SMART GRID IRELAND – INNOVATION CONFERENCE,

20^TH JUNE 2024, CROKE PARK, DUBLIN.

Powering the Energy Transition to Net Zero: Innovations & New Solutions that will help bridge the gap between policy, regulation, investment and delivery.

On 20^th June 2024 Smart Grid Ireland hosted their innovation conference focusing on key power system drivers for a carbon-neutral Ireland. The event was opened by Dr. Jennifer Carrol MacNeill, Irish Minister for State for European Affairs and Defence. Dr. MacNeill highlighted the critical importance of the Electricity Grid for the Irish economy to continue to thrive. Without a smarter, more extensive and up-to-date power grid, the transmission and distribution system will not be sufficient for the economy to prosper and employment to grow.

The actual pathways to achieving this objective is evolving along with key innovation drivers for strengthening power-grid flexibility and establishing links with other energy sectors such as transport, buildings, industry and the growth of distributed renewable energy sources shaping the energy system of the future. Power Grids – the backbone of the energy system – faces multiple challenges along the value chain that can potentially put them at risk of being unprepared for supply / demand situations arising from unexpected consumer uptake in electric vehicles, rooftop solar or heat pump adoption where integration of the system is essential to meeting demand not to mention the effects of climate and weather conditions. To integrate renewables into grids and support the energy transition, operators may need to rethink their approaches and tools to tackle network and value chain challenges

Presentations included the digitalization of the power systems as just one of the hurdles to overcome for enhanced control  and interoperability and why grid innovation and technology solutions are critical to addressing a future integrated power system.

Given the primary goal of ensuring a sustainable, affordable and secure electricity system,  Smart Grid Ireland plays an important role in informing policy and regulation while bridging the gap between policy, regulation, investment and delivery.

The event was divided into three separate sections:

1. Innovation to Frame the Future of the Grid
2. Using Digitalisation to Frame the Future of The Grid
3. Smart Grid Infrastructure & Project Delivery

A wide range of topics were covered throughout the day with speakers from both Europe and Ireland including Utility Providers, System Operators, Suppliers and Academia. Some of the key highlights included:

• Breakthrough technology and knowledge to transition to energy efficiency, decarbonization and sustainable urban environments by Professor Gerrit Jan Schaefer, from Energyville, Belgium
• Ground- Breaking Research and Innovation addressing the energy transition by Professor Dirk Van Hertem, KU Leuven University, Belgium
• Next Generation Energy Systems (NexSys) by Dr Andrew Keane, University College Dublin
• Using AI to engage customers, Sorcha Schnittger, SSE Airtricity
• Customer Connected Communities from Theresa Fallon, ESB Networks
• Steve Heinen from Ernst & Young presented an overview of the Eurolectric New Grid Investment Report
• Diana Vas from Irish Manufacturing Research looked at the roll of renewables in the decarbonisation of manufacturing.

With over 120 delegates in attendance, there was huge energy and engagement throughout the day and an obvious desire for more information and discussion. Full details of the event including Agenda, Speakers can be found at this link:

https://sgi2024.org/