ESB has opened a 75MW battery plant at its Poolbeg site in Dublin, which it says will add 150MWh of fast-acting energy storage to help provide grid stability and deliver more renewables on Ireland’s electricity system.
This latest battery energy storage system (BESS) is part of ESB’s pipeline of projects which are being delivered at sites in Dublin and Cork – representing an investment of up to €300m.
The high-capacity batteries can store excess renewable energy for discharge when required, and in doing so, help to support Ireland in reaching its ambitious climate targets by 2030 and ESB in achieving its Net Zero by 2040 strategy.
This project, operational since late November 2023, has a capability of providing 75MW of energy for two hours to Ireland’s electricity system.
This plant is located at ESB’s Poolbeg Energy Hub in Dublin where some of the latest technologies that will support the future delivery of renewable energy including batteries, hydrogen and offshore wind will be deployed over the next decade.
ESB is working with partners Fluence, as well as Irish companies, Kirby Group and Powercomm Group, in the delivery of these projects at Poolbeg, Aghada, Inchicore, and South Wall – the remainder of these projects are due to be completed this year.
Jim Dollard, ESB executive director, generation and trading, said: “Today marks another important milestone for ESB as we launch our latest fast-acting grid-scale battery unit that will support grid stability and help to deliver more renewables on Ireland’s electricity system.
“The location of this project, at our Poolbeg Energy Hub, will build on our longstanding history of innovation at the site.
“We are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners to deliver the remainder of our projects in development this year.”