In our latest seminar series with A&L Goodbody, RenewableNI brought industry leaders and policymakers together with system operators, focusing on one of the most urgent issues facing Northern Ireland’s energy transition: the scourge of dispatch down, and how Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) could help solve it.
The challenge: wasted electricity
Northern Ireland has long been a leader in renewable electricity. Just a few years ago, more than half of our power came from renewables, mainly wind. But today that figure has fallen back to around 43 per cent from a peak of 51 per cent in 2022. At the same time, levels of “dispatch down” – when wind farms are asked to turn off the turbines because the grid can’t handle the power they’re generating – reached worrying levels in 2024 at almost 30 per cent.
Every percentage point of dispatch down means more lost low carbon electricity, higher costs for consumers and weaker confidence for developers considering new projects.
According to David McGowan, SONI’s Head of Future Power Systems, addressing the challenge of dispatch down is a key priority. He told a packed-out room at the seminar that while short-term fixes are underway, including operational policy changes and trials, the long-term solution requires new tools. That’s where LDES comes in.
Why LDES is different
What do you picture when you think of “energy storage”? Most of us will picture batteries. But even the most powerful batteries currently connected to Northern Ireland’s grid infrastructure can hold energy for a few hours at most. In some cases, it’s minutes. Yes, these batteries play their part, not least in keeping the system stable moment-to-moment, but they don’t tackle the bigger issue: what to do with surplus wind and solar power generated at times of low demand.
LDES technologies could provide the answer. With capacity to store electricity for many hours, and even days, they can absorb renewable energy when the grid is congested. Even better, they can release it back during peaks in demand or during “dunkelflaute”, those cold, still periods when wind and solar output is low.
In doing so, LDES has the potential to reduce wasted energy, cut reliance on imported gas, and stabilise bills for households and businesses.
The LDES policy gap
Other jurisdictions are moving ahead with LDES strategies. The Republic of Ireland published its Electricity Storage Policy Framework in 2024, setting clear steps to bring projects online. Great Britain has confirmed a cap-and-floor scheme to support up to 6GW of LDES by 2030, backed by legislation.
Northern Ireland, by contrast, has no current dedicated LDES strategy. While SONI and the Utility Regulator are working on a Flexibility Needs Assessment (due by 2026) and have already launched a joint call for evidence, the absence of clear government policy leaves developers uncertain and investment opportunities at risk.
What needs to happen next
If Northern Ireland is serious about meeting its 80% renewable electricity target by 2030, we must close this policy gap quickly. That means:
A dedicated LDES strategy from the Department for the Economy, setting targets and timelines to give the market confidence.
Alignment between SONI, the Utility Regulator and government so planning, regulation and policy all pull in the same direction.
Fast-tracking early projects, especially where they can directly reduce curtailment and grid bottlenecks.
North–South cooperation to ensure that storage policy is consistent across the island of Ireland, avoiding distortions and missed investment.
A moment of choice
The seminar left no doubt: Long Duration Energy Storage is not optional. Without it, Northern Ireland will continue wasting renewable electricity, missing climate targets and paying over the odds for imported fossil fuels. With it, we can strengthen energy security, protect consumers from price shocks, and unlock new investment and jobs.
Northern Ireland once led the way in clean electricity. With a clear plan for LDES, we can do so again, but only if government, regulators and industry act together, and act now.
