Tentative plans are in place to build what would be the north’s largest single energy infrastructure project for more than 50 years.
A consortium headed by NI Water and Mutual Energy is examining the feasibility of building the region’s first pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) scheme in Co Antrim.
It has been described as “potentially transformational” and one solution to the major challenges facing regional efforts to decarbonise, while also supporting security of energy supply.
Costing an estimated £1bn, the Higher Ground project would involve the creation of a man-made reservoir 200m above sea level on the Antrim Plateau near Carrickfergus.
Using decades-old technology deployed all over the world, including at Turlough Hill in Co Wicklow, sea water from Belfast Lough would be pumped via a 4km tunnel to the reservoir using renewable energy at times of oversupply.
The water would be released later through hydro-electric turbines when the output from wind and solar is low.
Those behind the scheme, which would generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 400,000 homes for a day, describe it as a “large-scale, water-based battery for storing renewable energy”.
Work on a similar but less ambitious scheme began in south Armagh in the 1970s using water from Camlough Lake. However, it was abandoned after a 1km tunnel had been dug, reportedly after workmen were threatened.
Mutual Energy chief executive Paddy Larkin told The Irish News that Higher Ground would use “an established technology” which accounted for more than 94 per cent of the worlds installed electricity storage capacity.
“If built, the scheme would have the ability to store at least circa 3GWh of otherwise wasted renewable energy,” he said.
“Typically it could take 10 years to plan and build such a major engineering project and it would be expected to bring significant local employment and contracting opportunities during construction.”
Mr Larkin said the feasibility study was in its “early stages” and was expected to last two years.
“The study will assess the engineering, financial and regulatory viability of the scheme, the optimal location, as well as the potential environmental and economic benefits and we have started discussions with relevant stakeholders,” he said.
“If the results of the study are positive, any future development of the scheme would be subject to the relevant planning, consulting and permitting requirements for this type of infrastructure.”
