Ireland faces a critical infrastructure bottleneck where grid connection delays directly stall vital housing developments and industrial expansions.
Unlocking private wire networks offers a direct bypass to these grid constraints, allowing localised renewable energy to power adjacent developments. This discussion explores the competing legislative bills, regulatory pathways via the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, and the engineering reality of decentralised power systems.
Energy specialists Fergus Wheatley of SmartPower and Patrick Liddy of Managed Power join the platform to share expert insights on how Ireland can transition from a rigid state-controlled grid to a dynamic, resilient energy ecosystem.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
- Defining private wires and current legal barriers in Ireland
- Section 39 licensing obstacles under the ESB Regulation Act
- Comparing the Barry Heneghan bill with the government scheme
- Successful private wire frameworks across various European countries
- Engineering safety, planning permission, and wayleave requirements
GUEST DETAILS
Fergus Wheatley acts as a tireless champion for private wires legislation. He co-founded SmartPower, an energy procurement and consultancy business, where he applies his deep experience in commodity trading to the energy sector.
Social Media:
linkedin.com/in/ferguswheatley
Patrick Liddy is the Electricity Markets Manager at Managed Power, he also serves as the Chief Executive Officer for The Demand Response Association of Ireland, where he facilitates greater renewable energy integration by helping grid customers provide vital flexibility.
Social Media:
linkedin.com/in/patrick-liddy-36559310
MORE INFORMATION
CIBSE (the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers) is the professional body that exists to advance and promote the art, science and practice of building services engineering. Their mission is to invest in education and research, and to support their community of built environment professionals in their pursuit of excellence.
Bringing Buildings Alive was produced by
dustpod.io for CIBSE Ireland
QUOTES
- The pace at which we want to build houses outstrips the ability of the ESB to get wires built. Allowing private industry to build these things would allow development to progress much faster. - Patrick Liddy
- In 27 years, there's not been a single private wire licensed in Ireland. - Fergus Wheatley
- So a private wire is a wire, and they are illegal in Ireland right now. - Patrick Liddy
- If we get this legislation passed, it's up to the CRU then to say, all right, that's allowed. - Fergus Wheatley
KEYWORDS
#PrivateWires#GridConstraints#ESBNetworks#BatteryStorageIntegration#PrivateWiresBill
What is Bringing Buildings Alive with CIBSE Ireland?
Bringing Buildings Alive brings you the experts who are shaping the future of building services engineering.
On the first Monday of each month, we dive deep into heat pumps, AI integration, Well building certification, smart buildings, and the sustainability challenges that will define the next decade.
What's the next standard we'll need to meet? Where's the market heading? How do we design for buildings that will still be standing—and performing—in 50 years?
Whether you're buried in the weeds of a complex project or trying to see the bigger picture, this is your chance to step back, get ahead of the curve, and understand what's coming down the line before it lands on your desk.
Brought to you by CIBSE Ireland