Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
198. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total amount of battery storage available on the Irish electrical grid as of the latest figures; the capacity added in 2025 and the projected amount to be added in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72339/25]
View answerGrid scale electricity storage systems including battery electricity storage systems play a vital role in Irelands energy transition by maximising the incorporation of renewable generated electricity, providing targeted demand flexibility to the grid, supporting grid build out and ensuring the proper functioning of the grid through system services.
As of November 2025, the system operators, EirGrid and ESB Networks, report that electricity storage systems with the capacity of 1,048 MW (megawatts) 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 Stationary Battery Energy Storage Systems (S-BESS).
By comparison, approximately 4,350 MW of gas generation, 5,100 MW of wind generation and 2,100 MW of solar generation are connected to the grid network.
As of November, no additional electricity storage capacity have been reported as energised onto either the transmission or distribution grids in 2025, however, EirGrid currently has 28 storage projects totalling 1,698 MW with connection contracts pending fulfilment.
In support of Electricity Storage Systems, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland in July 2024, which included 10 Government actions.
Action 6 of the policy framework supports the immediate procurement of 500 MW of Demand Flexibility Products by ESB Networks and 500 MW of Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) by EirGrid to meet specific network needs.
The first round of the ESB Networks Demand Flexibility Product, contracting 109MW of flexible capacity across 16 locations on to the distribution grid, is now live.
The EirGrid Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) product will incorporate electricity storage technologies with a minimum duration of 4 hours. The first contracts are expected to be signed in 2027, with the assets delivered by end of 2030.
