Storing wind power

A new study is under way to ascertain and quantify the potential economic benefits of coupling vanadium redox batteries with wind farms in Ireland.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and Tapbury Management are funding the study, which will be carried out in collaboration with VRB Power Systems. VRB is a Canadian electrochemical energy storage company that patented and brought to market the Vanadium Redox Battery Energy Storage System.

The study will focus on Sorne Hill Windfarm, the recently commissioned 32MW windfarm which is located in Buncrana, Inishowen, Co. Donegal and which is managed by Tapbury. In particular, the study will focus on the projected wind output from Phase II at Sorne, which will produce an additional 6.9MW of wind power and is due to be installed in Autumn, 2007, and the benefits of controlled output as well as additional output that will accrue from coupling a 12 MWH VRB-ESS to Phase II as recently announced.