Companies agree to develop 1-MW demonstration project to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources

Gaelectric and Tesla today announced the purchase and planned deployment of Tesla Energy's first battery power utility-scale project in Ireland. The two companies are collaborating to develop a pipeline of multiple battery projects to build new transmission system services required to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The initial demonstration project, 1-MW in size, is targeted for deployment in 2016.

Together, Tesla and Gaelectric are focused on exploring the development and demonstration of innovative business models for energy storage within transmission systems. Specifically, exploring opportunities for other Tesla Energy products in residential and commercial applications. Ireland has many compelling features for the commercialisation of the Tesla Energy product range given its scale and ambitious renewable energy targets and favourable regulatory framework. Investigation of other European markets also forms part of the collaboration.

Tesla is amplifying efforts to accelerate the move away from fossil fuels to a sustainable energy future with Tesla batteries, enabling homes, business and utilities to store sustainable and renewable energy to manage power demand, provide backup power and increase grid resilience.

Commenting, Brendan McGrath, Gaelectric Group CEO, said:

"We are delighted to be associated with Tesla in introducing its battery systems to Ireland. As a renewable energy group with a pipeline of 500 MW of wind power in Ireland and energy storage projects in Ireland and Europe, Gaelectric has an obvious incentive to drive the adoption of technologies that facilitate the economic dispatch of wind and other renewable sources."

Commenting, Gaelectric Head of Energy Storage, Keith McGrane, said:

"The accelerating pace of storage technology development and its application to how we generate, use and store power is truly astounding. Much of these developments are around incorporating greater amounts of renewable power while protecting the stability of our transmission systems and controlling costs. Tesla is the vanguard for the revolution that is currently underway."

Gaelectric Energy Storage Ltd. was established in 2006 by Gaelectric Group to progress grid-level energy storage technologies, including compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology with a 330 MW project near the town of Larne in Northern Ireland. The Group has established positions in onshore wind generation in Ireland and the United States.