Phil Connolly

4/ Paul Deane put it perfectly: if Ireland can’t build transmission, we can’t build a reactor. Norway’s independent review reached the same conclusion: alternatives are sufficient to 2050, SMR cost claims unproven. Ireland should take the same approach.

3/ The real 2030s job: grid build-out, offshore wind, planning reform, long-duration storage, demand flexibility. We’re already struggling for resources without adding a non-commercial SMR-shaped question to the mix.

1/ Ireland banned nuclear power in 1999. In 2025, we imported ~1.3 TWh of nuclear electricity from France and GB via our interconnectors. The ban hasn’t kept nuclear out. It’s just kept it off the table for analysis.

@18for0 @XEnergyIreland @JamesOConnorTD What’s your views on the SEAI DESS study that includes nuclear?

@XEnergyIreland @JamesOConnorTD You have some good points but it's not easy to get every point across in about 6 minutes. That's why we are encouraging a detailed study to be commissioned by the government, which would include modelling of various plans to find one that meets our needs as a country.

Take 12 mins out of your day to have a listen. Some brilliant responses to questions by @JamesOConnorTD on the draft Electricity Regulation (Removal of Nuclear Fission Prohibitions) Bill recently submitted to the Oireachtas. rte.ie/radio/radio1/c…

@adrianweckler Battery needs to be included - and all homes not just those pre 2022

The current solar grant of €1,800 should be much higher, in everyone’s interest. Around 177k of Ireland’s 2m premises have solar panels on the roof. Should be way more, not only to save household bills long run but to diversify energy security. m.independent.ie/business/techn…

@EO_Halloran Also, if we install 1 SMR in that timeframe it will be 300MW of a 12,000MW peak.

If you're casually pro-nuclear you must understand the criticism isn't ideological or a "culture war narrative" Its that in 25 years Ireland will install 40-50GW of renewable energy. And if we started now, nuclear generation would still be at 0 The time and cost is just too big

@EO_Halloran @PeterSmartpower Ireland previously had supports for battery’s but got rid due to budget and wanting to support solar more. I agree it should be reinstated- have an 8kWh battery at home and the savings/benefits are massive

@PeterSmartpower Australias program gave a 30% discount on home battery storage for consumers. The program cost $2.3 billion Aus I reckon Apple could cover a lot of that

The government should go all in on home battery storage right now tbh If 1 million Irish homes got a 15-20KWh battery, during peak demands houses would run on them and 1.5-2GW would be taken off the grid And at an individual level cut electricity bills by 25% conservatively

Demand for oil remains steady in Ireland despite near record prices in March - on a quarterly basis petrol demand is up, diesel demand down.

@EO_Halloran It is ridiculous- even for a small(ish) 5.3 kWp system with a 8kWh battery the savings are incredible linkedin.com/posts/connolly…

I can't recommend enough to anyone who has the means to invest in this to do it It sounds absurd to even say it but once you pay for the system, at a yearly average, it works out as free energy for the house and car because of both the savings and getting paid to export solar

The savings from running a Solar+Battery+EV system at home are insane Last weekend our solar exported 70Kwh. That works out at getting paid ~€6 per day Charging the EV costs ~€365 per year. So 2 months of sun harvesting effectively pays for the ENTIRE yearly car fuel bill

@BarryBetsby @GerHerbert1 @kev_tbay @Sam24116 @jerryk82like @adrianweckler I hope your sports trading is better than your EV/car knowledge 😩🤯

@GerHerbert1 @kev_tbay @Sam24116 @jerryk82like @Filly_10 @adrianweckler Can heat my diesel no problem in cold weather and any issue i can pull in and fill the tank in 2 minutes. There must be a serious increase in poor road maintenance because ive never seen the roads in such a state, the correlation with ultra heavy EV batteries is notable.

EVs in Ireland and now as cheap to buy as their competitors, and are 7x times cheaper to run. Based on top 10 sales in Q1 2026. The only way a ICE vehicle beats an EV is if you can’t charge at home. @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1

@globalhlthtwit Up to 7 times cheaper to run in Ireland now

Save money. Buy an electric vehicle, new or used. Cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than petrol cars.

@Styo28183449 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 Nope - each car has its own efficiency number under WLTP (which I know are wrong) but I use the equivalent for diesel and petrol. It’s not one size fits all - Tesla model 3 is more efficient than ID4 for example

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 The bit I think you are missing is that there is no simple metric you can apply to all evs of all sizes and all ice of all sizes. It’s a moving target. My first ev, an i3 was basically a go cart and was probably cheaper at an esb charge point that diesel. had a tiny battery

@Styo28183449 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 So the EVs use WLTP and diesel and petrol also use WLTP efficiency. From memory it’s c. 17 kWh/100km and c. 6l/100km so the numbers are true

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 This isn’t the data you think it is. The relevant measures are: L/100km Kwh/100km For an ev and ice car of equivalent size and power. When you compare like for like this way, as I have with exact comparable models, the costs come out about the same.

@adrianweckler And when you buy it, it’s 7 times cheaper to run! Great piece @adrianweckler

In 2026, it’s cheaper to buy a new electric car in almost all sizes to petrol, diesel or hybrid. Used to be opposite til very recently. Especially small cars (a previous weak spot): 4 EVs now under €20k — only 2 petrol and 0 diesel/hybrid at that price m.independent.ie/business/techn…

@AndyF44964 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 It’s how social media works 🙈

@ga2re2t @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 Yep - suppliers can help educate here once they notice EV charging they should be reaching out. Installers also should play a role. No programming needed smart chargers know your costs and just charge when cheapest. Massive savings on EV rates for 20,000km per year scenario

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 Oh, I'm sure it does. Unfortunately most people don't like calculating that sort of thing. And you need to program the charge between 2-4am. 17c/kWh night rate will be what most people might use. I look forward to the graphic 👍

@Styo28183449 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 Simply is true - all assumptions posted. 20k km per year.

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 No. That simply isn’t true. As a temporary issue at this particular moment in time perhaps, but the baseline normal pricing? No, charging an ev at public chargers is about as expensive as diesel. I know this from experience. I drive an ev.

@ga2re2t @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 What you spend on the extra few kWh during day is more than saved with EV rate - will show graphic soon

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 The night boost EV rate is very interesting but I think very few people have it or find it practical, as it increases the cost of their other electricity uses. 29c/kWh is more typical and EV's still win.

@Seesee96 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 🤣🙌🏼

@Filly_10 @adrianweckler @GerHerbert1 Laughing all the way here with 2 EVs and 10 years on still reading the same old guff and whataboutery from the naysayers. Can’t be bothered trying to convince people any more. It’s a no brainer.