Battery storage project in Offaly sold to SSE

AN undeveloped energy project near Tullamore has been sold by one power company to another.

SSE has acquired the development rights for a 120MW/240MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in the townlands of Derrynagall and Ballydaly.

A grid-scale BESS developer, Grid Systems Services Ltd, which is owned by Low Carbon, got planning permission for the Thornsberry BESS project earlier this year, having revised a plan which also previously got the go-ahead.

Offaly County Council gave the green light to the project on a 3.5ha site. The developers had consent from three local landowners.

A BESS stores power which can then be released to the national grid when required. SSE say the Tullamore project will be capable of powering over 115,000 homes for up to two hours at a time.

BESS facilities are required as back up to the electricity grid which increasingly relies on intermittent sources like wind and solar.

SSE says its secured BESS pipeline has grown to 300MW with the acquisition from Low Carbon and if approved for investment and final delivery it could be constructed and operational by the end of the decade.

The company said the purchase marks another step forward for SSE Renewables, the renewable energy business of FTSE-listed SSE plc, as it continues to grow its battery storage development portfolio on the island of Ireland.

Thornsberry BESS has a grid connection offer to connect 120MW of import/export capacity to Ireland’s national grid via the adjacent existing 110kV substation.

The proposed battery system would be capable of storing up to 240MWh of energy for flexible dispatch at times of peak demand.

When called upon, Thornsberry would be capable of providing back-up energy to the equivalent of over 115,000 Irish homes for up to two hours at a time while also delivering essential balancing services to Ireland’s energy system.

SSE said the project would be expected to provide a boost to the supply chain and job creation in County Offaly and the wider Midlands during delivery.

It would also support the delivery of local authority essential services in Offaly through the payment of development contributions and commercial rates.

Heather Donald, director of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery – UK and Ireland, SSE Renewables, said: “Acquiring the consented Thornsberry project in Co Offaly is another great step forward in our plans to grow SSE Renewables’ battery storage development portfolio in Ireland. The addition of this grid-scale project can make an important contribution to the delivery of SSE’s fully funded five-year Net Zero Acceleration Programme, while also advancing the diversity of the technologies in our portfolio.

“The Midlands has a long and proud tradition of supporting Ireland’s energy security. With the development of new onshore wind, solar and battery projects such as Thornsberry, the region can continue to play a significant role in delivering homegrown energy for Irish consumers while decarbonising the country’s power system. In doing so, we can help ensure vital energy projects can deliver positive social and economic benefits to Co Offaly and the wider Midlands.”

Low Carbon, which began developing the Thornsberry project in 2018, was described as one of the first movers to develop, build and operate battery storage in the Irish renewables market and currently provides 20% of the country’s operational storage capacity.

Roy Bedlow, founder and chief executive of Low Carbon, said: “We are delighted to collaborate with SSE on this project, which underscores Low Carbon’s leading position in the Irish storage market. Furthermore, this announcement demonstrates our expertise of delivering high-quality investable assets to the market, meanwhile playing an important role in supporting our future growth as we aim to build 20GW of new renewable energy.

“Increasing renewable energy capacity is just one part of the answer as we look to accelerate the energy transition. Battery storage is as of equal importance, providing a complete energy solution to power homes and businesses round the clock, whilst helping the grid to become greener.”

SSE has other battery projects in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Tawnaghamore, Co Mayo, Tarbert, Co Kerry, and Salisbury, Ferrybridge, Fiddlers Ferry and Monk Fryston in the UK.

SSE operates the 174MW Galway Wind Park in Connemara and the 73MW Slieve Kirk Wind Park outside Derry city.

The value of the deal between SSE and Low Carbon was not disclosed.