Stephenstown, is the first of two battery storage facilities that RWE, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, brought online in Ireland this year. Ireland is an excellent starting point for RWE Renewables as we look to expand and grow our battery storage technology business and become a key partner in Ireland’s low carbon energy transition.
RWE Renewables’ second Irish-based battery storage project is in Co Monaghan. It is a 60 megawatt (MW) facility at Lisdrumdoagh, (Lisdrum for short) and is capable of providing a rapid delivery of electricity into the power grid to balance fluctuations and can also be used as a short term electricity back up to help prevent power outages.
In the first half of 2020 Irish onshore wind farms generated nearly 37% of the country’s electricity needs, making Ireland an important market for onshore wind. Ireland has set a target of generating 80% renewable electricity by 2030. Deployment of battery storage will be capable of responding in milliseconds to frequency changes, importing or exporting electricity from the grid as needed, and helping efficiently stabilise the grid, while guaranteeing reliable electricity supply for users.
