How Battery Storage Introduces New Energy Opportunities for Ireland

By Shannon Flynn

Ireland is among the many nations where residents and leaders recognize the importance of investing in renewable energy. At first, you may think its famously changeable weather makes it ill-suited for renewable energy.

Battery Storage Projects Are Advancing Ireland’s Renewables

However, using battery storage alongside solar and wind power is a practical and emerging solution, especially in markets where the weather is not consistent. That approach allows keeping energy for later use. Backup systems can compensate during power outages or when weather conditions don’t support generating adequate amounts of electricity.

Ireland Will Progressively Depend on More Renewables

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019 creates a comprehensive framework for how the nation will take action against climate change during the next several decades. One goal is to increase dependence on renewable energy from 30%-70% by 2030. A related aspiration is to add 12GW of green power capacity.One recent development in that aim concerned the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) announcing nearly 100 megawatt-hours (MWh) of utility-scale battery storage projects.

The state-owned energy company will launch initiatives at two existing facilities — one in County Dublin and the other in County Cork. Representatives from energy technology company Fluence are assisting with both projects.

Another advancement involves a pair of 100 megawatt (MW) battery energy storage facilities in County Offaly. As of November 2020, those efforts were the largest in Ireland and among the biggest in Europe. There’s interest in battery storage across the border, too. A 50MW project in County Tyrone uses lithium-ion batteries to meet emerging energy needs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. It’s one of the largest such initiatives in the North. These projects are in the early stages, and battery storage is a rapidly evolving issue. However, if these adopters succeed, their progress could set the stage for similar actions by peers.

Battery Storage Aligns With Corporate Sustainability Aims

Company leaders face increasing pressure to make sustainable decisions. Many are getting more concerned with environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategies. These strategies can provide benefits such as an improved perception by stakeholders and closer alignments with industry standards. Many investors specifically look for companies that take ESG efforts seriously. A Bank of Ireland study indicated that 73% of Irish investors cited ESG factors as influencing their investment choices.

If a business uses a battery storage option, that decision shows the public that the
organization has engaged in meaningful measures for environmental change. ESG strategies go beyond battery backup systems. However, installing one demonstrates to stakeholders that the company has made an actionable commitment to making the world a better place.

Battery Storage Solutions Becoming More Accessible

People who own businesses or homes in Ireland and want to purchase battery storage options now have more opportunities to follow through with their intentions. Sonnen is a German company that recently brought its modular battery backup system to Ireland and the United Kingdom. The 4.6 kilowatt sonnenBatterie 10 allows expanding the product’s capacity from 11 kilowatt-hours (kWh) to 22kWh. Other options from the company exist for capacity expansions up to 198kWh. According to the company’s websites, these battery backup systems cover about 75% of a home’s annual energy requirement if combined with solar panels.

Additionally, Energia is an Irish energy company supplying 100% green power to homes and businesses. It owns and operates 277MW of wind power assets in Ireland. It also offers a package deal where customers can get discounted rates on solar/battery packages.

Nissan also recently brought its home battery solution to the Irish market after announcing its intention to do so in 2019. The xSTORAGE system lets users charge it from solar panels or with low-cost night electricity rates. This product also offers something the other options mentioned here don’t. It works with the same batteries that power Nissan’s electric cars and vans, which means you can choose between relying on a battery in your home or vehicle.

Plenty of Promising Progress for Battery Storage

It will likely be a while before people view battery storage as a mainstream option in
Ireland. However, these examples show that it’s gradually becoming a more prominent choice for customers and corporations alike. Working toward sustainability goals requires numerous approaches, and the practicality that batteries offer makes them a smart choice.

By Shannon Flynn, who is a technology freelance blogger and managing editor for ReHack.com. You can follow Shannon on Muck Rack or Medium to read more of her articles.

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