Iberdrola has powered up its first commercial-scale grid battery in Ireland.
The 50MW Gorman battery energy storage system in County Meath will provide system services to EirGrid for six years.
The services provided, secured in the DS3 Capped System Services contract auction in 2019, will contribute to the security and sustainability of the electricity network in Ireland, Iberdrola said.
The BESS comprises over 4000 battery modules spread across 16 battery containers on a site the size of a football pitch and represents an investment of €28m.
Elsewhere in Ireland, Iberdrola is also constructing a smaller 3MW BESS, which is nearing completion at Barnesmore wind farm in County Donegal.
Pre-construction activities are also progressing on the consented repowering of Barnesmore wind farm, and the expansion of the Gorman BESS to double its capacity to 100MW.
Planning is also underway to deliver three offshore wind projects (Clarus, Shelamere and Inis Ealga Marine Energy) with a total potential capacity of 3GW, in partnership with DP Energy.
Charlie Jordan, Iberdrola CEO for UK and Ireland, said: “This is a major milestone not just for Iberdrola in Ireland, but for Iberdrola globally, with the powering up of our first-ever operational battery project of this size and scale. It’s absolutely fantastic.
“Ireland has set out major ambitions to halve emissions by the end of this decade and achieve net zero by no later than 2050, so investing in the infrastructure needed to help turn that vision into reality is vital if progress is to stay on track – and we’re proud to be part of that journey.
“That means new green generation – both onshore and offshore – supported by innovative technology like our Gorman Battery Energy Storage System, which will support the stability and reliability of the network and ensure that clean energy is available when it’s needed. And we’re working hard to deliver on all these fronts.
“It’s great to see Gorman up and running, and doing its bit to support a greener future for Ireland, and there’s much more to come.”