SSE has acquired a fully consented battery storage project near Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, from Heron Energy.

At an installed capacity of 100MW / 200MWh, the Derrymeen battery energy storage system (BESS) would be the largest installed battery storage facility in Northern Ireland if delivered, capable of providing back-up energy to the equivalent of over 135,000 homes in Northern Ireland for up to two hours at a time.

Daniel Barnes, head of Solar and Battery Development (Ireland), SSE Renewables, said: “We look forward to working with policy and regulatory authorities in Northern Ireland to ensure much-needed energy storage solutions can be delivered in the region and operate effectively within the framework of the All-Island Single Energy Market.”

In addition to Derrymeen, SSE Renewables is currently developing an 80MW battery project at Tawnaghamore, County Mayo, and a 100MW battery at Tarbert, County Kerry. In Great Britain, the company has brought its first battery asset into operations at Salisbury. It is also constructing a 150MW battery project in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire (due to complete in the first half of next year), a second 150MW project at Fiddlers Ferry, and a 320MW battery project in Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire.

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