The Republic of Ireland has been chosen to house the first grid-connected 320 kW hybrid battery and flywheel project in Europe.
Irish storage plant firm SchwungradEnergie Limited is behind the project which will include two flywheels, each of 160kW, during the demonstration phase.
However, discussions are ongoing with battery suppliers and the chemistry is yet to be chosen, although the batteries are expected to be rated at 240kW capacity.
The flywheels and batteries will provide stability to the grid by taking energy from the grid and storing it for rapid transferring back into the grid when required.
The flywheels will be installed and commissioned this summer at the Rhode, Co. Offaly site, with the batteries added in the autumn.
SchwungradEnergie Limited is behind the project and will collaborate with the Depatment of Physics and Energy at the University of Limerick.
American flywheel development company Beacon Power is providing support.
Frank Burke, Schwungrad Technical Director, said: “It is not a power plant in the conventional sense, but operates as a shock absorber and dynamic energy support system, absorbing and re-injecting small but highly flexible amounts of power to suit grid requirements.”
Schwungrad received the first phase of up to €2.55million ($2.7m) European Commission Horizon 2020 funding to assist the project in December 2014.