SSE Renewables has acquired a fully consented 100MW/200MWh battery storage project near Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, from Heron Energy.
At an installed capacity of 100MW/200MWh, the Derrymeen battery energy storage system (BESS) would be the largest installed battery storage facility in Northern Ireland if delivered, SSE said.
Subject to a final investment decision by the company, the shovel-ready project will be constructed on a greenfield site located outside Coalisland, around five miles from Dungannon.
The Derrymeen battery would be capable of storing up to 200MWh of energy for flexible dispatch when needed for use by Northern Ireland homes and businesses at times of peak demand.
When called upon, the system would be capable of providing back-up energy to the equivalent of over 135,000 homes in Northern Ireland for up to two hours at a time, SSE said.
The Derrymeen project is they company’s first battery storage development in Northern Ireland.
If approved for final delivery, construction could commence on the project early next year and be operational by the end of 2026, providing a welcome boost to the local economy.
SSE Renewables head of solar and battery development (Ireland) Daniel Barnes (pictured left) said: “This acquisition further demonstrates SSE Renewables’ aim to lead the way in the transition to net zero, as we build out vital battery energy storage systems that will be capable of making the grid more resilient, while maximising the opportunity to harness surplus renewable energy generated from onshore wind and solar generation in Northern Ireland for use at times when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.
“We look forward to working with policy and regulatory authorities in Northern Ireland to ensure much-needed energy storage solutions can be delivered in the region and operate effectively within the framework of the All-Island Single Energy Market.”
The project secured planning consent from Mid Ulster District Council in 2023.
The energy storage site will connect to Northern Ireland’s electricity grid via an underground cable to the existing nearby Tamnamore substation.