Ireland’s electricity market is opening new revenue and operational opportunities for battery energy storage systems (BESS) with an updated scheduling and dispatch program. The change, effective November 13, allows grid-scale batteries to charge and discharge based on real-time market conditions.

Previously, BESS mainly provided stability services. Now, operators can participate in day-ahead, intra-day, and real-time balancing markets, selecting preferred charging and discharging times according to market signals. EirGrid and SONI, the grid operators for Ireland and Northern Ireland, will coordinate the implementation with SEMO, the wholesale market operator.

This update allows batteries to charge when renewable energy is abundant or prices are low and discharge when demand peaks, reducing strain on grid operators. Increased visibility into operational instructions enhances efficiency and responsiveness for battery owners.

GridBeyond, a Dublin-based energy optimisation software company operating globally, anticipates the update will improve investment certainty. A 10 MW BESS could generate 12–37% more revenue over the next decade according to internal projections. Richard O’Loughlin, deputy CEO, emphasised that clearer market rules will stimulate interest in optimisation services.

Ireland currently has just under 1 GWh of installed BESS capacity, much of which is restricted due to permitting or planning delays. Expanding market participation provides additional revenue certainty and aligns Ireland with more advanced European storage markets.

The scheduling and dispatch program also sets the stage for future developments, including updates to ancillary services procurement and the long-duration energy storage (LDES) market, with LDES contracts expected to be awarded in Q4 2027. O’Loughlin noted the goal is to adopt a day-ahead procurement system, allowing market-determined pricing based on bids and capacity needs rather than regulated tariffs.

Explore the full analysis of Ireland’s new battery storage market rules in the complete story.