SSE Renewables, a developer specializing in renewable energy projects, announced that it has acquired the project development rights for a 120 MW/240 MWh grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Ireland. The acquisition was made from Low Carbon, a U.K.-based renewable energy firm.
Under the deal, SSE acquired the Thornsberry BESS project in County Offaly from Grid Systems Services, a battery storage project developer owned by Low Carbon.
The Thornsberry project is in the towns of Derrynagall and Ballydaly near Tullamore, with planning consent for a grid-scale BESS. In addition, it has a grid connection offer to connect 120 MW of import/export capacity to Ireland’s national grid.
The project could enter the construction stage and reach commercial operation by the end of the decade but is subject to a final investment decision by SSE Renewables. KPMG and Addleshaw Goddard advised Grid Systems Services, while A&L Goodbody advised SSE Renewables on the transaction.
As per the company, the project will have the capacity to store up to 240 MWh of renewable electricity, providing backup energy to the equivalent of over 115,000 households in Ireland for up to two hours at a time.
In May, the company also announced the acquisition of the 100 MW/200 MWh Derrymeen project at Dungannon in Northern Ireland.
According to Mercom’s 9M and Q3 2024 Funding and M&A Report for Energy Storage and Smart Grid, in 9M 2024, there were 22 energy storage project M&A transactions (one disclosed) compared to 22 transactions (four disclosed) in 9M 2023.
In October, Low Carbon sold 6 GW of energy storage projects in the Netherlands. LC Energy, a joint venture between Low Carbon and QING, developed those storage assets.
