Ireland’s energy regulator has proposed a €14 billion investment programme for the country’s electricity transmission and distribution networks over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030, aiming to support the shift to a low-carbon energy system.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) outlined the figure in its draft determination for Price Review 6 (PR6), which is now open for public consultation. The investment package covers infrastructure spending by ESB Networks and EirGrid and may increase if the companies meet annual performance targets, the regulator said.
According to the CRU, the plan will facilitate the integration of 4.4 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy, support the rollout of 1 million electric vehicles and 680,000 heat pumps, and deliver up to 5GW of offshore wind generation.
Approximately €800 million has been allocated to enhance storm resilience. Additional measures aim to develop “a smarter, more efficient energy system,” the CRU stated.
EirGrid, the transmission system operator, has submitted its own business plan for the PR6 period in parallel. It includes investments in technology and workforce development, upgrades to existing lines, and the construction of both overhead and underground circuits, as well as substation expansions.
The company will also take on ownership of offshore transmission infrastructure and prepare grid and market systems for the Celtic interconnector with France, due to enter service in the coming years.
“PR6 is a timely opportunity to invest in Ireland’s future,” said Michael Behan, chief financial officer at EirGrid. “It underpins greater energy independence and security.”
Stakeholders are invited to submit feedback on both the CRU’s draft determination and EirGrid’s business plan during the consultation period. A final decision is expected later in 2025, after which EirGrid said it would proceed with delivering the approved 2026–2030 programme.
