Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 September 2024
121. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount the Government has invested in battery storage capacity from 2020-2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37148/24]
View answerWhilst the Government does not invest in battery storage capacity, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland on 4th July this year, which expresses the Government’s support for Electricity Storage Systems.
The Policy Framework addresses the role of grid-scale storage on the electricity network in the immediate and near term, outlining the present roles, technical processes, market positions and regulatory structures of electricity storage in Ireland. Further, the policy framework presents 10 Government actions to support the role of electricity storage in Ireland’s energy transition.
Actions #5 to #10 of the policy framework address the ‘Missing money’ problem, due to the existing market structures, associated with electricity storage. The actions set out the Government’s support for electricity storage systems benefitting from energy arbitrage and revenue stacking, the immediate procurement of up to 1GW of storage through new System Operator products (EirGrid’s long-duration energy storage product and ESB Networks’ Demand Flexibility product) and aim to identify and incorporate the optimum amount of electricity storage to meet Ireland’s needs up to 2040, by ensuring the continued investment in electricity storage capable of meeting these needs.
