21 October 2026
Delegates hear Irish consumers pay more when clean energy is lost
21st October 2026, Dublin: Ireland's wind, solar and energy storage sectors are calling for faster deployment of battery storage to help cut energy bills, strengthen energy security and make better use of homegrown wind and solar power.
Speaking at Ireland’s first Renewable Energy Expo, which begins today, industry leaders will highlight the growing importance of battery storage in supporting the continued rollout of wind and solar and ensuring more renewable electricity can be used when homes and businesses need it most.
The call comes as Ireland reaches a series of major milestones with renewable energy accounting for half of Ireland's electricity generation last year and connected solar capacity passing 3 GW.
The Expo is jointly organised by Wind Energy Ireland, Solar Ireland and Energy Storage Ireland. The two-day event marks the first time the three key renewable sectors have come together to create a shared national platform for policymakers, industry leaders, investors, developers and technology providers from across Europe.
Exhibition spaces at the Expo are sold out and over a thousand delegates are expected to attend with discussions focused on how accelerating the delivery of renewable energy will power a secure, competitive and clean energy future for Ireland.
Speakers will include Timmy Dooley TD, Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Tinne Van der Straeten, CEO of WindEurope, Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe, and Alex White, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council.
Lost power
But challenges remain. EirGrid figures show enough wind and solar energy to power around 496,000 homes was lost in the Republic of Ireland in the first nine months of this year, representing over 13 per cent of total wind and solar energy available.
When renewable generation would otherwise need to be constrained, batteries can store some of that electricity for use later, helping to reduce Ireland’s dependency on the imported fossil fuels driving up energy bills.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “Ireland can become an energy-independent electrostate, powered by affordable electricity generated here at home.
"That would reduce our exposure to imported fossil fuels, cut energy bills, attract investment and support thousands of skilled jobs across the country.
"The next step is making better use of the renewable power we already produce. In the first nine months of this year, we lost enough wind and solar energy to power around 496,000 homes. Batteries can help us capture more of that electricity and use it when consumers need it most.”
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, added: “Ireland has now passed 3 GW of connected solar capacity and last month wind and solar together supplied around 42 per cent of our electricity. We have proven that renewable energy can be deployed at scale. The challenge now is making every unit of clean electricity we generate work harder for consumers and for the electricity system.
“That means thinking about solar, wind, storage and the grid as one connected system. Battery storage, shared grid connections and greater flexibility can help us use more of the renewable electricity we already produce, reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels and ultimately deliver better value for consumers.
“That is the next phase of Ireland’s energy transition, and it is why bringing these industries together at the Expo matters.”
Bobby Smith, Director of Energy Storage Ireland, said: “If Ireland is serious about getting gas off the grid, we need to get much more storage connected, much faster.
“As more wind and solar comes onto the system, hybrid projects are becoming increasingly important. Pairing batteries with renewable generation allows us to make better use of existing grid connections and capture clean power that might otherwise be lost.
“Government now needs to unlock these opportunities while delivering a wider plan for storage that removes unnecessary costs and barriers and gives projects a clear, faster route from planning to operation. Delaying storage deployment ultimately means higher costs for Irish consumers.”
The Renewable Energy Expo Ireland 2026 runs at the RDS on 21 and 22 October and is an affiliated event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.