September 2, 2006
Ireland
Ireland
A Donegal-based company is to introduce the first smoothing technology to the Irish wind power industry at a cost of $6.3m, it emerged yesterday.
Tapbury, the company set up by partners John Ward and Seamus MacRory to manage the Sorne Hill wind farm in Co Donegal, is purchasing three special units to smooth the power output from the 38MW wind farm.
VRB Power Systems will supply 1.5 MW batteries capable of delivering a smooth run of power into the national grid.
Variable power output, which rises and falls with the strength of the wind, has caused major headaches for grid operators trying to accommodate wind generated power on their systems.
The new equipment will be combined to phase II of the Sorne project thus making Sorne, at 38MW, one of Ireland’s largest wind farms.
Mr Ward said that the deal is still subject to final approval from its technical experts – consultants hired to access the merits of the project – but that this is expected to be completed within the next 90 days.
Smoothing the output of wind farms would revolutionise the industry and the Commission for Energy Regulation has taken a keen interest in the project.
The equipment allows the turbine to store electricity in an electrolytic battery. This is then released during periods of low wind or when the grid is at peak demand.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/02/new-battery-back-up-windfarm/