Statkraft officially opens Ireland’s first 4‑hour duration Battery Energy Storage System at Cushaling, Co. Offaly
Statkraft has marked the official opening of the Cushaling Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Co. Offaly - Ireland’s first 4‑hour grid‑scale battery system.
The long-duration storage project is co‑located with the 55.8MW Cushaling Wind Farm and represents a major national milestone, enabling more renewable energy to be stored and discharged during peak demand, reducing curtailment, and providing critical grid-stabilising services.
The event was officiated by the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien TD, who delivered remarks onsite, and was joined by invited representatives across industry, community and government.
Cushaling BESS represents a major step forward for Ireland. Long‑duration storage is essential to realising a fully renewable electricity system, and the project demonstrates how innovation and co‑location can unlock lots of benefits for generating renewable energy. The battery has lightning fast response times, in the region of 0.1 seconds, which will support the TSO as more renewable energy connects to the electricity system.
As Ireland’s first battery of this duration, the project sets a new precedence for innovation, complementing the Government’s efforts to improve energy security, reduce fossil‑fuel reliance, and ensure efficient use of renewable electricity.
Statkraft now operates a total of three BESS projects in Ireland - Kilathmoy, which was the first operational battery in the country, Kelwin‑2 and Cushaling. Cushaling BESS will also have its own annual €25,000 Sustainability Fund which will commence this year.