Ireland to introduce private wires legislation

The new bill will enable projects such as wind farms to connect directly to individual customers and share grid connections.

Private wires - dedicated connections between different locations that do not use public electricity infrastructure – are seen as a way of the country’s national grid network being able to expand and support greater levels of renewable energy and increased demand for electricity.

The move comes after the government expressed its support earlier this year, bringing the country into closer alignment with the UK and several EU countries, following several years of reluctance and a 2023 consultation exercise.

Richard Murphy, an energy industry expert with Pinsent Masons in Ireland, said the announcement would provide a boost to the country’s energy generation and storage plans.

“This is a welcome development as the introduction of private wires can unlock significant private sector investment and comfortably sit alongside the efficient development of our national electricity network in Ireland,” he added.

“We have been involved in several private wire projects in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and other European markets where this has been the most efficient approach to grid connection and is also in the public interest.

“This development will help accelerate the deployment of renewable generation and energy storage in Ireland.”

Under the new bill, Ireland will allow for private wire set-ups in four specific sets of circumstances: to permit a private wire linking a single user of electricity to a separate singular generation asset, such as a storage system; to facilitate hybrid grid connections; to enable on-street electric vehicle charging points, and for a customer that self-supplies electricity to another customer in contiguous premises.

Murphy added that Ireland needed to evolve its energy processes to enable it to move faster with projects and reach net zero.

“This is just a start to allow for the four circumstances outlined but there is also intended to be a review mechanism within the legislation for the minister to review the operation of the legislation not later than 10 years after it comes into force,” he explained.

“This flexibility may be important as there are likely to be further circumstances under which private wires could be built that would aid in the achievement of Ireland’s renewable energy and decarbonisation targets.”

Earlier this month, Ireland’s government published its infrastructure action plan, which addresses the 12 barriers to infrastructure development highlighted in a previous report published in July.

Among the 30 specific actions listed is action 15 - "Enable developer-led infrastructure" - with advancing regulations to enable private wire electricity connection in line with the government's private wires policy statement listed as a key sub-action.

The Irish government said it will work closely with the CRU, Ireland’s energy regulator, and the country’s energy companies to make sure private wires met safety and technical standards.

Licences to use a private wire would come from either the regulator or, for EV charging, local authorities.

Irish energy minister Darragh O'Brien said the move would open more opportunities for improving Ireland’s electricity grid.

“Once they are enabled, private wires will allow for private investment in electricity infrastructure, particularly to enable the development of more renewable energy and electricity storage,” he said.

“Private wires will provide greater opportunity for electricity customers and generators, and this will form part of the overall solution for further electrification and development of clean energy, whilst still ensuring that the national electricity grid is the primary route for electricity connections."