Capacities and Challenges in the Race to Net-Zero
In the global race toward a net-zero future, Ireland presents a compelling case study of ambition meeting reality. The island nation is harnessing its formidable natural resources, with wind and solar generation breaking new records and pushing electricity sector emissions to their lowest level since 1990 5 .
The variable nature of renewables creates new challenges for grid stability and reliability, particularly during calm or cloudy periods 1 . The solution lies not only in generating clean energy but in mastering the complex science of storing and managing it.
This is where cutting-edge catalysis and energy storage technologies become the unsung heroes of Ireland's energy transition, offering the key to unlocking a resilient, secure, and fully decarbonised future.
"Storage is absolutely essential in a net-zero electricity system. Not only will storage solutions support stability and security of supply, they will also allow us to integrate ever more renewables onto the system and maximise the use of wind and solar energy" 1 .
The Irish energy landscape is transforming faster than at any point in its history, with installed solar capacity surging by 160% in just two years 7 . While this growth is impressive, it underscores the pressing need for a diversified storage ecosystem capable of responding to disruptions ranging from milliseconds to months.
ESB has established one of Europe's largest battery portfolios, with 304MW of two-hour batteries already operational across four sites in Dublin and Aghada, Cork.
These systems can absorb excess renewable power and release it within milliseconds for frequency regulation and voltage support.
In 2022, ESB invested €50 million to install Ireland's first synchronous compensator at Moneypoint Power Station, featuring the world's largest flywheel.
These devices don't generate electricity but use massive rotating flywheels to store kinetic energy that can be released almost instantaneously when the grid requires support.
While short-term storage stabilises the grid, long-duration energy storage (LDES) unlocks the ability to shift renewable energy across hours, days, and even seasons. EirGrid has defined LDES as a minimum of four hours storage capacity, with no upper limit, and requires a minimum round-trip efficiency of 75% 6 .
| Technology | Duration | Efficiency | Development Stage | Key Projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithium-Ion BESS | Up to 2 hours | High | Mature, expanding | 304MW operational across 4 sites 1 |
| Synchronous Compensators | Milliseconds | High | Deployed | Moneypoint (world's largest flywheel) 1 |
| Iron-Air Batteries | Up to 100 hours | Moderate | Planning approved | Europe's first facility in Donegal 1 |
| Pumped Hydro | Hours to days | High | Operational for 50+ years | Turlough Hill station 1 |
| Hydrogen Storage | Weeks to months | Moderate | Demonstration phase | Aghada pilot facility; Kinsale reservoir studies 1 |
Catalysis represents the sophisticated chemistry enabling many energy storage technologies, particularly for emerging solutions like green hydrogen. Catalysts are substances that accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed in the process, making energy conversion processes more efficient and economically viable.
Using catalytic materials to efficiently split water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity 9 .
Transforming captured carbon dioxide into valuable fuels and chemicals through catalytic processes 9 .
Enabling clean electricity generation from hydrogen through reverse catalytic reactions 9 .
Green hydrogen—produced using renewable electricity rather than fossil fuels—represents Ireland's most promising solution for seasonal energy storage. ESB is pioneering this pathway, having delivered Ireland's first hydrogen-to-electricity demonstration using fuel cells in 2024 1 .
At ESB's Aghada facility in County Cork, the company is developing a demonstration-scale hydrogen production facility. This system uses large-scale electrolysers filled with saltwater or purified water 1 .
The heart of the electrolyser contains specialized catalytic electrodes. For the critical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic conditions, iridium and ruthenium oxides serve as the primary catalysts, while alternative configurations use nickel-iron layered double hydroxides in alkaline media 9 .
The system draws electricity from co-located solar farms and wind facilities during periods of excess generation, often when grid demand is low but renewable output is high 1 .
The produced hydrogen is compressed and stored for later use. When electricity is needed, the hydrogen is fed into fuel cells that reverse the process through catalytic reactions, generating electricity, heat, and pure water as the only byproduct 1 .
| Material Category | Example Compounds | Application | Performance Metrics | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precious Metal Catalysts | Platinum (Pt), Iridium & Ruthenium Oxides | Hydrogen Evolution, Oxygen Evolution | Low overpotentials (20-30mV), High stability 9 | High cost, Supply chain challenges 9 |
| Non-Precious Metal Catalysts | Nickel (Ni), Molybdenum Disulfide (MoS₂) | Hydrogen Evolution, Alkaline Electrolysis | Moderate efficiency, Lower cost 9 | Improving durability and activity 9 |
| Single-Atom Catalysts (SACs) | Iron-Nickel sites on carbon supports | CO₂ Reduction, Water Splitting | High activity, Tunable sites 9 | Emerging technology, Scalability challenges 9 |
| Metal-Organic Frameworks | Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ (CZA) | CO₂ Hydrogenation to Methanol | Moderate efficiency, Good selectivity 9 | Resistance to poisoning, Thermal stability 9 |
Despite promising technological developments, Ireland faces significant headwinds in its energy transition:
The infrastructure connecting generation to demand requires substantial upgrades. The government has committed €3.5 billion to fund network investment, and established an infrastructure unit within the Department of Public Expenditure to accelerate progress 5 .
Extreme weather events, including severe storms, have highlighted vulnerabilities in grid resilience to climate disruptions 5 .
Developing a workforce with the specialized skills needed to design, build, and maintain advanced energy storage systems represents an ongoing challenge.
| Metric | Current Status | 2030 Target | Key Challenges | Recent Policy Developments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renewable Electricity | Records set in 2025; Lowest emissions since 1990 5 | 80% of supply 5 7 | Grid capacity, Planning delays 7 | Planning and Development Act 2024 5 |
| Offshore Wind Capacity | Early development stage | 5GW 7 | Project delays, Supply chain | Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House (2025) 7 |
| Energy Storage Capacity | ~720MWh (end 2023); 1.7GWh forecast end 2025 | 201MW LDES by 2030 6 | DS3 tariff changes, Connection delays | EirGrid LDES procurement consultation (2025) 6 |
| Government Funding | €1.1bn in Budget 2026 8 | Ongoing | Efficient allocation | SEAI residential upgrades: €558m 8 |
Ireland stands at a pivotal moment in its energy history. The remarkable progress in renewable generation must now be matched by advances in storage technology and catalytic science to create a resilient, reliable system.
"We are moving from stockpiles of fossil-fuel to stores of clean molecules" 1 .
The coming years will be decisive. With €1.1 billion committed in Budget 2026 to accelerate the energy transition 8 , strong policy support, and continued technological innovation, Ireland has the potential to become a global exemplar of how a nation can successfully transform its energy system.
The catalysis of Ireland's energy transition is not merely a chemical process—it is a societal one, requiring collaboration between scientists, engineers, policymakers, and communities to power a sustainable future.
As these technologies scale from laboratory demonstrations to grid-scale implementations, they will collectively ensure that Ireland can harness its abundant natural resources to build an energy system that is secure, affordable, and sustainable for generations to come.