On 15 July 2025, the long-awaited Private Wires Policy Statement (Policy) was published by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. The Policy opens the door to private electricity infrastructure in Ireland and the direct supply of electricity from generators to demand customers.
The initiative is intended to accelerate investment in energy infrastructure, facilitate the deployment of renewable generation and storage, and support broader policy objectives such as security of supply, decarbonisation and industrial development.
The Policy
The Policy allows private electricity lines or "private wires" to connect generation directly with demand customers, bypassing connection to the national electricity grid, in certain circumstances.
To date, only ESB Networks have been permitted to own and operate onshore electricity infrastructure connecting generators to end-users. The new Policy outlines four scenarios in which private developers may finance, construct, and own their own electricity lines:
- Direct connection between a generator (or battery) and a single electricity user;
- Hybrid connections between separate legal entities (e.g. solar and battery facilities sharing a single grid connection);
- To facilitate on street charging of electric vehicles; and
- Expanded self-supply, allowing electricity to be transferred between contiguous premises under separate ownership.
These arrangements will require the prior approval of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and compliance with a set of guiding principles. These include alignment with public policy objectives (such as climate goals and energy security), avoidance of undermining the grid’s financial viability, and adherence to the same technical and safety standards as the national grid. Notably, developers of private wires will not be granted statutory wayleave powers - access to land must be secured by consent.
What Happens Next?
Several legal and regulatory steps are required before private wires can be delivered in practice:
- Primary legislation must be implemented to amend the Electricity Regulation Act 1999;
- A regulatory framework must be developed to address the CRU approval process, technical standards, safety oversight, and connection protocols;
- The CRU’s remit will be expanded significantly as a consequence and will require increased funding and resourcing.
Internal Networks and Collector Cables
Section 5.5 of the Policy touches on internal networks and collector cables - the internal electrical circuits within renewable energy sites (e.g. wind or solar farms) that collects the electricity from turbines or panels prior to onward transmission to the grid connection point. These internal circuits are on the customer side of the connection point so they are not transferred to ESB Networks but remain in the ownership and control of the renewable energy project.
To date, these internal networks are not subject to regulatory standards or inspection regimes. The Policy proposes that such internal infrastructure will now fall under the same design and safety standards as private wires. The Policy does not expressly state that the prior approval of the CRU will be required for these private internal networks. We will need to wait for the amended legislation and the details of the new regulatory framework to understand what this may mean for renewable energy developers and operators.
Conclusion
The Policy represents a welcome and material shift in Ireland's electricity regulation. It offers greater flexibility for developers and could help facilitate the delivery of renewable energy projects, particularly where the public grid infrastructure is constrained.
While the direction of travel is positive with the publication of this much anticipated Policy, delivery on the objectives of the Policy will ultimately depend on the pace of legislative and regulatory follow-through.
For more information, please contact Stuart Conaty or Emma O'Connell.
