Ireland’s environment minister Eamon Ryan TD has unveiled a new initiative by ESB Networks to enable customers to use and store electricity locally.
The National Network, Local Connections Programme, part of the €4bn plus network investment programme to 2025, aims to transform how energy on Ireland’s electricity network is managed and consumed at a local level by customers and communities across the country.
It will be a key enabler to Ireland achieving its climate change ambitions, ESB Networks said.
To redesign and optimise the electricity network for renewable, customer and community participation, ESB Networks is engaging with organisations across the energy sector including emerging energy companies, renewable energy generators, technology developers and manufacturers.
In tandem, it is consulting with communities, consumers and representative bodies that will be crucial to the adoption of evolving technologies, products and services that are coming on stream such as solar panels, heat pumps, electric vehicles and the smart electricity plans and products facilitated by the National Smart Metering Programme.
Ryan said: “I’m delighted to announce this major transformation of our electricity distribution network by ESB Networks.
“It will facilitate the use of more renewable energy and will support the increased electrification of heat and transport, along with sustainable electrification technologies for homes, farms and businesses across Ireland.”