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Commitment to Innovation

Our innovation team accelerates the pace and scale of delivery of our strategic objectives to decarbonise electricity, develop resilient infrastructure and empower customers whilst supporting the development of our people.

Our innovation strategy supports both incremental innovation to improve existing business models and transformational innovation to develop new areas of business. See below signposts on how we do innovation.

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Innovation and Digital Programmes

At ESB, we innovate for a net-zero future by leveraging technology, partnerships, and breakthrough solutions to transform energy generation, storage, and use. 

How we utilise the world's leading energy start-up accelerator programme: Free Electrons

Partnering with global energy start-ups through Free Electrons to co-create cutting-edge solutions for the future of energy and rolling out solutions across our group.

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How we cultivate employee entrepreneurship

Building an innovation mindset across the organisation through experiential learning and crowdsourcing ideas together, in partnership with the UCD Innovation Academy.

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How we collaborate for innovation

Collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation, and we believe that through this we can achieve our strategy to net zero through this important value.

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How we research new and emerging technology

At ESB, we conduct extensive research and development into new technologies at various Technology Readiness Levels and publish an annual report each year highlight the breakthroughs in the technologies.

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How we engage digital eco-system partners

Our Eco Partners Platform (Ecosystem) is a platform that is a key enabler of our digital transformation strategy, bringing together business and digital strategies with IT strategies, while allowing us to stimulate fresh thinking and doing safe innovation at speed. It is our vehicle to solving challenges in a digital world.

If you or your organisation would like to find or more about joining our Ecosystem, email info.ecopartners@esb.ie

Apply to the Free Electrons Programme

We are a co-founder of the Free Electrons Programme, the global accelerator initiative that has allowed us to pilot energy solutions across our organisation.

If you are a start-up eager to present your solution and want to collaborate with us in our net zero journey then click on the link below.

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ESB Innovating @ X_Site

X_Site is our incubator programme, providing relevant supports for cross value chain ventures to enable innovative projects to develop, grow and scale. The programme supports the development of new innovative projects by fostering exploration, learning and intrapreneurship with a start-up mindset.

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Shape Emerging Technology and Research

We are investing in next-generation energy solutions to drive a cleaner and more sustainable future. We work with external stakeholders, technology developers, consultants, energy start-ups, research organisations and staff to analyse and assess emerging technologies across power generation, flexibility, cross - energy and cross industry.

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