This system has been enhanced by the addition of NI Water’s first battery energy storage system, which has already been launched.
This battery system is the first of its kind for NI Water.
Last year, NI Water announced the completion of a total investment of £5 million to upgrade the Ballykelly WwTW, providing a new wastewater treatment approach that uses reedbeds as part of the treatment process to provide a natural, long-term and sustainable solution.
Solar panels in Ballykelly field.
The Ballykelly plant is now ‘leading the way’ with this sustainable solution for wastewater treatment which maximizes the use of renewable resources as part of an integrated solution.
NI Water said this new battery energy storage system will further increase plant efficiency by making greater use of solar energy.
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NI Water Senior Capital Project Manager Mark Brownlee said: “The aim of the new battery system is to enable the plant to run on 100% locally generated solar energy throughout the year as much as possible.”
“During the winter months, when solar production is reduced, the battery system can be charged from the grid using cheap off-peak energy tariffs.
Ballykelly battery.
“This innovative, in-house developed system is the first of its kind for NI Water and will bring many efficiency benefits and cost savings to the company amid rising energy prices.”
The battery system will be used in an innovative way to reduce costs by making maximum use of both the grid and the Solar Panel System during peak winter demand periods. Energy can be flexibly stored and released to reduce costs and reduce demand on the grid during peak periods.
The Ballykelly Wastewater Treatment Works has already won the 2022 International Green Apple Environmental Award and was named ‘Infrastructure Project of the Year’ at the 2022 CEF Construction Excellence Awards earlier this month.
Ballykelly site.