Pinsent Masons advises on Ireland's first grid-scale battery storage project

Pinsent Masons advised Statkraft on all negotiations, including the equipment supply and installation (EPC) contract as well as on the long term servicing agreement to establishing a partnership with systems technology supplier Fluence for the project. 

The hybrid battery-and-wind project, which combines 11MW of battery with 23MW of onshore wind will be fully operational in early 2020 and uses battery modules manufactured by LG Chem. Statkraft is set to enter into a contract with Irish transmission operator EirGrid through its DS3 flexibility market, providing reserves to the national electricity network and assisting in the management of frequency fluctuations on the network.

Alex Murdie, who led on the construction aspects of the project said, "We're delighted to have worked with Statkraft on this milestone project which will help to transform Ireland's energy mix."  Helen Gray, who led on the long term service agreement added, "Innovative systems like these provide an effective solution by harnessing sophisticated technology to ensure that energy demand is continuously met, at a time when the electricity network is under increasing strain."

Richard Murphy, head of Pinsent Masons' Irish energy said, “In line with other energy markets, the roll out of co-located and standalone battery projects in Ireland is greatly enhancing the ability of renewables to deliver firm power and optimise revenues for the underlying project. We are seeing the storage sector mature quickly with several transactions coming to market”.