ESB Networks Dingle Project Trials

AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME

In 2018, ESB Networks launched a highly innovative 3-year project on the Dingle Peninsula which, in collaboration with the local community, focused on the deployment and assessment of the impact and role of a range of new technologies, in the development of a smart resilient, low carbon electricity network. The renewable and clean energy enabling technologies installed at trial participants’ properties included:
  • Solar PV Systems
  • Residential-scale batteries
  • Air Source Heat Pumps
  • Electric Vehicles, Smart EV chargers and bi-directional (V2G) chargers
  • Home Energy Monitoring Systems
  • The project also trialed a number of smart devices on the electrical network to enhance its reliability.

In late 2018, ESB Networks retrofitted the homes and businesses of five local Ambassadors with a range of technologies including: Solar PVs, Air Source Heat Pumps, and Electric Vehicle Chargers. This project allowed ESB Networks to experiment with different energy efficiency measures on the peninsula, helping the move towards a low carbon future. The five local Ambassadors were selected from a competitive pool of over 70 applicants and part of their role was to help inform other members of our community about the different technologies available to improve energy efficiency.

Dingle Project Ambassador Programme Learning Brief

EV Trial

In January 2021, ESB Networks launched a one-year electric vehicle (EV) trial. The objective of the community trial was to understand the impact of electric vehicle charging on the electricity network and to investigate if the optimised use of smart EV charging technologies can minimise those impacts.

Following an extensive local engagement campaign, 10 new EV Ambassadors from hundreds of applications were selected to participate. The existing five Dingle Project Ambassadors also received an EV while two cars were made available, on a managed basis, to the wider community.  Smart chargers were installed at the homes of all 15 participants on the trial.

ESB Networks Dingle Project Infographic
ESB Networks End of Project Webinar Series Dec 2021 

ESB Networks’ Dingle Project EV Trial Learning Brief

Dingle Project Reports

Active Energy Citizenship & Community Engagement Report

This report provides an overview of the initiatives undertaken as part of ESB Networks’ Dingle Project to drive active energy citizenship across the Dingle Peninsula. It highlights the activities as part of the energy citizenship development strategy that were carried out and delivered in collaboration with the participating citizens and other project partners.

Customer Flexibility Trial Report

This report provides and overview of the customer flexibility trial as part of ESB Network’s Dingle Project. The trial set out to better understand the capability of clean energy enabling technologies and residential scale distributed energy resources in offering flexible energy services and their impact on the electricity grid.

Peer-to-Peer Shared Learnings

This report outlines the activities undertaken by ESB Networks as part of the P2P objective on the Dingle Project, the learnings garnered from those activities and potential steps to increase learnings on the potential impact that P2P energy services could have on the operation of the distribution network.