Renewable island: Vital steps forward in Irish energy storage

Ireland is making significant steps in energy storage, progress which will help underpin the country's renewable energy plans

The Lumcloon battery storage facility in Co Offaly, with the Derrycarney 110kV substation next to it. The 100MW battery storage facility has been developed in a partnership between local developer Lumcloon Energy and South Korea's Hanwha Group. ESB Networks described the project as a “great achievement for battery storage” in Ireland.

The term “energy storage” is one that we are going to become accustomed to in the coming decade, as the payoffs around renewable energy start to bear fruit.

Simply put, energy storage is exactly what it sounds like — capturing energy like electricity in order for it to be used later. That means if there is an excess of energy being produced through the likes of wind, then the excess can be captured in order to be used down the line or on other things that need energy.