Electricity Supply Board
ESB
ESB is a state electricity company involved in the production, distribution and retailing of electricity.
ID: 441077550178-21
Lobbying Activity
Response to European grid package
5 Aug 2025
This initiative is welcome given the role of grid infrastructure in underpinning security of electricity supply, especially as electrification expands across industry, transport, and heating. ESB's response proposes key considerations for the European Grids Package for the following. 1. Accelerate Grid Expansion and Modernisation 2. Support rapid electrification 3. Speed Up Permitting Processes 4. Enhance market integration and interconnectivity 5. Promote Digitalisation and Smart Grids and other market signals When discussing grid, and devising measures for its development, it is important to understand the distinction between transmission and distribution. The Grids Package should adopt a practical approach to address the challenges faced by grid operators, at both transmission and distribution levels, and provide a clear guidance to address the main objectives.
Read full responseResponse to Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act
8 Jul 2025
Streamlined and expedited permitting processes are necessary for industrial decarbonisation projects. This includes reducing bureaucratic hurdles and ensuring that necessary approvals are obtained swiftly to facilitate the timely implementation of decarbonisation initiatives. The identification and promotion of key industrial decarbonisation projects and clusters is also necessary. This includes the introduction of criteria for selecting priority projects. In addition, better coordination is required among the various entities in the development of clusters (consenting bodies, regulators, developers etc). This involves proactive zoning, sharing information on potential substation sites, and fostering partnerships between the various agencies.
Read full responseMeeting with Seán Kelly (Member of the European Parliament)
5 Nov 2024 · Electricity sector in Ireland
Meeting with Mairead McGuinness (Commissioner)
27 Nov 2023 · Introductory meeting
Meeting with Ciarán Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament)
9 Nov 2023 · Wind energy roll-out in Ireland
Meeting with Deirdre Clune (Member of the European Parliament)
9 Nov 2023 · Renewable Energy
Response to Roadmap on REPowering the EU with Hydrogen Valleys
5 Sept 2023
ESB GT welcomes the Call for Evidence on the Roadmap for REPowering the EU with Hydrogen Valleys in order to meet RePowerEUs targets of doubling the number of hydrogen valleys in the EU by 2025. The benefits and value of an EU level roadmap for Hydrogen Valleys will persist beyond 2025. Hydrogen Valleys, categorised as regional ecosystems that link hydrogen production, transportation, and various end uses including mobility, industrial feedstock or power generation, are important steps towards enabling the development of an integrated energy systems. Hydrogen valleys will facilitate collaboration and efficient use of storage and transport infrastructure across various sectors/ different demand customers and through the entire value chain (renewables - hydrogen production - hydrogen transport - hydrogen storage - hydrogen use). There is also the potential to promote collaboration between regional and international clusters. In tandem with some of the measures in the proposed Net Zero Industry Act, the cluster model can work to promote knowledge of various end uses of hydrogen and hydrogen-derived products, as well as promotion of innovation/ pilot projects to expand the use of hydrogen to new customers and ultimately, strengthen the demand for hydrogen. (HGHH Hamburg Green Hydrogen Hub) The Call for Evidence (CfE) correctly identifies the key barriers to accelerating the development and roll-out of hydrogen valleys in the EU. The approach of structuring the measures around five building blocks needed to develop Hydrogen Valleys will assist in providing the foundations for a network of hydrogen valleys. Whilst no singular action is more important than the other, the timely publication of a structured, coherent roadmap will be important to meet EU mandated climate and energy targets. 1. Research and Innovation In order to accelerate the decarbonisation of hard to abate and hard to electrify sectors, the priority must be on measures to enable the hydrogen production and storage technologies to scale at a pace in line with targets. 2.Regulatory framework The emerging regulatory framework must be configured to facilitate the the timely development of Hydrogen Valleys. The CfE document notes the need to consult stakeholders to map the need for regulatory sandboxes with relevance to H2Vs. The proposed NZIA recognizes how Hydrogen Valleys with industrial end-use applications play an important role in decarbonising the energy-intensive industries, referencing REPowerEUs aim of doubling the number of Hydrogen Valleys in the Union. Renewable energy hubs integrate large energy customers with green energy production, long duration energy storage and infrastructure solutions. Net-zero regulatory sandboxes will be vital to promote innovation and the timely development of hydrogen hubs. Hydrogen or renewable energy hubs will, in the absence of an existing legal and regulatory framework, benefit from a regulatory environment that enables them to scale at a pace and create conducive conditions for sectors to switch from fossil fuels. 3: Fostering cooperation and synergies, and raising funding Given the diversity in industrialisation across different regions, including the existing energy infrastructure, a one-size-fits all approach will not be conducive to the widespread development of Hydrogen Valley across the EU. In order to expand the geographical coverage of European Hydrogen Valleys, the roadmap and the implementing measures must be supportive of national specificities. For example, the role of renewable hydrogen in energy system balancing will be of key importance in ensuring Irelands security of energy supplies. It is a small island power system, lightly interconnected, with very ambitious targets for renewable penetration 80% by 2030. The production and seasonal storage of a zero-carbon fuel such as renewable hydrogen will be essential for a net-zero power system.
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