1st Positive Steps on Private Wire
A Watershed Moment for Clean Energy in Ireland: Why the New Private Wires Policy Matters for River Energy (and Beyond)
We at GKinetic Energy are thrilled by the recent shift in Ireland’s electricity policy landscape. On 15 July 2025, the government adopted the Private Wires Policy Statement, paving the way for private lines connecting generators directly with customers under certain conditions.
This is more than just a regulatory tweak — it could be transformative for community-scale renewables, especially for river (hydrokinetic) energy projects. Here’s why:
What’s changing?
Under the new policy, private entities will be allowed to build, own, and operate electricity lines in defined scenarios, including:
- Direct connections between a renewable generator like our turbines (or battery) and a customer — bypassing the need to go through the public grid in some cases.
- Hybrid / shared connections: multiple legal entities (e.g. a solar farm, a battery storage facility) can now share grid connections.
- EV charging infrastructure (especially on street) where private wires are the most efficient solution.
- Expansion of self-supply possibilities: a self-supplying generator may supply electricity to a contiguous neighbouring site (provided the line does not cross third-party land).
These scenarios are contingent on meeting policy conditions (cost-effectiveness, alignment with public interest, technical and safety standards, etc.). Mathesons report gives a more in-depth look at the possibilities and is well worth checking out.
What this means for river energy / hydrokinetic projects
- New routes to market: In areas where grid infrastructure is constrained or expensive to upgrade, a river energy generator might connect more directly to local industrial or commercial users via private wires.
- Better project economics: Avoiding some grid upgrade costs or tariffs could improve project viability, especially for smaller-scale or modular hydro projects.
- Local energy localization: Communities or clusters of users (factories, campuses, water infrastructure, etc.) near a river energy site may directly benefit from clean power, reducing grid dependence.
- Enabling hybrid systems: River generation could be paired with storage or other renewables and share connections under the new regime, giving more flexibility in design and operations.
- Faster deployment: Where the grid is the bottleneck, private-wire-enabled projects might get up and running more quickly (pending regulation).
What still lies ahead
- The policy statement is a framework, not yet fully operational. Implementation will require primary legislation, detailed regulation, and a CRU permitting regime.
- The policy is selective — private wires will only be allowed where they offer a more efficient or viable option than grid connection. Arthur Cox LLP have good article worth reading on the subject.
- Developers will need to show that the project aligns with public policy goals (climate, security of supply), does not undercut the public grid’s financial viability, and meets technical/safety standards.
- Issues such as land access, consent of landowners, and how strictly “contiguous site” is defined will matter.
GKinetic Energy’s perspective: We’re ready to move
At GKinetic Energy, our mission is to harness the resource of flowing water in rivers and waterways to deliver clean, reliable power — efficiently and responsibly. This policy shift offers exciting new possibilities:
- We’re evaluating how to integrate private-wire options into our project designs and partnerships, especially in regions where grid constraints have been limiting deployment.
- We see opportunities to partner with local industrial, agricultural, or municipal energy users to deliver clean power directly, strengthening the green energy ecosystem at the district or community level.
- We intend to engage in ongoing policy, regulatory, and stakeholder processes to help shape best practice implementation and ensure that the river energy sector’s voice is heard.
We believe this reform is a strong signal that Ireland’s energy market is evolving — becoming more flexible, decentralized, and supportive of clean, distributed generation.
If you’re working on renewable energy, hydro or river power, energy communities, industrial decarbonisation, or distribution innovations, we’d love to connect. Let’s explore how we can make the clean energy transition more viable, local, and impactful together.
