The facility, funded by Innovate UK and due to be operational by the end of the year, will be able to store electricity generated by windfarms and deploy it at times of peak demand, helping balance supply and demand and support the all-island transmission grid via system operator, SONI.
The pilot project will pave the way for 100MW of grid-connected storage at Kilroot, the largest in Europe, which would help Northern Ireland overcome system constraint challenges and reach its target of 40 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
The project leaders said it will “directly catalyse the deployment of storage” across the all-island grid and “support the attainment of the above renewable energy targets”.
“We are excited to begin construction of AES’ first energy storage project in the UK, bringing enhanced reliability, flexibility and efficiency to the grid,” said AES UK and Ireland plant manager Roger Casement. “We’re proud to offer Northern Ireland a cost-effective and cutting-edge solution for supporting security of supply and modernising our infrastructure.”
AES energy storage vice president John Zahurancik said: “Storage arrays have the unique ability to participate as active power system support with no emissions and to provide both supply and load to help manage the variability of renewables.
“Leveraging existing AES infrastructure will allow us to rapidly deliver reliable, economical power resources on behalf of customers in Northern Ireland.”