In September 2022, ABO Wind submitted a full planning application and supporting information to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council seeking permission to construct a state-of-the-art battery energy storage facility located at lands south east of Ballyhampton Road, Larne. The proposed Battery Energy Storage Facility (BESF) will comprise of rechargeable battery units and associated development including unit substations, a 110 kV substation, security fencing, lightning masts and CCTV. A new access will be taken from the Ballyhampton Road.
The Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, sets an ambitious renewable electricity target of 80% by 2030. To achieve this goal, the level of renewable generation will have to more than double based on 2022 levels.
However, increasing the region’s renewable generation is not enough. There is also an urgent need to enhance Northern Ireland’s grid infrastructure to facilitate more renewables on the network. This includes a requirement for new battery energy storage facilities, which are needed to store surplus energy when demand is low and also to stabilise the flow of electricity on the grid through the provision of system services.
Taken together, these benefits will enhance security of supply, protect consumers from volatile global energy markets and help enable Northern Ireland to decarbonise it’s economy and society, whilst meeting climate change goals.
The application is currently in the planning process and it is hoped that a decision will be reached by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council in the first quarter of 2023.
