Wind Energy Ireland Blog

New Expo Creates Single Meeting Point for Irish and International Renewable Energy Supply Chains

Written by administrator | May 7, 2026 8:32:00 AM

07 May 2026

Delivered by Wind Energy Ireland, Solar Ireland and Energy Storage Ireland, the Renewable Energy Expo marks the first time the three key renewable sectors have come together to create a single national platform for Irish businesses, international partners, investors and policymakers to seize Ireland’s electrification opportunity. The event reflects the increasing integration of wind, solar and storage as a coordinated energy system. 

Watch: Ireland’s renewable energy industries come together under one roof for the first time.

At a time when the sector is moving from ambition to delivery, the two-day event, taking place at the RDS Dublin, will draw domestic companies, international investors, supply-chain partners and policymakers to examine what it will take to turn Ireland into a true electrostate – moving from reliance on imported fossil fuels towards a system increasingly powered by domestically generated renewable electricity.  

A market moment, not just a milestone
 
The expo arrives at a critical time for Irish energy supply. Ireland’s energy bills are heavily exposed to volatile global fossil fuel markets, so the need to accelerate the deployment of homegrown renewable energy has never been stronger.
 
Industry leaders point to a significant opportunity: reduced energy costs for businesses and households, strengthening the domestic supply chain, attracting investment, and supporting the creation of thousands of new skilled green jobs across the country.
 
The event will show the scale of this opportunity across the full electrification supply chain, from manufacturing and generation, to storage, system integration and supporting services.
Strong early interest from international participants, particularly from European and Asian markets, reflects Ireland’s position as a destination for renewable energy investment and supply-chain development.
 

Watch: Noel Cunniffe, Ronan Power, Bobby Smith and Vanessa O'Connell bring the vision of a collective approach to life. 

Electrification and system delivery
 
Delivering the energy transition will require the coordinated expansion of renewable generation, grid infrastructure, storage capacity and workforce skills in order to seize our electrification opportunity and turn Ireland into a true electrostate – an economy powered primarily by electricity produced in Ireland rather than imported fossil fuels.
 
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “Bringing together wind, solar and energy storage sectors at one event shows we are united in building an Irish electrostate. Delivering this is a huge challenge, but also a massive economic opportunity for Irish businesses, workers and consumers.
 
“We need to scale up the generation and storage of clean electricity to bring down costs for businesses and families.
 
“This will enable Ireland to reduce our dependency on supplies of imported fossil fuels outside of our control.”
 
 
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, said: “Ireland’s renewable sector is growing rapidly, with rising electricity demand requiring a shift from targets to delivery. Solar, particularly when deployed alongside storage solutions, will be central to this, but success depends on coordinated execution.
 
“This Expo plays an important role in bringing together developers, investors and policymakers to drive alignment and help accelerate projects on the ground. Ireland has a strong opportunity to scale solar and build a competitive supply chain, but this will require clear policy, faster timelines and better system coordination. The focus now must be on execution.”
 

 

Role of storage
 
Energy storage — the infrastructure that allows renewable power to be stored and used when and where it is needed — is increasingly seen as the lynchpin of a commercially viable clean grid. As renewable generation increases, energy storage will be essential to maintaining a stable and secure electricity system.
 
Bobby Smith, Director of Energy Storage Ireland, said: “Energy storage provides the flexibility needed to get gas off the grid and to maximise the benefits of wind and solar.
 
“This event highlights both the progress made and the work still required to align policy, investment and supply-chain development.
 
“We will be calling on policymakers to ensure a dedicated route to market for long-duration energy storage and to prepare our economy for the phase out of expensive fossil fuels.”
 

 

EU Presidency
 
Industry leaders noted that Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency presents an opportunity to accelerate progress on electrification and grid development, through Europe’s proposed Electrification Action Plan and the rollout of the EU Grid’s package, priorities that will be central to discussions at the Expo.
 
Learn more about the event
 
The Renewable Energy Expo Ireland 2026 takes place at the RDS, Dublin on 21–22 October. Find out more about exhibition and sponsorship opportunities at the link below.