Korean-Irish partners have broken ground on two 100MW lithium-ion battery energy storage projects in Ireland that will provide back-up power to support grid stability and reliability as the country increases its use of wind and solar power.
South Korea’s Hanwha Energy Corporation and Irish partners Lumcloon Energy said €150 million (US$165m) had been invested to develop the sites in County Offaly.
The companies have not revealed the battery technology supplier or completion dates for the projects.
One of the 5,000m2 plants will be built on the site of a former peat-burning power station in Ferbane. The other is being built near Shannonbridge.
Ireland’s environment minister Richard Burton said turning the sod on two new battery storage facilities was an important step in the country’s transition away from an electricity sector dependent on fossil fuels to renewables.
The CEO of national electricity operator Eirgrid, Mark Fowley, said the systems would respond to grid frequency incidents‑ such as spikes in demand— and keep power on the system for a short period of time while other power generating plants are brought online.
BEST Battery Briefing reported earlier this year that Irish regulators had ruled that commercial BESS units in Ireland must start paying a levy to support renewable energy generation.
Last July, planning permission was granted to power company Engie Developments Ireland, part of the French-owned Engie Group, to build a 100MW lithium-ion BESS in Galway County.
