Renewable energy company Statkraft has said it intends to build a grid-scale battery energy storage system at its Cushaling Wind Farm in Co Offaly.
The battery-based energy storage system (BESS) is designed to store and provide 20 Megawatts (MW) of power for up to four hours.
It would be Ireland's first BESS to store energy for that duration, Statkraft claims.
Most grid-scale batteries currently deployed here range from 30 minutes to two hours of energy storage capacity, it says.
"The longer the duration of battery energy storage capacity, the more benefits it can offer," Statkraft said in a release accompanying the announcement.
The aim of the project is to facilitate the storage of energy from renewable sources during times of low demand.
The 20MW storage system, supplied by Fluence, will be co-located with Statkraft's 55.8MW Cushaling Wind Farm. The wind project is currently under construction.
Construction of the battery project is expected to be completed by late 2024.
"It's very exciting to add another battery project to our growing portfolio of storage projects," Kevin O’Donovan, Managing Director of Statkraft Ireland, said.
"The longer-duration storage capability of this project shows that Statkraft continues to innovate and embrace advancement in battery technology," he added.
"The continuous advancements in energy storage technology are astounding and the technology is well positioned to serve both flexibility and peak capacity needs in the market," Brian Perusse, Managing Director of Fluence Energy Ireland Ltd said.
The Cushaling Battery is the third battery to be developed by Statkraft in Ireland with the other two located in Co Kerry.
The company recently completed the purchase of a portfolio of operational Irish onshore wind farms from the UK listed investment firm, The Renewables Infrastructure Group (TRIG).
Statkraft said it is expected that the wind farms could be upgraded in the future with newer more efficient turbines.
