Richard O’Loughlin
Deputy CEO, GridBeyond
Ireland’s energy market is evolving. The Scheduling and Dispatch Programme (SDP), led by the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) Eirgrid & SONI can improve how electricity is scheduled and dispatched across the all-island grid.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be enabled to fully participate in energy trading, aligning with the EU Clean Energy Package and supporting Ireland’s renewable energy goals.
Market access for batteries
Under the new framework, batteries will be permitted to buy and sell electricity in the day-ahead, intra-day and real-time markets in the same way as traditional fossil fuel power plants. This shift positions batteries as active market participants, capable of optimising their operation based on market price signals and system needs.
The project enhances the economic viability of battery assets, unlocking access to multiple trading platforms and revenue streams while encouraging broader participation in energy markets.
The project enhances the economic
viability of battery assets.
Aligning storage with demand
Batteries can communicate their intended charging and discharging schedules directly to the grid operators. This empowers asset owners to better align their operations with both market conditions and system demand, offering a higher degree of control over how and when batteries are used.
It also allows for more efficient scheduling of grid resources, particularly during periods of volatility or high renewable generation. TSOs will also have real-time access to data on the state of charge of individual battery systems. This provides better situational awareness, enabling them to make more informed decisions about when and how to dispatch battery resources to balance supply and demand. Batteries will also receive clearer and more accurate operational instructions from the grid, enhancing responsiveness and efficiency.
Software-driven battery optimisation
Richard O’Loughlin, Deputy CEO at GridBeyond, explains: “The new Scheduling and Dispatch framework brings fantastic opportunities for BESS owners who will be able to take advantage of new revenue streams and optimal trading of their assets. For asset owners, it will necessitate utilising best-in-class software platform to reforecast and reoptimise hour by hour from a day ahead to real time. By leveraging real-time data, AI driven forecasts and predictive analytics, GridBeyond’s “Point” platform can support battery owners and operators to optimise dispatch and trading decisions.”
He adds: “We have been offering energy optimisation services and trading operations for several years, empowering asset owners across the world with advanced tools and AI-powered solutions. These enable our customers to have immediate short and long-term forecasts across all energy markets, coupled with our optimisation tools, which are essential for optimising the monetisation of their assets and achieving operational savings in Ireland’s energy market.”
The new framework will also accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system by integrating efficient operation of low-carbon technologies which will contribute to a lower system balancing costs which are ultimately borne by the end consumer.
