ESB Generation and Trading partnered with Reblade ApS, a Danish start-up, to test innovative wind turbine blade repair technology. This collaboration, part of the Free Electrons Programme, aims to advance renewable energy solutions.
Reblade,, founded in 2020, has developed a drone-based system that can grind, clean, and repair turbine blades, potentially reducing repair downtime by up to 90%. The pilot project will include five phases: assessing the technology at Reblade’s R&D facilities, Factory Acceptance Testing, a flight demonstration, a trial on an ESB-selected turbine in Ireland, and a training programme for ESB technicians. This project supports ESB’s goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040 through innovative solutions.
Power 2 Hydrogen
At ESB, collaboration is at the heart of our innovation journey. In partnership with Power to Hydrogen (P2H2) and three other global utility partners from the Free Electrons programme, we are advancing an exciting pilot project to test P2H2’s cutting-edge reversible hydrogen fuel cell technology.
P2H2 is developing an Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyser that cost-effectively converts renewable electricity and water into high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen, and can reconvert hydrogen back to power when needed. Unlike traditional methods, their patented electrolysis technology achieves high efficiency without relying on supply chain-constrained, precious metals.
This collaboration is not only a testament to the relationships fostered through Free Electrons but also a pioneering example of four utilities working together on a single project.
Paul Matter, CEO of Power to Hydrogen, shares: “We are excited about collaborating with ESB in Ireland, as we see a huge opportunity for our reversible hydrogen fuel cell technology to make clean energy available 24-7. Ireland is uniquely situated with abundant wind power, and Power to Hydrogen’s unique technology can help it get to NetZero faster.”
Advanced Infrastructure
Advanced Infrastructure, a spatial analytics and software company, is collaborating with ESB Networks on a pilot project aimed at enhancing the connection application process for customers. This initiative will provide local authorities, electric vehicle charge-point developers, and other medium voltage demand customers with an online tool to self-assess their connection requirements. The tool will help users evaluate available network capacity, estimated connection timelines, and cost information, allowing them to refine their needs before submitting formal applications.
The goal is to streamline the volume of applications that ESB Networks needs to process, focusing on those most likely to result in successful connections. This project is part of the Free Electrons Programme, which links utility companies with innovative solutions.
Advanced Infrastructure will leverage its Local Area Energy Planner Plus (LAEP+), a tool already used by four out of six UK Distribution Network Operators (DNOs), to support this project. LAEP+ includes a self-service connection portal that enables local authorities to design and submit grid connection requests independently. Its capability to model grid constraints and predict future energy system changes makes it a suitable foundation for this pilot.
This self-service capability offers the potential to allow prospective applicants to refine their connection requests in advance, reducing the number of applications that are withdrawn or offers that expire. This has the potential to deliver a 30% efficiency gain for ESB's network planning resources, with resulting benefits for its customers.
Ciaran Geaney, Innovation Manager, ESB Networks: "ESB Networks is trialling self-serve, data-driven solutions to enhance our capacity screening service and explore new ways for our customers to interact with us. We will assess the outcome of the trial and report the findings with a view to constant improvement of our systems.”
The collaboration aims to demonstrate the benefits of a digital approach to pre-screening connection requirements, ultimately making the process more efficient and customer friendly.
More information related to the project here: https://www.advanced-infrastructure.co.uk/case-study/powering-faster-grid-connections-across-ireland-with-the-laep-connections-portal
2050 Accelerator
2050 is a global accelerator which brings companies and start-ups together to try and tackle the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges. The purpose of the programme is to develop real world pilots and scale their solution for commercial deployment. It is hoped that by working with these companies and the power of disruptive technology that we can not only counteract the impact that humanity is having on the environment but also change industry so humans and nature can co-exist. The programme is broken down into three core phases which are as follows:
Core Phase 1 – Pilot Scoping
Core Phase 2 – Pilot Design and Planning
Core Phase 3 – Pilot Agreements and Demo Day
Green Data
Green
Data is a commercialisation project focusing on the optimisation of energy
usage for large energy users. Initially this is focused on large scale,
technical customers; data centres and telecom companies for example. The core
aim of this project is to provide grid insights to customers whilst also
analysing their energy usage patterns. The combination of the two profiles
allow customers to optimise their behaviours to avail of cheaper and cleaner
energy.
A
secondary aspect of this project also investigates base case
operational set-ups for data centres in terms of their compute infrastructure.
Domain experts within ESB's Enterprise Cloud operation teams have permitted Green
Data to offer an analysis and optimisation service for companies with a large
IT footprint.
Combining both streams of this project, it was estimated Green Data could help
some of our large energy customer save between 10-20% from their energy bills,
as well as a similar reduction in carbon emissions. We are currently in the
process of investigating a spin-out company for this IP.
Vertipower
New developments in Advanced Air Mobility AAM are promising to disrupt short haul aviation, through the electrification and decarbonisation of the sector. There are now several electric aircraft with operating ranges of 250km and hybrid electric with ranges up to 800km, for both passenger and cargo missions, in the final stages of becoming operational and certified by the aviation authorities.
The 2024 X_Potential project, VertiPower, researched and explored the potential opportunities in this short-haul aviation market, both in terms of infrastructure and charging optimisation, developing relationships with a leading electric aircraft and charger manufacturer BETA Technologies and mobility specialists Future Mobility Campus Ireland (FMCI).
Recently BETA Technologies flew their five passenger, fully electric, CX-300 aircraft from Shannon to Dublin and then on to Liverpool to showcase what is now possible with electric aircraft.
These electric aircraft have great potential to decarbonise aviation however they will also require new charging infrastructure systems to meet the special requirements of air transport.
2nd Wind
We're transforming retired wind turbine parts into solar-powered bike charging hubs—advancing Ireland’s circular economy and net-zero ambitions. Designed for aesthetics, simplicity, durability, and ease of installation, our wind turbine hubs are built to support multiple technologies, making them future-proof and fully interoperable. By delivering scalable, robust and recycled infrastructure, we’re helping ensure ESB can balance commercial viability and resilient infrastructure with environmental responsibility in the transition to sustainable eMobility.