TJ Hunter
Managing Director, Perigus Energy
Ireland needs more renewable energy. Households want affordable, secure electricity that isn’t hostage to international gas markets. As renewable energy developers, we’re ready to deliver it.
There is one frustrating reality standing in the way: In many parts of the country, the electricity grid is straining to accommodate any more energy.
Ireland already has the grid infrastructure
A stronger, more resilient electricity system is essential if Ireland is serious about delivering its climate targets, supporting economic growth and electrifying transport, heat and industry.
However, building new transmission infrastructure takes years. It requires significant public investment, lengthy planning processes, procurement and major engineering works. None of that can happen overnight. What can we do while we wait? The answer: make better use of the infrastructure we already have.
Every megawatt of renewable electricity that can be generated from an existing grid
connection is a megawatt that does not require years of waiting
Sharing the same grid connection
Many renewable developers already have valuable grid connections serving existing wind farms. Could those same connections also accommodate solar generation? When the wind eases on a summer afternoon, solar panels could continue producing clean electricity using the very same grid connection.
Likewise, shouldn’t battery storage be allowed to sit alongside existing renewable projects? Batteries can absorb excess renewable electricity when generation is high and release it back onto the system when demand rises or when renewable output falls. They improve flexibility, strengthen security of supply and make every existing grid connection work harder. Technically, this is achievable. In practice, however, often impossible.
Current rules continue to treat wind, solar and battery storage as separate technologies competing for scarce grid capacity, rather than complementary assets capable of sharing the same connection intelligently. Infrastructure capable of delivering significantly greater value remains underutilised, while new renewable projects wait in the queue for connections that are years away.
Achieving energy security
Across Europe, co-located renewable projects are becoming increasingly common because they maximise existing infrastructure, reduce costs and accelerate decarbonisation. Ireland should do the same.
Every megawatt of renewable electricity that can be generated from an existing grid connection is a megawatt that does not require years of waiting for new infrastructure before it can contribute to lower emissions, greater energy security and more stable electricity prices.
Removing barriers to sharing the grid
If Government is serious about accelerating renewable deployment, it should also remove the barriers preventing developers from combining wind, solar and battery storage behind existing and new grid connections.
Doing so would require little or no additional public spending. It would make better use of existing infrastructure. It would unlock clean electricity years sooner than waiting for new grid capacity alone.
Ireland cannot afford to leave renewable energy sitting on the sidelines because of rules designed for a different era. The infrastructure we have can do more. We should let it.
