PR6: A decisive investment in Ireland’s energy infrastructure and a moment that must deliver
Ireland is entering a defining phase for its energy system.
Solar Ireland welcomed the publication of the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities’ (CRU) Final Determination on Price Review 6 (PR6), setting out a regulatory and investment framework for the period 2026 to 2030.
PR6 paves the way for up to €18.9 billion in investment in Ireland’s electricity infrastructure over the next five years. This is the largest programme of grid investment since rural electrification and reflects the central role energy infrastructure now plays in housing delivery, industrial development, digitalisation and climate action.
What PR6 enables
Under Ireland’s price review system, the CRU sets allowed expenditure for ESB Networks and EirGrid in five-year cycles. PR6 establishes the scale, scope and oversight framework required to modernise and expand the electricity network at pace.
The programme will be supported by an unprecedented €3.5 billion in government equity investment, committed under the revised National Development Plan. This includes €1.5 billion being transferred to ESB this week, ensuring ESB Networks is sufficiently capitalised to begin delivery from the outset of the PR6 period.
Importantly, the Electricity (Supply) (Amendment) Act 2025, enacted as a matter of priority, provides the legal mechanism for this investment and introduces enhanced oversight. The Minister will receive quarterly monitoring reports on expenditure and delivery progress across the PR6 programme.
Infrastructure at the heart of national delivery
Energy infrastructure is now a prerequisite for progress across multiple policy areas. The investment levels agreed under PR6 align with the Government’s Accelerating Infrastructure Action Plan and are intended to unlock delivery across the economy.
PR6 will facilitate, among other outcomes:
The connection of up to 300,000 new homes by 2030
Increased network capacity to meet growing electricity demand from homes and businesses
Network infrastructure to support the connection of up to 1 million electric vehicles and the large-scale roll-out of heat pumps
Preparation for major public transport electrification projects, including MetroLink
Greater accommodation of renewable electricity generation, both onshore and offshore
Reduced curtailment and constraint costs through targeted network reinforcement
Improved resilience of the electricity system in the face of storms and extreme weather
The programme includes over 500 capital projects, spanning new and upgraded substations, overhead lines, underground cables, pole replacements and capacity increases on existing infrastructure, alongside investment in organisational capability within ESB Networks and EirGrid.
Welcoming the determination, Minister O’Brien described PR6 as enabling “the most significant period of energy infrastructure development since rural electrification”. He noted that investment in the grid now will facilitate more home-grown renewables and reduce Ireland’s exposure to volatile international gas markets over time.
Delivery and accountability will define success
From Solar Ireland’s perspective, the scale of ambition set out in PR6 is both necessary and overdue. Grid delivery has become the single most important enabler of Ireland’s energy transition, underpinning renewable deployment, electrification, housing delivery and long-term affordability.
However, the value of PR6 will ultimately be determined not by headline figures, but by execution.
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, said:
“There is no cost-free path to transforming Ireland’s energy system. The choice is between planned, regulated investment now, or higher costs later from grid bottlenecks, storm damage, curtailment and continued reliance on volatile fossil fuels.
PR6 combines State equity funding, delivery obligations and penalties for under-performance. If executed properly, this investment will lower system costs over time and support a more resilient, affordable energy system for households and businesses.”
Strong regulatory oversight, clear delivery milestones and effective coordination between Government, the CRU, ESB Networks and EirGrid will be essential to ensure this investment translates into tangible outcomes on the ground.
What this means for solar and renewables
For the solar sector, PR6 is a critical enabler. Expanded and reinforced networks are essential to connect new projects, reduce curtailment and ensure that clean, low-cost generation can reach consumers efficiently.
Solar Ireland will continue to engage constructively with policymakers, regulators and system operators to support delivery, identify bottlenecks early and ensure that grid investment keeps pace with Ireland’s renewable ambitions.
PR6 marks a major step forward. The challenge now is to turn framework into flow and deliver infrastructure at the speed and scale Ireland needs.