The 60MW BESS is RWE's second in Ireland. Image: RWE
RWE’s largest battery storage project to date has entered full operations in County Monaghan, Ireland.
The 60MW battery energy storage system (BESS) is the second RWE battery project to go live in the country, after its 8.5MW BESS in Stephenstown, Balbriggan, in County Dublin, went live last year.
This latest BESS – located at Lisdrumdoagh, 3km east of Monaghan town – is capable of providing rapid delivery of electricity into the power grid to help balance intermittency from renewables, as well as being able to provide short term back-up to help address power outages.
RWE invested €25 million (£21.3 million) in Lisdrumdoagh, with the company stating that deployment of BESS such as Lisdrumdoagh will help efficiently stabilise the grid while guaranteeing reliable electricity supply for users.
This is particularly important as Ireland continues to decarbonise, with onshore wind farms generating nearly 37% of the country’s electricity needs in the first half of 2020. The country has a target of generating 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
"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," said Cathal Hennessy, managing director of RWE Renewables Ireland.
RWE Renewables has been in Ireland since 2016 and now has two offices in Kilkenny City and Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin. It is currently developing new wind, solar and battery storage projects around the country.