The 4.1 MW battery is powered by an existing solar farm at one of NI Water's largest water treatment plants at Dunore Point in Antrim. The battery has a total capacity of 5.6 megawatt-hours (MWh), enabling it to store excess energy produced on-site from approximately 24,000 solar panels. This stored energy allows NI Water to save surplus renewable energy for use during peak demand periods when customer usage is low. Consequently, the company can operate more cost-effectively, ensuring continuous water flow while minimising expenses.
Additionally, the battery has the capability to supply power back to the grid as needed, contributing to grid stability and improving the network's resilience for the benefit of Northern Ireland's society and economy. Through the generation of renewable energy, NI Water can decrease its expenses and generate revenue from this installation.
Jo Aston, Chair at NI Water, said: "NI Water's Power of Water Report outlined practical examples of how NI Water planned to play a pivotal role in decarboinising our energy system. This Dunore Point project is just one of the many initiatives we committed to in this Report. It is great to see tangible results on the ground through the deployment of a state-of-the-art battery energy storage system.
"The large-scale battery will provide greater resilience for both NI Water and the wider network across Northern Ireland. It will store renewable energy generated onsite, avoiding peak tariffs, and enable more capacity for renewables to be connected to the grid. We will be able to provide electricity system services to the national grid operator which in turn has the potential to generate income for NI Water and help offset other costs.
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"NI Water is committed to achieving net zero for the energy it uses by 2030. This is not simply an aspiration; it is a goal we have set ourselves and one that we are working toward achieving. We are all living with the effects of climate change now, we have seen the impact of hotter, drier summers and increasingly wet winters. This project highlights how NI Water, as the biggest user of energy in Northern Ireland can play a strategically important role in building the green economy and delivering a climate resilient future for our customers.
"This innovative project was complex and challenging however, it was delivered by working collaboratively with locally based suppliers including Arup and GRAHAM. Working closely with the Department for Infrastructure, Department for Economy and key stakeholders from NIE Networks, SONI and others, we are continuing to play a pivotal role in supporting renewable growth and helping to decarbonise our local economy."
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said: "I commend NI Water for their progressive action in becoming one of the first public sector companies to install this state-of-the-art battery energy storage system. This will reduce carbon emissions and generate income for NI Water – good for the environment and makes sound economic sense. This is exactly the type of vision and action that is needed to help reduce our carbon footprint and tackle climate change.
"Helping to reduce the impact Climate change presents challenges for all of us, but there are big opportunities too. We have the knowledge and the expertise to not only deal with those challenges but to take forward projects and initiatives which will change things for the better. This is a prime example and I congratulate NI Water for leading the way and setting an example for other businesses."
Economy Minister Conor Murphy said: "Projects such as this are key to helping us move towards net zero which is a key objective of my economic vision. This is a great example of how we can work together to deliver against policy objectives contained in the Executive’s Energy Strategy and showcases government leadership in energy decarbonisation. The delivery of this project is part of the wider central government ‘Energy Invest to Save’ initiative that is now entering into its fourth year with £45m delivered across over 100 projects delivered to date."
The announcement follows the recent release of the Energy Strategy Action Plan for 2024 by the Department for the Economy, reaffirming its role in leading the implementation of the Executive's Energy Strategy. The new NI Water battery is a great example of cross collaboration funded by the Department of Economy (DfE) at a cost of £7.9 million as part of a central government investment initiative.
