Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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69. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide an update on battery energy storage systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27269/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan recognises the need for a range of supporting measures to enable the transformation of Ireland's electricity sector. Electricity storage systems are a key measure to ensuring security of electricity supply in the electricity network throughout Ireland's energy transition.

There are now over 1GW of electricity storage systems on the grid managing targeted demand issues, providing specialist system services and supporting strategic grid build out, with over 700MW of these Battery Electricity Storage Systems (BESS).

Electricity storage systems improve the overall operation and reliability of the network and are vital assets capable of reinforcing the grid at a regional or local level. The deployment of targeted electricity storage systems is crucial to maximising the integration of renewable electricity, achieving our CAP targets and ultimately improving the affordability of energy to the consumer.

I intend to bring the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland to Government for Cabinet approval in the coming weeks. This policy addresses the role of electricity storage on the grid network until 2040. It contains 11 actions that support both the key stakeholders and industry to incorporate the optimum amount of electricity storage to meet our 2030 and 2040 needs and ensures continued engagement with all electricity storage stakeholders in order to meet Ireland's Net-Zero future.