Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

170. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of electricity storage available on the grid; the plan to add more over the next five years; if he will confirm if pumped hydro storage is included; to outline the current location of electricity storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11242/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As of 1 January 2025, the system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, report that 22 separate electricity storage systems with the capacity to provide over 1,048 MW of electricity storage are connected to the grid network. One pumped hydro storage facility, Turlough Hill Co. Wicklow, accounts for 292 MW of this capacity with the remaining 756 MW provided by 21 Stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems (S-BESS) located throughout the country.

Electricity storage systems play a vital role in Ireland’s energy transitions and, in July 2024, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland. The policy framework presented 10 Government actions to support the incorporation of electricity storage systems onto Ireland’s electricity network.

Action #6 of the policy framework supports the immediate procurement of 500MW of Demand Flexibility Products on to the distribution system as well as 500MW of Long Duration Electricity Storage to the transmission system. At present, both system operators, ESB Networks and EirGrid, in conjunction with the regulatory authority, the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, are developing procurement mechanisms to incorporate this 1GW of electricity storage onto the respective grids.

In regard to pumped hydro storage and other specific electricity storage technology types, Action #1 of the policy framework maintains a technology neutral approach to all electricity storage systems in order to ensure that all electricity storage system capable of meeting the grids operational requirements are considered for development.

Details, including the locations, of all 22 ESS sites are provided at the following link: