Electrification of Heat and Transport

At ESB Networks we are committed to enabling Ireland’s transition to a secure and affordable low carbon future.

The distribution system is evolving to facilitate the drive towards a low-carbon energy system where 70% of the electricity generated comes from renewable sources by 2030. This will require the connection of up to 14 GW of renewable generation to the transmission and distribution networks. The distribution network will need to be able to cater for up to 936,000 electric vehicles on our roads and 600,000 homes that are equipped with e-heat technology such as heat pumps.

electric car

How is ESB Networks Enabling the Electrification of Heat and Transport?

In line with the Government Climate Action Plan stating that "every home, every community, every workplace and every farm must get involved", ESB Networks' role is to enable this action plan - "Every network which supports our lives must adapt rapidly". We, in ESB Networks, are ready for this challenge and have developed our Electrification of Heat and Transport Strategy which was published in January 2021. As stated in our strategy, alongside connecting and enabling 70% of electricity generation from renewables, we have a central role in facilitating the electrification of heat and transport.

Our strategic commitments relate to:

Removing ESB Networks policy barriers
Engaging, enabling and empowering our customers to electrify
Ensuring LV network readiness

What is the Electrification of Heat and Transport?

The electrification of heat and transport uses clean electricity to drive carbon, in the form of fossil fuels, out of heat, transport and the economy. Electrification will prove to be one of the most economic and practical ways to meet Ireland’s decarbonisation targets. By 2030, the decarbonisation of electricity and the smart management of networks will be underpinned by 4 GW of battery storage and customer flexibility much of which will be connected via the distribution network.

Low carbon technologies

The electrification of heat, transport and our economy will see our customers adopting low carbon technologies such as Heat Pumps. Electric Vehicles and Microgeneration such as Solar PV.

For more information about how we are developing the network to enable electrification, and for details on the low carbon technologies enabling this transition, please click on the below spotlights.