ABO Energy has been granted planning approval for two substantial battery energy storage ventures in Northern Ireland, marking a significant stride towards bolstering the region's renewable energy capacity. The projects, totaling 335MW/670MWh, are poised to enhance the flexibility of Northern Ireland's transmission grid, supporting the integration of higher levels of renewable electricity.
The Magherafelt Battery Energy Storage Scheme, located in Mid Ulster, will boast a capacity of 195MW/390MWh upon completion. Meanwhile, the Coolkeeragh Battery Energy Storage System, situated in Foyle Port, is set to provide 140MW/280MWh of storage capacity.
According to Patricia McGrath, ABO Energy's head of project development in Northern Ireland, “Northern Ireland has huge potential to reduce its reliance on imported and expensive fossil fuels, but achieving that goal requires modern, green infrastructure.”
These initiatives are pivotal to Northern Ireland's ambition to meet its renewable electricity consumption target of at least 80% by 2030, as mandated by the Climate Change Act. The projects are strategically positioned within the transmission network to optimize their impact on grid stability and renewable energy deployment.
“With a combined investment value exceeding £100 million, they will also deliver a substantial economic boost to the local economy,” McGrath added.
ABO Energy plans to deploy these projects as part of its broader £8 billion investment strategy aimed at developing similar schemes across the United Kingdom in the coming years.
The approval underscores the collaborative effort between ABO Energy's specialist teams in Northern Ireland and Germany, alongside the supportive engagement of Mid Ulster and Derry City and Strabane District Councils in advancing Northern Ireland's energy transition agenda.
