Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
16. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress of the Decarbonised Electricity System Study underway within the SEAI; the goals of the techno-economic study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46141/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Decarbonised Electricity System Study (DESS) was established to provide Government with an evidence-based pathway, or choice of robust alternative pathways, for decarbonising the Irish electricity system post-2030, in line with Government policy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Phase 1 of the study, comprising an expert elicitation study to verify the modelling assumptions of the carbon budget and a literature review of net-zero system studies to identify key features to be considered for future policy deliberations, has been completed and the results are available on the SEAI DESS webpage.
Phase 2 consists of a technology assessment of thirty technologies, across power generation, storage, and enabling/system coupling, and a techno-economic analysis of the electricity system and the economic and societal impacts of adopting identified pathways.
The SEAI published the draft results of the technology assessment for public consultation to gather stakeholder feedback on the evidence base which will underpin key DESS outputs. This public consultation closed on 23 February 2026. SEAI established a DESS stakeholder forum in 2025 to ensure stakeholders, inside and outside the power sector, had the opportunity to provide insight to the study. The next meeting of the stakeholder forum is scheduled for Monday, 22 June, to update members on the results of the technology assessment and brief on the techno-economics work package.
The techno-economic analysis, which is currently getting underway, will examine in detail the direct electricity system impacts, coupled energy sector impacts, and wider economic impacts of pursuing identified decarbonisation pathways.
SEAI are expected to submit the results of the DESS to my Department by the end of this year.
