Asset manager Capital Dynamics and renewable energy developer Solo Renewables have formed a joint venture (JV) to build a long-duration energy storage (LDES) project in Northern Ireland.
Located in Islandmagee, the 150MW battery will provide up to eight hours of storage capacity (1,200MWh) and secured planning approval from the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council earlier this year.
According to Capital Dynamics, the £100 million LDES project will be among the first large-scale LDES plants to be developed in the Irish Single Electricity Market.
Solar Power Portal reached out to Capital Dynamics regarding the project’s technology, but the company did not clarify which technology it will use for the LDES project.
Capital Dynamics highlighted the role of energy storage in supporting the integration of renewables in Northern Ireland ahead of the Renewable Electricity Price Guarantee (REPG) scheme in 2027. Similar to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme in Great Britain, the REPG is designed to support the development of renewable energy projects in the country, which should, in turn, encourage private investments.
The asset manager added that longer-duration storage can provide critical additional flexibility to help manage variability in renewable energy generation.
Barney Coles, senior managing director and co-head of clean energy at Capital Dynamics, said: “Long-duration storage has a critical role to play in supporting Northern Ireland’s energy transition and is a fast and efficient way to strengthen grid resilience as renewable generation continues to grow. Projects such as this can provide additional flexibility to help manage renewable variability, support grid stability and improve the overall efficiency of the electricity system.
Interest in LDES across the UK continues to rise, as was shown earlier in the year when energy storage developer Statera Energy secured planning consent for a 500MW/4,000MWh LDES project with an 8-hour duration in Bedfordshire. In Carrington, LDES developer Highview began construction on a 50MW/300MWh liquid air energy storage project (pictured above) in November 2025, which is set to begin operations later this year.
