Unlocking the potential: Insights from industry on barriers, solutions and policy gaps in Ireland's energy storage sector

The energy storage sector across Europe faces many financial, regulatory and policy barriers which has to date hindered development in many countries. This study documents industry perspectives from Ireland, a country which requires a significant increase in the development of energy storage due to security of supply concerns, its isolation from Europe’s central transmission network and its reliance on wind energy as a primary intermittent renewable energy resource. Using focus groups and a survey with the renewable energy and storage sector, we document perspectives on the critical barriers, innovative solutions and policy gaps identified by industry stakeholders and policy makers. Our participants believe energy storage will play a crucial role in unlocking Ireland’s substantial wind energy potential in order to meet its energy security and climate aspirations. However, our respondents suggest that unlocking this potential will require a coherent national energy storage strategy designed to reduce curtailment, identify storage technologies with duration-specific targets and establish a more comprehensive renewable energy plus storage power procurement mechanism designed for the Irish market which supports the grid, rewards low carbon technologies and reduces emissions. • This study utilises a survey and focus groups with policymakers, the renewable energy industry and storage sector in Ireland. • Results indicate that energy storage represents an ideal solution to curtailment, intermittency and emission reductions. • Financial, administrative and policy barriers prevent investors from making a credible business case for energy storage. • Solutions include market reforms and access to arbitrage opportunities and revenue streams in the ex-ante markets.