EirGrid has opened a consultation on its proposed framework for long-duration energy storage (LDES), detailing how such assets will be financed, dispatched, and integrated into Ireland’s national grid. The move represents a step toward a structured market for multi-hour storage, targeting the system’s evolving flexibility needs.

The consultation defines LDES as systems capable of storing electricity for a minimum of four hours, with no maximum, and sets a minimum round-trip efficiency of 75%. Assets must provide instantaneous response and controllability for dispatch by EirGrid. Daily operational envelopes will guide charging and discharging to minimize congestion and curtailment, while hybrid and projects using existing connection points are favored during the tender stage.

The procurement process is staged, beginning with an initial tender to secure at least 201 MW (804 MWh) of capacity, with later rounds using a simplified qualification process. Minimum capacities are 20 MW for hybrid and 75 MW for standalone projects, with a 100 MW ceiling per site. The overall target is up to 500 MW across all stages.

Revenue for participants combines a floor payment with revenue-sharing above that floor, capped according to Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS) assumptions. The consultation proposes a 70/30 revenue split in favor of asset owners, with open-book accounting.

While technology-neutral, scoring emphasizes cost (50%), connection method (30%), and location on the grid (20%), encouraging hybrid solutions and deployment in constrained areas. First contracted projects are expected online by 2030, with further details on LCOS assumptions, cost caps, and market interactions due in later consultation phases.

Read more about the proposed LDES procurement model.