Private Wires: A Practical Step Toward Faster, Smarter Electrification
The Government’s approval to begin drafting the Private Wires Bill marks an important milestone in Ireland’s electricity transition.
For the first time, legislation will explicitly enable the private development of electricity infrastructure in defined, limited circumstances, amending the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 to reflect how Ireland’s energy system is evolving.
At its core, private wires are about speed, efficiency, and practicality. When designed and regulated properly, they can unlock renewable generation and storage where grid delivery timelines or costs would otherwise delay viable projects while maintaining the national grid as the backbone of the system.
Ronan Power, CEO of Solar Ireland, said:
“The decision to move forward with the Private Wires Bill is a positive and necessary step in modernising Ireland’s electricity framework. When designed and regulated correctly, private wires can unlock solar, storage and electrification projects that are currently held back by grid timelines or disproportionate connection costs, while keeping the national grid at the centre of the system. The key now is implementation: fair charging, proportionate technical standards and a framework that enables viable projects without undermining long-term grid development.”
What the Bill Enables
As set out in the Government’s approved policy framework, the legislation will allow private wires in four specific cases:
- A direct connection between a single generator and a single electricity user, including storage
- Hybrid grid connections
- On-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Electricity supply between contiguous premises where a customer self-supplies
These use cases reflect real-world demand from industry, communities and local infrastructure, particularly where electrification needs are urgent and location-specific.
The Department’s commitment to ongoing collaboration with the CRU, EirGrid and ESB Networks, alongside the use of a Regulatory Impact Assessment and prior public consultation, is a strong signal that system integrity, safety and fairness remain central to delivery.
Why Private Wires Matter for Solar
Solar is uniquely suited to benefit from a well-designed private wires framework.
Many solar projects are located close to demand – on industrial sites, business parks, farms, public buildings and hybrid developments combining generation and storage. In these settings, private wires can:
- Reduce pressure on constrained grid nodes
- Avoid unnecessary infrastructure duplication
- Enable earlier delivery of clean power
- Support auto-production and local decarbonisation
Importantly, this is not about bypassing the grid. The national transmission and distribution networks must remain the primary route for electricity connections, and continued investment in them is essential. But where grid solutions are delayed, disproportionately costly, or inefficient for local supply, private wires can complement – not undermine – the wider system.
What Happens Next Matters Most
From Solar Ireland’s perspective, the value of this legislation will depend on how it is implemented.
In our engagement with Government and the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, we have consistently emphasised that:
- Charging methodologies must be fair and proportionate, reflecting actual system use
- Technical and safety standards should be robust, but appropriate to private infrastructure
- Regulation should enable viable projects, not create new barriers through over-specification
- Private wires should support, not stall, efficient grid development
If these principles are carried through into the General Scheme and subsequent regulation, private wires can become a practical enabler of electrification, particularly for solar, storage, EV charging and industrial decarbonisation.
A Measured but Welcome Step
The decision to progress the Private Wires Bill is a welcome and necessary step, aligned with commitments in the Climate Action Plan and the Programme for Government.
It reflects growing recognition that Ireland’s energy transition will be delivered not just through large, centralised infrastructure, but through distributed solutions, local investment, and smarter system design.
Solar Ireland looks forward to continuing constructive engagement with the Department, the CRU and system operators as the legislation is developed, to ensure private wires deliver real system value, accelerate clean energy deployment, and support Ireland’s broader electrification goals.