Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 May 2022
210. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total capacity of battery storage either held by energy utilities or through supply and demand management agreements; and the way that the capacity compares to average daily usage. [23285/22]
View answerThe variability challenge posed by renewable energy creates the need for a range of interventions. Storage technology, including battery storage, alongside demand-side response and interconnection, will be key as Ireland seeks to increase its share of renewable electricity up to 80 per cent by 2030. The 2021 Climate Action Plan has set out specific actions to address storage, including the publication of a policy framework for electricity storage, based on electricity system needs, which my Department is currently working on and which is due for publication next year.
EirGrid has reported that a number of battery projects have been contracted via two mechanisms: SEM Capacity Auctions and DS3 Systems Services. These routes offer different but essential services to the power system on the island of Ireland.
There is currently approximately 500MW of short duration batteries on the all-island system providing system services such as reserve. There are also approximately 500MW of batteries either connected, or contracted to connect to the system over the next four years, to provide capacity to the all island power system. The average duration of these batteries providing capacity is approximately 1.5 hours. Further detailed information is available from EirGrid if the Deputy wishes to contact them.
