A Co Tyrone-founded renewable energy company is to partner with a Swiss global independent asset manager to build a £100 million long duration energy storage (LDES) system off the Antrim coast in a deal which will enhance Northern Ireland’s energy security.
The joint venture is between Solo Renewables in Cookstown and Capital Dynamics, which is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and which has more than $15 billion in assets under its management.
Planning approval has already been passed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for the proposed LDES scheme in Islandmagee, adjacent to the Moyle Interconnector.
The Moyle Interconnector, managed by Mutual Energy, is a 500 megawatt link running between Auchencrosh in Ayrshire and Ballycronan More near Islandmagee.
The new 150 megawatts LDES project can provide up to eight-hour of storage capacity (equivalent to 1,200MWh) and is among the first large-scale long duration storage sites developed within in the Irish Single Electricity Market.
And once operational in its projected date of 2029, it will provide sufficient energy to power 36,000 households per day.
The north’s electricity transmission system operator SONI will now draw up a grid map, then NIE Networks will build the infrastructure.
With anticipated regulatory developments like the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee encouraging further investment in wind and solar generation across the north, storage will play an increasingly important role in supporting the integration of renewable power into the grid.
While short-duration battery energy storage projects already contribute to grid stability, under refined regulatory conditions, longer-duration storage can provide critical additional flexibility to help manage variability in renewable generation and support a secure and reliable electricity system.
As more renewable generation capacity comes online, additional flexibility will be required to support a grid that is already experiencing rising curtailment rates.
Long-duration storage can help provide greater system balance by storing excess electricity when supply is high and releasing it when it is needed most.
The project is designed to contribute to these efforts by providing significant large-scale storage capacity that can support the grid stability that is essential to support the local economy and community.
Andrew Hutchinson is a director at Solo Renewables (he established A.H. Fuel Oils 30 years ago, which trades as Solo Petroleum and is now one of the north’s leading forecourt brands).
He said: “Securing planning approval in six months reflects the strength of this project and the local understanding that Islandmagee is one of the most strategically important locations in the all-island energy network.
“Northern Ireland has great potential to create and use more renewable electricity locally. This will be a good thing for homes and businesses across the region, but can only happen if we increase our ability to store wind and solar energy that can’t be used at the time it’s produced.
“We’re pleased Capital Dynamics sees the potential of the Islandmagee LDES project and we’re looking forward to delivering a landmark storage facility that supports the energy transition.”
Barney Coles, senior managing director and co-head of clean energy at Capital Dynamics, said: “Long-duration storage has a critical role to play in supporting Northern Ireland’s energy transition and is a fast and efficient way to strengthen grid resilience as renewable generation continues to grow.
“Projects such as this can provide additional flexibility to help manage renewable variability, support grid stability and improve the overall efficiency of the electricity system.
“The Islandmagee LDES project represents an important step in developing the long-duration storage infrastructure needed to support Northern Ireland’s evolving energy system.”
