Benefits for Irish Businesses
Private Wires legislation isn't an abstract policy debate — it directly unlocks real, tangible opportunities for businesses of every size across Ireland.
Real-world use cases
Apartments & multi-unit developments
A single rooftop PV and battery system can supply every apartment in the block — cutting resident bills and giving the developer a compelling sustainability story.
New housing schemes
Where ESB Networks connections lag, a local solar/battery microgrid with HVO backup can energise homes on day one — unlocking completions that would otherwise stall.
Rooftop solar for neighbours
Warehouses, farms and commercial buildings with large roofs could sell surplus generation directly to the business next door — instead of dumping it cheaply to the grid.
☀️ Solar Installers
Customers with big roofs but low load can finally monetise excess capacity by selling to neighbours. Enables larger shared solar/battery systems supplying multiple homes — cheaper equipment, better resilience.
🏘️ Property Developers
Deliver housing and apartment completions faster. Where ESB Networks can't provide a timely connection, a solar/battery system with HVO backup can power residents — managed like a district heating scheme.
🏢 Commercial Property Owners
Sell surplus rooftop solar to your tenants. Progress towards net-zero. Support ISO 50001/50100 certification. Unlock lower-cost sustainable finance.
🛍️ Shopping Centres
Power common areas and retail units from your own rooftop generation. Reduce tenant costs, attract better tenants, differentiate on sustainability.
🏭 Manufacturers
Get the grid capacity you need to expand — without waiting years. Directly source competitively priced renewable electricity from nearby generators.
🔌 EV Charging Providers
Deploy public and roadside charging without the current Section 37 hurdles. Local authorities empowered to authorise street-level installations.
🏘️ Community Groups
Enable community-owned microgrids and eco-villages sharing green power across multiple dwellings — exactly what the EU Citizen Energy Package intends.
🌾 Farmers & Rural Business
Feed surplus generation to neighbours. Combine wind, solar, storage and load in ways currently impossible.
Benefits for the Wider Economy
- €3 billion / year in economic value (industry estimates), largely from offsetting fossil fuel imports.
- Lower average energy costs — more competition and less need for costly grid overbuild.
- Accelerated renewables rollout — thousands of new small projects unlocked.
- Faster housing delivery — grid connection delays no longer a blocker.
- Improved security of supply — distributed generation and local resilience.
- EU-compliant framework — aligns Ireland with Directive (EU) 2019/944 and the Citizen Energy Package.
Ready to act?
The most important thing you can do is contact your local TD before the Second Stage vote. We've prepared sample letters for common business types.