Renewable energy giants open Ireland's first four-hour battery storage system in Offaly

Europe's largest producer of renewable energy, Statkraft has launched Ireland's first ever four-hour grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Offaly.

Plans for the ambitious system which is co-located with Statkraft’s 55.8MW Cushaling Wind Farm near Edenderry were first announced in September 2023.

It represents a major national milestone, enabling more renewable energy to be stored and discharged during peak demand, reducing curtailment, and providing critical grid-stabilising services.

The opening of the system was officiated by the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien TD, who was joined by invited representatives across industry, community and government.

During his trip to Offaly, Minister O'Brien also visited the Cloncreen Battery Energy Storage System site was put in place by Bord na Mona and serves an important part of Ireland's renewable energy infrastructure.

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Meanwhile in Cushaling, the new state of the art system can store enough power to supply 10,000 homes with renewable electricity for a full four-hour period after the wind has stopped blowing.

The 22.8MW BESS project in the Faithful County which has already boasted impressive response times, was supplied by Fluence, a global market leader in utility-scale energy storage solutions and services.

The battery project will enable energy from renewable sources to be stored during times of low demand, limiting the need for costly curtailment and dispatched at time of peak electricity demand. 

As Ireland’s first battery of this duration, the project sets a new precedence for innovation, complementing the Government’s efforts to improve energy security, reduce fossil‑fuel reliance, and ensure efficient use of renewable electricity.

Cushaling BESS will also have its own annual €25,000 sustainability fund provided by Statkraft which will commence this year and be available for local sustainability initiatives.