Ireland’s renewable energy industry is urging the government to accelerate battery storage deployment, warning that unused wind and solar power increases costs for consumers and limits the benefits of domestic renewable generation.

The call comes ahead of Ireland’s first Renewable Energy Expo. Organisers Wind Energy Ireland, Solar Ireland and Energy Storage Ireland highlighted figures from EirGrid showing that enough wind and solar electricity to power around 496,000 homes was lost in the Republic of Ireland during the first nine months of 2026. This represented more than 13% of available renewable generation.

Battery storage can capture electricity that would otherwise be constrained and release it when needed, helping Ireland make better use of its renewable resources and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Batteries to help use more renewable electricity

The industry’s appeal comes after several milestones in Ireland’s energy transition. Clean power accounted for half of the country’s electricity generation last year, while connected solar capacity exceeded 3 GW. Wind and solar together supplied around 42% of Ireland’s electricity in September 2026.

Wind Energy Ireland chief executive Noel Cunniffe said Ireland could become an energy-independent electrostate powered by affordable electricity generated domestically. He stressed that the next step was to make better use of the renewable power already being produced, with batteries helping to store electricity and release it when consumers need it.

Solar Ireland chief executive Ronan Power also called for closer integration of renewable generation, storage and grid infrastructure. He said that treating solar, wind, storage and the grid as a connected system, alongside shared grid connections and greater flexibility, could help increase the use of renewable electricity, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and deliver better value for consumers.

Industry calls for faster grid connections

Energy Storage Ireland director Bobby Smith called for more battery storage projects to connect to the grid faster and for a broader government strategy to remove barriers to deployment.

“If Ireland is serious about getting gas off the grid, we need to get much more storage connected, much faster,” Smith said. He added that the government should remove unnecessary costs and obstacles and provide projects with a clearer, faster route from planning to operation, warning that delays would ultimately mean higher costs for Irish consumers.

Renewable energy expo brings together industry leaders

The two-day Renewable Energy Expo at Dublin’s RDS is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates, with exhibition space sold out. The event brings together policymakers, investors, developers and technology providers from across Europe to discuss ways to accelerate renewable energy deployment.

Speakers include Minister of State Timmy Dooley, WindEurope chief executive Tinne Van der Straeten, SolarPower Europe chief executive Walburga Hemetsberger and Climate Change Advisory Council chair Alex White.

Renewable Energy Expo Ireland 2026 is an affiliated event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.