Utility scale ESS project financing options in Ireland 2025

How good is Ireland's energy storage strategy?

Smith pointed out that Ireland’s energy storage strategy, published in 2024, was “quite positive.” A lot of high-level plans and a technology agnostic outlook. “Unfortunately, we haven’t seen a lot of progress on those actions which is a problem we are trying to address,” said Smith.

Are there regulatory paradoxes regarding energy storage units in Ireland?

Some regulatory paradoxes remain unsolved regarding the definition of the energy storage unit in Ireland.

Is Marex a viable energy storage project in Ireland?

MAREX organic power energy storage project with the nominal capacity of 750 MW is also under consideration to support the increasing flexibility requirements in Ireland . It is remarkable that Ireland has a very limited potential to deploy the PSHs.

What challenges does Ireland's Bess market face?

According to Bobby Smith, head of Energy Storage Ireland (ESI), one of the main obstacles Ireland’s BESS market faces is the lack of route to market for battery operators. “A lot of energy storage has crept under the radar so far in Ireland,” he told ESS News. Developers secure planning quite easily but the route to market is a challenge.

Can interconnectors compete with conventional energy storage units in Ireland?

Interconnectors are also approved as capacity market units and could participate in the capacity market. Based on current market instructions in Ireland, a battery energy storage should not only compete with conventional generations units, but also interconnectors are functioning as serious rivals, especially in the capacity market.

Who regulates energy storage units in Ireland?

CRU as the regulatory authority in the republic of Ireland, is assigned through the climate action plan 2021, to review the regulatory treatment concerning the licensing, charging/discharging, and market incentives for the energy storage units.