Renewable innovator leverages TRC services to prepare for regulatory change and take advantage of new opportunities

BnM is a semi-state renewable energy provider supporting Ireland’s journey to net zero by delivering secure, renewable energy at scale for businesses across the country. As part of the company’s plans for the future, Bord na Móna updated its brand to BnM, reflecting its future focus while also recognizing its legacy.

Working with its landbank, strategic partners and local communities, BnM is building a 5GW pipeline of sustainable energy systems, including wind, solar and biomass projects, to enable industrial and economic growth while protecting our environment for generations to come.

BnM has been serving communities across Ireland for over 90 years, and today it continues to support businesses and local communities, not only by safeguarding renewable energy supply but also through its dedicated social and innovation initiatives, including community benefit funds, amenities, business accelerator programs, and educational supports.

Challenges

As Ireland’s energy landscape transformed under the EU Clean Energy Package and EirGrid’s Future Power Markets (FPM) program, BnM encountered operational opportunities for improvement.

Specifically, the EirGrid’s Future Power Markets (FPM) program is a key initiative supporting Ireland’s transition to cleaner energy. As the country moves toward generating 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, the FPM program helps prepare the electricity system for this significant shift. It focuses on updating how to support renewable energy like wind and solar, while also making the system more reliable and flexible.

The program provides vital guidance across several key areas that will shape how electricity is managed and delivered in the future. These include improving how services that keep the grid stable are bought and used, enhancing how electricity is scheduled and dispatched, and updating market rules to further integrate with other European systems

The evolving regulatory environment, spurred by the FMP Program, created opportunities for BnM to address:

  • Regulatory complexity: Mandated changes from the EU (Clean Energy Package) required a new understanding of compliance timelines and scope, especially for battery assets and renewables.
  • Operational challenges: Multi-phase power market reforms necessitated changes in participant behavior, impacting profitability and risk across assets.
  • Technical gaps: Uncertainty about system readiness for scheduling, dispatch, settlement, and vendor coordination led BnM to seek a deeper assessment of its technology, people, and processes.
  • Strategic opportunities: Evolving market rules and programs offered opportunities to capitalize on new trading windows, storage incentives and resource optimization.

“The future power markets program brought changes that required our business to change how we operate and trade,” said Oran O’Brien, Project Manager at BnM. “We reached out to TRC to help analyze our preparedness level and identify any potential gaps in our preparation.”

“We were excited to support BnM in navigating these industry market reforms,” said Dr. David Gascon, Advisor, TRC. “Their commitment to innovation made the collaboration and partnership seamless and successful.”

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Solution

TRC responded with a tailored, comprehensive Single Electricity Market (SEM) Readiness Assessment focused directly on BnM’s unique asset mix and market participation requirements. Rooted in deep industry experience and hands-on expertise with EirGrid and SEM programs, TRC’s solution was built to clarify what was changing, assess current preparedness and provide a strategic roadmap for successful transition.

Step 1: Understand Market Changes

We worked to ensure BnM’s teams understood both the scope and impact of upcoming market changes, especially the scheduling and dispatch changes for energy storage power station assets. This included mapping changes affecting operations, trading, finance and regulatory functions, so each stakeholder was fully briefed and ready for both day-to-day and long-term process adaptations.

Step 2: Assess Readiness Across Dimensions

TRC evaluated BnM’s status across four critical areas:

  • Operational and Financial Impact Analysis
  • Market Operations Capability Review
  • Technology and Vendor Landscape Evaluation
  • Training and Change Management Needs

This rigorous diagnostic, conducted in collaboration with BnM, included workshops, interviews, and a structured readiness questionnaire to benchmark strengths and uncover gaps.

Step 3: Develop an Action Plan and Prioritize

The results were distilled into a tailored, actionable plan with top, medium and lower-priority initiatives. BnM used the plan to allocate resources and assign dedicated project managers and subject matter experts. They systematically addressed compliance, operational and technology needs before the market go-live. The phased approach allowed both quick wins and greater strategic improvements.

Step 4: Collaborative Workshops and Expert Guidance

Our team facilitated highly interactive workshops and Q&A sessions, working closely with multiple BnM teams. This collaborative approach ensured recommendations were actionable and aligned with operational needs. The structured, open atmosphere fostered genuine teamwork and tailored the deliverables to BnM’s specific business.

Step 5: Ongoing Support for Implementation and Adaptation

TRC’s role extended beyond assessment. They collaborated with BnM to provide practical guidance and conduct regular reviews throughout the implementation of priority actions. This ongoing involvement allowed for timely adjustments to the strategy as needed. This collaborative partnership enabled BnM to remain agile and prepared to capitalize on future opportunities.

Services provided include:

  • SEM Readiness Assessment and Gap Analysis
  • Operational Impact Modeling
  • Market Operations Capability Review
  • Technology and Vendor Landscape Evaluation
  • Change Management Workshops and Training

“The assessment gave us a clear view of our readiness across trading, operations and technology,” said Obrien. “The action plan was the framework we used with senior management to prioritize and implement changes before go-live.”

“Our methodology was designed to be practical and comprehensive,” said Gascon. “Working side by side with BnM’s teams, we ensured our recommendations were tailored to their needs and immediately actionable.”

Results

TRC’s comprehensive SEM Readiness Assessment delivered BnM the clarity and confidence needed to navigate Ireland’s evolving energy market landscape successfully. The assessment provided a holistic diagnostic encompassing trading, operations, finance, settlement, IT and vendor management. It benchmarked the organization’s preparedness and revealed potential gaps to be addressed before go-live. This thorough evaluation enabled BnM to understand its strengths and areas for improvement, allowing the team to identify where to focus additional resources.

BnM used the information to align people, processes and technology in a phased manner. This structured approach reduced the risk of non-compliance and operational disruption as well as increased overall readiness.

With improved operational processes and documentation, the company achieved greater efficiency and consistency in integrating battery and storage assets, minimizing potential friction and creating accountability for day-to-day performance. The new action plan allowed BnM’s teams to develop robust trading strategies, unlocking access to additional auction opportunities and positioning storage assets for optimum value.

“The assessment enabled us to move forward strategically, identifying missing pieces and building confidence as we prepared for new market requirements,” said O’Brien.

Key benefits from the SEM Readiness Assessment:

  • Improved organizational confidence and readiness
  • Resource prioritization for effective change management
  • Reduced compliance and operational risk
  • Unlocking new trading and revenue opportunities
  • Enhanced process clarity and team collaboration

Discover how TRC’s Energy Markets team can help you prepare for regulatory change and take advantage of new opportunities. Visit the Energy Markets service page and contact us today.

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