AES UK & Ireland has officially opened its 10MW Kilroot Advancion energy storage array at Kilroot power station in Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland.
The array was completed last month and utilises the Advancion 4 energy storage solution via some 53,000 batteries, arranged in 136 separate nodes. It is the first step towards a planned 100MW energy storage array adjacent to Kilroot.
AES says Kilroot will enhance grid reliability by providing fast response ancillary services, such as frequency regulation.
The launch was attended by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness and junior ministers Jennifer McCann and Emma Pengelly.
“The energy environment is constantly changing and energy storage has the potential to benefit all of us by lowering costs, helping the environment and improving security of supply to our homes and businesses,” said McGuinness.
“The Energy Storage Array in Kilroot Power Station is a highly innovative project with the potential to deliver the largest battery energy storage array, in these Islands, with plans for this 10MW pilot to be scaled up to 100MW. This could make a significant contribution to managing our electricity demands in the future.”
He added: “It is also an important factor as we look to decarbonise our energy supplies with claims a 100 megawatt array could lead to over 123,000 tonnes of carbon savings annually. I thank AES and congratulate them on their achievements and wish them every success with their proposals for full-scale deployment of the array.”
Image: AES
