Grid Services and Batteries
Battery storage is going to revolutionise the energy landscape by providing the flexibility necessary to integrate increasing levels of intermittent renewables while maintaining security of supply.
Grid Services
As renewable energy generation increases, new ways to maintain grid system stability are required in order for EirGrid to operate a reliable electricity system.
A synchronous compensator is an electrical device used to manage this stability. While traditional generators rely on their power turbines to provide stability, renewables don’t offer the same inertia. With a synchronous compensator, the missing weight from the turbines is replaced with a large heavy flywheel and is ready to provide stability in the event there is an electrical disturbance such as lighting strike hitting an overhead line or sudden drop or increase power demand.
While it doesn’t generate electricity itself, this machine plays a crucial role in maintaining a balanced system.
Why do we need Grid Services projects
System Services from Wind
Some wind turbine manufacturers have recently developed new technology and control systems that allow wind turbines to deliver DS3 System Services, such as fast reserves and reactive power to the same standard as fossil fuel plant.
The Statkraft Ireland team has been leading the deployment of this technology, having participated in the initial technology trials, and then being the first to implement the full range of ancillary services on the Statkraft managed wind fleet. This is a win-win, with the electricity consumer seeing lower costs, the power system CO2 emissions being reduced, and the wind farm owner securing a small additional source of revenue without impacting on their day to day energy production.
Statkraft can now offer a service to new and existing wind farms to deploy and manage these DS3 System Services.
The 11MW Kilathmoy Battery facility
Batteries
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) offer unique benefits to the grid by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, cutting the cost to consumers by maximising renewable energy utilisation on the grid and provide fast and flexible energy capacity to stabilise and support the grid, thereby preventing blackouts.
Statkraft built the first grid-scale battery in Ireland at Kilathmoy. This is an 11MW, 5.6MWh lithium-ion battery which commenced operation in April 2020. The battery is contracted to provide DS3 System Services to the Irish Transmission System Operator, EirGrid.
Batteries can also participate in the balancing market, helping to manage the inevitable fluctuations that occur in the energy market to account for varying forecasts of demand, wind and power plant availability. Batteries can typically deliver their full power for 0.5-4 hours, which also allows them to participate in the capacity market, ensuring that there is enough generation capacity to deal with the short term peak demand, typically seen in December each year.
In 2025, Statkraft completed the construction of Ireland’s first four-hour grid-scale BESS in Cushaling, Co. Offaly.
Synchronous Compensators
Synchronous compensators provide grid stability in the form of inertia which supports frequency management across the power system. They also strengthen the local grid connection point by enabling the detection of faults on the grid. Currently, Ireland’s grid is kept stable by conventional fossil fuel plants. Synchronous compensators can replace these fossil-fuelled plants by delivering inertia to the grid and maintaining stability, without producing harmful emissions. This will significantly reduce the level of emissions from the Irish electricity grid and enable more renewable energy to be utilised on the grid.
In 2025, Statkraft Ireland will begin construction on four synchronous compensator projects. Together, these projects are expected to reduce emissions by around 900,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Market Activities for Batteries and Grid Services
Statkraft is one of the largest traders in the European energy market and an important actor internationally. We trade energy and commodities in more than 20 countries and are active on 13 energy exchanges. Across the island of Ireland, we provide market & trading-related products and services tailored to individual energy producers, flexible asset owners and investors, and corporates. This includes Renewable PPAs, Optimisation PPAs for flexible assets and market access for other grid-services assets.
Battery projects in Ireland
Kilathmoy battery project
Located in Co Kerry, Kilathmoy was Ireland's first battery project. The hybrid battery-and-wind project, which combines 11 MW of battery with 23 MW of onshore wind, has been fully operational since 2020.
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Kelwin-2 battery project
Kelwin-2 is a 26 MW battery project located in Co Kerry. The hybrid battery-and-wind project has been operational since 2021.
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Cushaling battery project
Construction of the Cushaling battery project was completed in 2025. Co-located at Statkraft's Cushaling Wind Farm in Co Offaly, this project is Ireland's first 4-hour battery energy storage system.
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Grid services projects in Ireland
Coleraine grid stability project
Located in Co Derry, construction of this project began in 2025. This project is one of four Synchronous Compensator projects currently being developed by Statkraft Ireland.
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Glencloosagh grid stability project
Glencloosagh is a synchronous compensator project located in Co Kerry. Construction began in 2025 and when complete it will help facilitate the use of more renewable energy sources by providing inertia and strengthening the local grid connection.
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