Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The grid is changing. The electricity system is changing because of this big transition to renewable energy. One of the things that is changing is that we sometimes suddenly find ourselves in great surplus and in great deficit at other times because of the weather. Although the weather is predictable, the pattern in which our electricity is generated is different from the way it was in the past, when a power station could be turned on and off more easily. Sometimes we are in a position of surplus but electricity cannot easily be stored. We know about Turlough Hill, where water can be pumped up a hill and brought down, but we are limited in how much we can use that kind of thing.

We do have electricity interconnections with other countries. That is another way to balance the situation and get money back. We are close to getting the North-South interconnector ready. We are working with the French to put in the Celtic interconnector, which should also help. The idea of using surplus energy to heat water tanks in people's homes is a form of battery. It is a form of storing energy. That water obviously can be used. It can be used to heat the home, have a shower or whatever else. I am interested to hear about EnergyCloud. I will be contacting the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I will ask him about the progress on that scheme. I would love to see it rolled out. Organisations such as Clúid directly target people in energy poverty, which is exactly what we are trying to do. Much work is done before the budget to make sure that the changes that happen in the budget do not disadvantage people who are in energy poverty, leave them colder in their homes or unable to pay their bills. We work carefully with the Economic and Social Research Institute to make sure that the budget is progressive and a lot of work is done in that regard. I was interested to hear about the issues the Senator has raised and I thank her for bringing them to my attention.