Dublin, Ireland – In a decisive move to secure its renewable energy future, Ireland's energy sector is rallying behind a clear target: the rapid integration of at least 500 megawatts (MW) of new, long-duration electricity storage onto the national grid by 2030. This push is anchored by the government's first-ever Electricity Storage Policy Framework, published in July 2024, which mandates an initial procurement of this scale to address urgent system needs.
The call to arms highlights a key moment in Ireland's transition to clean energy. Experts have a consensus that Energy Storage is the Final Element Needed to Create a Reliable, Cost-Effective Electric Grid That Will Allow New York to Meet its Statutory Mandate of having No Less than 80% of New York's Electric Supply Derived from Renewable Sources by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, the State of New York will need to determine how to Manage their Electric Grid with Respect to Current Levels of Renewable Energy Generation from Intermittent Sources Such As Wind and Solar.
A Policy Framework for Action
The government's framework, described as a "steppingstone on Ireland's path to net zero," outlines ten concrete actions to accelerate storage deployment. Its cornerstone is the immediate procurement of 500 MW of long-duration storage (4+ hours) for the transmission system, a process slated for 2024/2025.
This initiative is distinct from but complementary to a parallel effort to bring up to 500 MW of demand flexibility products, which can include storage, onto the distribution network. Together, these parallel tracks represent a planned 1 gigawatt (GW) of new flexible capacity coming online.
"We have to realise the potential of electricity storage in Ireland and internationally," said Eamon Ryan, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on release of the policy. The framework keeps a technology-agnostic approach, which means it is allowing for a basket of solutions, from grid-scale batteries to advanced pumped hydro that meets technical tests and emissions standards.
The Current Landscape and the Growth Surge
Ireland is not starting from zero. At the beginning of 2025, the energy storage system consists of 22 distinct energy storage systems totalling an estimated cumulative energy storage capability of more than 1,048 MW. Included in the total amount of energy storage is the currently operational 292 MW Turlough Hill Pumped Hydro Facility located in County Wicklow as well as 21 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) that together contribute 756 MW of energy storage capacity throughout Ireland.
Table: Ireland's Current Electricity Storage Capacity (as of Jan 2025)
| Technology Type | Number of Facilities | Total Capacity | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pumped Hydro Storage | 1 | 292 MW | Turlough Hill, Co. Wicklow |
| Battery Storage (BESS) | 21 | 756 MW | Multiple sites nationwide |
| Total | 22 | 1,048 MW |
The industry is showing strong growth momentum. State-owned utility ESB recently completed a 75 MW/150 MWh battery storage power station at its Poolbeg Energy Centre in Dublin, as part of a €300 million investment project in Dublin and Cork. "This latest fast-acting grid-scale battery unit will support grid stability and help to deliver more renewables on Ireland's electricity system," said Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director.
Market analysts predict explosive growth. Cornwall Insights forecasts that Ireland's battery storage capacity will increase fivefold in the short to medium term, from 2.7 gigawatt-hours in 2025 to 13.5 gigawatt-hours in 2030. In power terms, this could see discharge capacity rocket from today's installed 1 GW to approximately 5 GW.
The "Big 5" Context and the Path Forward
The storage drive is not an isolated effort. It is a fundamental component of the "Big 5" no-regrets measures identified by researchers to deliver 90% of Ireland's required energy emission savings by 2030. The first of these five measures is "Wind, solar and grid," which explicitly calls for creating "a more flexible system to manage fluctuating renewables with different kinds of energy storage".
With regulatory oversight from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), system operators EirGrid and ESB Networks are currently finalizing the specific route-to-market methods that will determine the storage rollout's success. By the middle of 2026, these mechanisms-which are essential for drawing in investment-will dictate how projects obtain revenue.
Beyond 2030, the job has already started. With a roadmap due by the end of 2028, the policy framework initiates investigations to determine Ireland's ideal long-duration storage requirements for 2030–2040 and to create market mechanisms to support them. Simultaneously, a multi-year study is being led by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to map out the course for a completely decarbonized electrical grid beyond 2030.
The message from Ireland's energy sector is unambiguous and consistent. Delivering 500MW of storage by 2030 is a vital inflection point on the way to the secure, affordable and decarbonised grid we all want. The policy groundwork has been laid, the market is ripe to expand and the clock is ticking toward a future relying more on renewably generated energy including some of what's being stored today.
