SSE Renewables acquires 120 MW/240 MWh battery storage project in Ireland’s Midlands

SSE Renewables has acquired the Thornsberry project development rights for a 120 MW/240 MWh grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) project in Ireland’s Midlands from UK-based renewable energy company Low Carbon.

Under the deal, SSE Renewables has acquired the consented Thornsberry BESS project in County Offaly from Grid Systems Services Limited, a developer of grid-scale battery storage projects in Ireland owned by Low Carbon. Thornsberry is on a secured greenfield site in the townlands of Derrynagall and Ballydaly near Tullamore with planning consent for a grid-scale BESS. It has a grid connection offer to connect 120 MW of import/export capacity to Ireland’s national grid via an adjacent existing 110kV substation. 

Low Carbon, which began developing the Thornsberry project in 2018, was one of the first movers to develop, build, and operate battery storage and solar in the Irish renewables market having provided approximately 20% of the country’s operational storage capacity. The project could enter construction and be operational by the end of the decade. Advisers on the transaction were KPMG (Corporate Finance) and Addleshaw Goddard (Ireland) LLP (Legal) for Grid Systems Services Limited and A&L Goodbody for SSE Renewables (Legal).