National Network, Local Connections Programme

The most recent Climate Action Plan moves the focus to how individuals and communities use energy – especially renewable energy, rather than just large-scale generation. In support of Ireland’s Climate Action Targets, we have taken specific actions across sections of society which include:

Heating:

Promoting the use of heat pumps and other renewable heating. Phasing out of fossil-fuel heating systems such as oil and gas.

Transport:

Initiatives to support switching to electric vehicles. Investment in electrifying rail lines.

Power Generation:

Supporting microgeneration in Ireland. Increasing our reliance on renewable energy sources to 80%, and facilitating and supporting new renewable energy technologies on and offshore. Phasing out of coal and peat electricity generation.

Empowering Customers:

Encouraging communities to use renewable energy locally, from homes and sports clubs to community centres and churches. Empowering customers with the introduction of new services to support the activities of renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities. We are providing customers “visibility” of their local renewable energy sources, carbon intensity, and the impact of how they manage their demand for electricity. These changes will support increased electrification of products and services for homes, farms and businesses across Ireland.

• In 2020, ESB Networks established the National Network, Local Connection Programme to put in place the systems, processes, and capabilities needed to allow industry, customers, and communities across Ireland to participate in our move towards a carbon-free future. The goal is to maximise the use of renewable energy up to 80% of overall usage and beyond. The programme also aims to reduce peak electricity demand and improve electricity demand management in line with Ireland's Climate Action Plan.

• The programme is essential in reaching Ireland’s climate targets through increased use of renewables. It will also meet the rapidly rising demand driven by the electrification of heat and transport, while continuing to deliver a safe, secure electricity supply.

• ESB Networks’ National Network, Local Connections (NN,LC) Programme is a multi-year project that will transform how Ireland’s electricity is managed. In the decade ahead, all customers, from renewable generators to large energy users, to homes, farms and business customers will adopt new technologies, products, and services, changing how they generate, store, or consume electricity. With a growing focus on the use and storage of locally generated renewable electricity, the National Network, Local Connections Programme will ensure power can be forecast, monitored and managed at a local level. 

• Customers and communities across the country are becoming increasingly active in managing and controlling their own electricity usage. To that end, we are developing a distribution system that is safe and secure, taking into account new local and regional needs, and making a positive impact in the fight against climate change. 

Yes, the National Network, Local Connections Programme offers flexible demand products on a National and Local level. 

• On a National level, ESB Networks has launched Beat the Peak Business which is a demand side response scheme where eligible electricity users can get paid to reduce their electricity demand between the hours of 4.30-7pm (Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays). For more information on this initiative, please click here. 
• On a Local level, ESB Networks launched our ‘Is This a Good Time’ campaign in which domestic customers receive useful information and tips via email and SMS to help learn how to take control of their home’s electricity usage. Customers will find out when the best times are to use their electric appliances (i.e., outside of peak hours of 5-7pm or when renewable electricity is available). For more information on this initiative, please click here. 

• Providing quicker or cheaper access for generators to parties who are willing to occasionally have their output reduced under certain local network conditions.

• Reducing how much and how often renewable generators are turned down through the introduction of local flexibility markets where demand response or storage can be sourced to avoid the need to turn generation down.

• Locations which are currently constrained are prioritised for piloting activities over the coming years. This is happening alongside the ongoing network upgrade programmes delivered by ESB Networks, ensuring that customers have the capacity and security they need. 

• Systems are needed both on the consumer side and the industry side for ESB Networks to securely manage flexibility operating on the local networks. ESB Networks is responsible for putting in place everything needed to support this. ESB Networks is actively encouraging energy suppliers and energy management companies (including for example “aggregators”) to put in place energy management technologies for consumers.

• Yes, the National Network, Local Connections Programme is developing smarter, more flexible network solutions. ESB Networks is continuing to explore flexibility markets for our customers who are able and willing to take control of how much electricity they generate or consume. For more information on flexibility and how ESB Networks is supporting, please click here. 

• Flexibility can offer a valuable solution to a range of different challenges over the coming years. In some areas, flexible demand will be needed to avoid missing out on renewable generation under sunny / windy conditions. In other areas, flexible demand will be needed to support secure and efficient electricity system operation where there is a high demand for electric car charging. In Q4 2021, we published detailed multiyear projections of the types and amount of flexibility which could deliver value for customers and for the electricity system. This document can be downloaded here / PDF 10980 KB.

• Suppliers aggregators, and energy management companies are encouraged to develop new consumer offerings. Generators are encouraged to make use of new connection offerings and to take part in local markets for demand side response and storage. 

• We have introduced flexible demand initiatives to increase renewable generation and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. ESB Networks is working to deliver a smart and sustainable distribution system, enabling smarter planning, operations and flexibility as well as providing network capacity to ensure a secure, reliable and resilient network is in place.

• By connecting to the grid and generating renewable electricity. One of the key objectives of the National Network, Local Connections Programme is to improve the ease and speed of access for new renewable generation. If you would like more information on this, please contact us at engagement@esbnetworks.ie. 

• You can get involved in our initiatives. Domestic and commercial electricity customers, for instance, can get involved by reducing their electricity usage during peak hours and Peak Events.  

• For more information on our ‘Is This a Good Time’ campaign, please click here.

  For more information on our ‘Beat the Peak Business’ initiatives, please click here.  

• We welcome feedback and are always looking for customers and stakeholders to get involved by inputting to our public consultations. You can find more on these consultations here.

• Since September 2021, ESB Networks’ National Network, Local Connections Programme has issued a series of public consultations which have informed the direction of the programme, including, for example, who we will engage with, how, and the speed and locations where the programme will be rolled out.

• These can be found on the delivery plan & previous consultation page. We value your input and encourage you to participate in our formal consultations by registering to get involved. To register to be included in our stakeholder updates, please email engagement@esbnetworks.ie.  

ESB Networks is committed to ensuring that the National Network, Local Connections Programme is delivered in compliance with all applicable data privacy laws and that all customer personal data is safe and secure.