to introduce the ability for private lines so that industry will be able to generate its own power and have battery storage and other systems that will allow it to be part of not just meeting our immediate energy security needs, which are very real, but also the need for decarbonisation. I will have to come back to the Deputy on the exact date on which the rules will be changed. However, we are committed to moving in that direction.

One thing that might give some encouragement in the interim is that last year was a record year for the deployment of renewable power in our country, in both solar and wind energy. I was also informed yesterday when I was working on this that, in regard to battery storage, which we have only started but which has taken off close to the power stations at present and which also has huge potential close to industry as part of that balance in capability, we have the highest per capitavolume of battery storage of any country. In both renewables and on battery storage, we are progressing. Private wires and the role of industry will be expanded.

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