EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, has recently launched its new Group Strategy 2026. It sets out an ambitious roadmap for the next five years to transform Ireland’s electricity grid for a future where every home, business and community is powered by secure, clean and affordable electricity.
The strategy outlines how EirGrid will deliver the most extensive programme of work ever undertaken on Ireland’s electricity system and follows an €18.9 billion investment by Government and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in the electricity grid.
EirGrid is responsible for operating the electricity transmission system securely and reliably, while planning and delivering the grid for the future.
With Ireland’s electricity system now entering a period of rapid change and demand growing significantly, EirGrid has placed its theme, Transforming for Clean Energy, at the heart of the strategy. It is one of four key pillars which sets the overall direction for EirGrid’s work over the next five years.
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“We recognise the scale of the task ahead of us as we work to transform the electricity grid, but we are equally ambitious for what we can achieve,” says Liam Ryan, EirGrid’s chief energy transition officer. “Part of EirGrid’s role is to plan the electricity grid of the future and we know that the power system of tomorrow will not look like today’s. Incremental change will not be sufficient to deliver the changes required. It must be a deliberate and system-wide transformation.
“The scale of the challenge is such that it requires us not just to transform, but to reimagine the power system for the years ahead,” says Ryan.
A number of strategic priorities will set the direction for Transforming for Clean Energy, which aims to enable much higher levels of renewable electricity, clean technologies and a more flexible power system.
The priorities include shaping a future-ready electricity network to meet Ireland’s onshore, offshore and interconnection needs as well as driving innovation to deliver operational capabilities for the safe and secure operation of the power system.
All of this must be done at the same time as EirGrid balances electricity supply and demand every minute of the day. A key challenge will be maintaining stability on the system, but one which Ireland and EirGrid is well placed to ensure.
‘We are working collaboratively across the electricity ecosystem to ensure there is enough electricity to meet existing and future demand’
— Liam Ryan, EirGrid’s chief energy transition officer
“A key component of an electricity grid that is fit for the future is one that is powered by clean technologies and helps Ireland to meet its climate target ambitions,” he says. “EirGrid is therefore working to enable the power system to be capable of operating with up to 95 per cent renewable sources by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2035. We have already made a significant amount of progress over the last number of years and Ireland can now facilitate up to 75 per cent of renewables on the system at any one time, which is very high by international standards.”
Other significant achievements to date include progress on the delivery of low carbon inertia services which will help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, as well as enabling more technologies like large-scale battery storage to have a greater role.
In order to achieve what is set out in the new strategy, including supporting Ireland’s transition to a cleaner energy future, EirGrid will continue strengthening its own capability, capacity and expertise needed to succeed.
“We are working collaboratively across the electricity ecosystem to ensure there is enough electricity to meet existing and future demand,” says Ryan. “While EirGrid has the expertise, which we will also be building on in the time ahead, as well as the ambition to transform Ireland’s electricity grid, we also recognise that engagement with stakeholders will be key. Collaborating with Government, our regulator, customers, industry and communities right across the country will be essential to achieving all that we have set out in our Group Strategy, so together we deliver for Ireland.
“EirGrid is committed to delivering a power system for the future that supports Government climate targets, keeps electricity affordable; supports and attracts investment and fuels innovation; and ultimately strengthens national resilience and enables greater energy independence.”
More information on EirGrid’s Group Strategy 2026 can be found at eirgrid.ie
