Our Strategy 2020-2025

Ireland needs more electricity and it needs to be cleaner. EirGrid has a unique role to play in transforming the power system and making Ireland renewable ready.

Our 2020-25 strategy is our plan for progress. It is informed by climate change goals and the necessary transition to a low carbon, renewable future. For the strategy to work and achieve these goals, we need a stronger, more flexible electricity grid.

This means more pylons, more overhead lines, more substations and more underground cables. To secure our electricity today and ensure a stable future for the generations to come.

Primary goal: Lead the Electricity Sector on Sustainability and Decarbonisation

Energy Transition

EirGrid has the expertise to deliver a low carbon, cost-effective power system. We can currently power the grid with a maximum of 75% of that power coming from renewable sources. By 2030, we aim to increase this maximum to 95%.

To do that we are:

Visible and Trusted Leadership

Transformation at scale needs public, political and regulatory support. EirGrid works to be:

Supporting goal: Operate, Develop and Enhance the All-Island Grid and Market

Reliability

Everybody needs confidence that electricity is available, reliable and competitively priced. The transition to greater renewable energy has the potential to challenge our reliability. We are committed to:

Single Electricity Market

In 2018, we integrated our market more closely with European markets. Despite Brexit, the Irish and UK Governments and the EU are committed to the Single Electricity Market. We are planning for the future on this basis, ensuring that the market is:

Supporting goal: Work with Partners for Positive Change

We have always recognised the need for successful partnerships. As we respond to the climate crisis, we'll need these partnerships more than ever.

Our Network Partners

We work closely with ESB Networks and NIE Networks whose roles include the operation of the electricity distribution systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Building new electricity grid infrastructure, as well as the switch to electric heating and vehicles, requires deep collaboration with these partners.

We also partner with:

Technology Partnerships

Technology is key to transforming the energy system. We have new strategic partnerships assisting us in identifying the best cost-effective solutions.

Government and Regulatory Policy

The energy transition can only be successful if enabled by the government and regulators. We are providing the data and analysis to inform policy in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Landowners and Communities

Engagement with local communities and landowners is part of all infrastructure developments. We are engaging heavily with these communities in our path to clean electricity.

Supporting goal: Better Outcomes for All Through Engagement

Infrastructure

Advances in technology are helping us to find less intrusive ways to move large amounts of power. But all electricity grids depend on large scale infrastructure. This means we still rely on pylons, substations and overhead cables.

Local Communities

The climate crisis is urgent for all of us. Our strategy is testing the advances we've made in public engagement. Asking communities to accept new infrastructure has never been easy. It's our job to explain how the strategy will make a difference and respond meaningfully to fears and concerns.

Regulators

Our regulators can help to enable our focus on sustainability. We are collaborating with regulators on managing the transition to clean energy.

The transition to low carbon, renewable energy will have widespread consequences. 

There will be major changes in how we generate, use, buy and sell electricity.

The electricity system will carry more power than ever before. 

Most of that power will be from renewable sources. Coal, peat and oil-based generation will be phased out in the next decade. 

And while this happens, new technology will allow electricity users to generate and store power and return any surplus to the grid. 

This creates opportunities for all.