Innogy has taken the final investment decision on its first energy storage project in Ireland, for a 60MW grid battery in County Monaghan.
The facility, which is located in the vicinity of Lisdrumdoagh, will enter construction this year and will start commercial operations in 2021.
The battery will provide system services to the national grid and will expand Innogy’s renewables portfolio in Ireland.
Innogy renewables operations senior vice president Sven Utermohlen said: “I am proud that we are making our first significant utility-scale battery storage investment, not just anywhere, but in Ireland, a market with a strong commitment to renewable energies and a dedicated support for battery storage.
“Ireland is an excellent starting point for us as we look to expand and grow our battery storage technology business.”
Innogy Renewables Ireland managing director Cathal Hennessy added: “This battery storage facility makes an important contribution to the successful realisation of the Irish energy transition.
“This is because storage technologies help to provide an important link between modern grids and intermittent generation, by storing excess renewable energy for use when required.”
As the growth of renewable generation continues to replace conventional power generation in Ireland, there is an increasing challenge for the grid operators to safely manage imbalances in the system, which can include the curtailment of wind generators.
Grid batteries can respond in less than 150 milliseconds to frequency changes, importing or exporting electricity from the grid as needed. This helps to even out the fluctuating feed-in from renewable energy plants, as well as stabilise the grid and guarantee a reliable electricity supply.