EU Regulations

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Questions (480)

Louis O'Hara

Question:

480. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 18 March 2026, and noting that no notifying authority has yet been designated in the state under regulation (EU) 2023/1542, whether any battery energy storage systems (BESS) approved or deployed in the State since 18 August 2024 contain batteries that have undergone conformity assessment under that regulation, including any assessment involving an EU-notified body; the conformity assessment route being relied upon, including whether any EU-notified body designated by another Member State is involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25926/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment

The 2023 EU Batteries Regulation requires that batteries placed on the EU market are certified to conform with various sustainability, safety, labelling, information and due diligence requirements. This 'conformity assessment procedure' involves calibration, testing, certification and inspection of batteries, and must be carried out by an approved conformity assessment body. To operate as a conformity assessment body, an organisation must be first approved by the Notifying Authority of a Member State. The Department is currently considering the appropriate designation of a Notifying Authority in Ireland.

The European Commission is currently progressing work in respect of standardisation regarding the performance and durability of batteries, state of health of batteries and safety of stationary batteries and storage system under the 2023 EU Batteries Regulation. The final determination of standards by the Commission is expected by end Q2 2026. Until those standards are published, no conformity assessments will take place.