IONITY has announced a new partnership with Irish energy company Pinergy that will see renewable electricity supplied to its growing high-power EV charging network across Ireland. Under the Corporate Power Purchase Agreement, Pinergy will act as IONITY’s energy service provider in Ireland, supplying electricity to 48 ultra-fast charging points across seven locations on the national road network. Approximately six million kWh of renewable electricity will be supplied annually under the arrangement, with the energy generated by a wind farm in Co. Laois owned and operated by Lirion Power.
The agreement forms part of Pinergy’s Guarantee of Origin offering, which allows businesses and organisations to source electricity generated by Irish wind and solar farms feeding into the national grid. IONITY specialises in high-power EV charging and now operates more than 800 charging locations across 24 European countries. The company says its entire European network is powered using 100 per cent renewable energy. In Ireland, IONITY has focused its network around major motorway routes, with charging speeds of up to 350kW available at selected locations. For compatible electric vehicles, this can allow a typical 10 to 80 per cent charge to be completed in less than 30 minutes.
Its Irish network includes the flagship Charlestown charging hub on Dublin’s M50, which is currently the country’s largest ultra-rapid EV charging location. IONITY has also confirmed plans to continue expanding its presence in Ireland as demand for public fast charging grows. Andreas Atkins, Head of UK and Ireland at IONITY, said Ireland’s transition towards electric motoring would require considerably more than simply encouraging motorists to purchase electric cars.
“Thirty per cent of Ireland’s private car fleet will be electric by 2030 if the Government’s Climate Action Plan is successful,” he said.
“That’s much more than encouraging consumers to buy electric. We need to provide a charging experience that reminds drivers why they went electric in the first place. For both consumers and the site partners that deliver that charging, credibility matters.
“Working with Pinergy guarantees renewable power for Irish drivers through a local partner that they can trust. As we continue to expand access to ultra-fast charging in Ireland, our combined capabilities will give EV drivers an experience that encourages them to make lower-carbon choices every day.”
With Ireland’s electric vehicle fleet continuing to expand, the electricity requirements of large-scale charging networks are also increasing. The 5.7 GWh covered by the new agreement is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of approximately 1,400 Irish homes. Daire Keating, Chief Commercial Officer at Pinergy, said the company was pleased to support one of Ireland’s major high-power charging networks.
“We are delighted to partner with IONITY on their renewable energy provision in Ireland,” he said.
“IONITY plays a significant role in the country’s EV infrastructure, providing drivers with the premium and convenient high-power charging capability needed for long-distance travel on Irish roads, while also connecting Ireland into the wider European EV charging ecosystem.
“This is a partnership we are really proud to be part of, and we look forward to supporting IONITY as their Irish network continues to grow.”
Donal O’Sullivan, CEO of Lirion Power, added that the agreement demonstrated how renewable energy generators can work directly with major commercial energy users.
“We are delighted to be working with Pinergy on this partnership to generate the wind energy required to power the IONITY EV charging network,” he said.
“Our wind farm in Co. Laois is part of our growing portfolio of Irish operating wind assets, which we are also exploring the potential to hybridise with solar and battery storage to maximise the existing grid infrastructure already in place.”
The IONITY agreement further expands Pinergy’s Corporate Power Purchase Agreement portfolio. The company says it has now secured agreements covering more than 300 million kWh of annual Irish wind generation through its Guarantee of Origin programme, with demand expected to increase as more businesses seek traceable, Irish-generated renewable electricity.
