Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
212. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his views regarding energy cloud; if he has considered including the use of surplus energy as part of the Government's retrofit programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72384/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total volume of renewable electricity that was dispatched down or curtailed in each of the past five years; the estimated financial value of this wasted energy; and the actions being taken to ensure this surplus is redirected for productive social use, particularly for households in fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72531/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if his Department plans to introduce mandatory obligations on system operators, suppliers or aggregators to capture and utilise surplus renewable electricity for social benefit; if not, the rationale for this; and whether he accepts that the continued waste of clean energy during an energy poverty crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72532/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the full extent of engagement between his Department, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, EirGrid, ESB Networks and a company (details supplied); whether a formal service-level or funding agreement is under consideration; if he will commit to supporting a national rollout of the company's model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72533/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether his Department will develop a matched-funding model with corporate energy users, similar to a pilot (details supplied), to scale the redirection of surplus wind power into social housing and low-income private homes nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72535/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the reason more than 300 days after the Programme for Government commitment to use surplus renewable energy to support those in fuel poverty, no national delivery framework has been published; the person or body which holds responsibility for this delay; and when a statutory delivery plan will be brought to Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72536/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the changes to market design or network charging which are being advanced to ensure that surplus renewable electricity is treated first as a social resource for heat and domestic energy, rather than as a by-product absorbed by curtailment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72537/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 220 to 222, inclusive, and 224 to 226, inclusive, together.
Imperfections and dispatch down is a major challenge facing electricity systems, like ours, that are increasingly powered by renewables. This complex issue can only be addressed by taking a systematic and multi-faceted approach requiring investment in grid, storage and demand flexibility.
We are already taking steps to invest in this critical energy infrastructure. For example, PR6 will enable the delivery of over 500 capital network projects, supporting the integration of increasing volumes of renewables and helping to reduce the amount of wasted energy. In July, the Government committed to investing €3.5 billion of NDP funding in EirGrid and ESB Networks in order to ensure that the PR6 infrastructure programme can be delivered. Legislation providing the legal mechanism necessary for the investment of €1.5 billion of this funding into ESBN has now passed all stages and was signed into law by the President last month. Further legislation in relation to the investment in Eirgrid will be progressed next year.
Last year, my Department published the Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland which supported the procurement of 500 MW of demand flexibility products by ESBN and 500 MW of long duration electricity storage by EirGrid to meet specific network needs. Work is already underway to ensure the timely delivery of both.
In June, EirGrid established the Renewable Dispatch Down Working Group. This group is actively working with renewable industry representatives to identify additional actions that could improve levels of ‘dispatch down’.
Demand flexibility can also help to support our transition to a renewables-led energy system. The National Energy Demand Strategy aims to make 20% to 30% of electricity demand flexible by 2030. A key aspect of this strategy is preparing households and businesses to maximise their use of renewables.
The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was established by my Department to identify and assess measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The first report of the taskforce was published last month with an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be prepared next year. The taskforce will progress the Programme for Government commitment raised by the Deputy and the action plan will incorporate measures to further address 'dispatch down'.
Officials from my Department and the SEAI have met representatives from Energy Cloud on several occasions, and will continue to engage widely to support innovative mechanisms for benefitting households in energy poverty as part of the taskforce work programme.
