RES has submitted a planning application for its proposed Shaneragh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a project located near Dromore in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The system, with a potential capacity of up to 100MW, is designed to support renewable energy generation by managing the variable supply and demand for electricity.
The proposed site, chosen for its proximity to the Dromore substation and its location outside of any national or local environmental designations, will play a critical role in supporting Northern Ireland's energy transition and net-zero emissions targets.
Peter Henry, Development Project Manager for RES, highlighted the importance of battery storage in maintaining grid stability, referencing a recent event: “The importance of battery energy storage systems was demonstrated in October last year, when the interconnector between the UK and Norway suddenly stopped exporting power to the UK. As a result, the frequency of our grid network dropped well below the operational limits and this would have led to power outages had it not been for fast-acting frequency services, like battery energy storage, which were able to recover the system within two minutes.
In addition to supporting decarbonisation and grid stability, the Shaneragh BESS project includes plans to enhance local biodiversity through the planting of new native hedgerows and grassland.
RES, with over a decade of experience in the battery energy storage sector, has developed more than 830MW of storage projects across the UK and Ireland and currently manages over 600MW of operational storage. The Shaneragh proposal is expected to be reviewed by the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council's Planning Committee in 2025, with construction anticipated to take around 15 months following approval.
