Ireland’s energy storage capacity could increase almost eightfold by 2035, driven by a growing pipeline of battery projects and calls for stronger policy support, according to a new report released by industry group Energy Storage Ireland.
The organisation’s 2025 Pipeline Survey identified 155 projects representing close to 10 gigawatts (GW) of potential capacity—enough, it said, to power every home in Ireland twice over during periods of low renewable generation.
“Energy storage solutions can transform our electricity system for the better,” said Bobby Smith, head of Energy Storage Ireland. “The price of batteries has come down by 90% in the past decade, making them a cost-effective way of providing a constant supply of otherwise intermittent renewable energy.”
The report was published during the group’s annual conference at Dublin’s Croke Park, where industry and policy stakeholders gathered to discuss the future of grid flexibility and decarbonisation.
According to the report, 14% of Ireland’s wind energy output was curtailed in 2024 due to insufficient storage capacity, underscoring the role battery systems could play in reducing fossil fuel dependence and lowering energy bills.
Smith pointed to the success of government support schemes for wind and solar development and urged similar mechanisms for energy storage. “We’ve seen the positive impact of government support schemes in driving the delivery of wind and solar power. We need to see similar schemes put in place for energy storage,” he said.
He cited the UK’s cap and floor model as a potential policy template and called for greater regulatory clarity to attract investment into the sector.
Additional recommendations included streamlining grid connection processes for projects co-located with renewables and reinforcing the transmission network to accommodate large-scale battery deployment.
Speakers at the event included Kevin O’Donovan of Statkraft Ireland, Lisa Foley of Cornwall Insight, and MEP Seán Kelly, who delivered the keynote address.
