EUROPE'S 'biggest battery' project at Kilroot power station enjoyed a massive power surge yesterday after winning a share of a £24.5 million government hand-out for the renewable energies sector.
The 100 megawatt grid storage connection planned by AES Kil-root Power Ltd at Carrickfergus was among 40 green technology schemes named in the first round of Innovate UK's Energy Catalyst competition.
Known as 'storage array', the system will have the ability to tap into existing, under-utilised power capacity from efficient power plants and solar and wind facilities, bringing lower energy costs for consumers and helping meet government renewables policy targets for Northern Ireland.
The system, designed to deliver reliable power with no direct emissions, is being built in conjunction with a research team at Queen's University and is predicted to be online later this year.
Along with the 39 other projects, it has ticked the boxes for Innovate UK, whose 'Energy Catalyst' arm promotes innovation in the energy sector with the overall goal to reduce carbon emissions, increase security of supply and cut costs.
Rob Saunders, head of energy at Innovate UK said: "The projects which have won funding in this first round are exactly the sort of innovative ideas we had in mind when the energy catalyst was created.
"The second round is now well under way and I'm looking forward to seeing UK firms come forward with more new ways of securing a reliable, low carbon and low cost energy system."
Welcoming Innovate UK's commitment to the Kilroot initiative, Carla Tully, president of AES UK and Ireland, said the company was "excited" to be installing "Europe's largest battery to date".
"We are excited to begin using advanced energy storage to reduce the cost and carbon intensity of managing the UK's electric grids," she said.
"AES provides safe, sustainable and affordable energy and we're helping modernise power systems with energy storage. This project is the first phase in a planned 100MW energy storage system for Northern Ireland and will propel continued investment in the UK by The AES Corporation."