In the fight against climate change, Northern Ireland under the Climate Change Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, has legally committed to cutting its net level of greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

Further development of renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, is key to achieving net zero targets. However, the difficulty is not a lack of renewable energy resources but matching intermittent renewable production with electricity demand at any given time.

The key to unlocking our renewable energy future is the development of large-scale energy storage solutions, like Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES).

The technology utilises two water reservoirs each at a different elevation. When there is surplus renewable generation and the price of electricity is low, electricity can be used to pump water up to the upper reservoir where it is stored for future use. It can then be released to generate electricity when renewable output is low, offsetting the need to use fossil fuel generation and reducing the cost of electricity.

The Higher Ground project is assessing the possibility of developing a seawater Pumped Hydro Energy Storage (PHES) scheme located near Carrickfergus, Co Antrim.

Belfast Lough would act as the ‘lower reservoir’ and seawater would be transferred between it and a newly constructed upper reservoir approximately 4km inland on higher ground via an underground tunnel. Essentially the scheme would act as a large-scale water based ‘battery’ for storing renewable energy. If built, the scheme would have the ability to store at least 3,000,000 kWh sufficient to power 400,000 homes for a day.

Phase one of the project is a feasibility study expected to last two years, to assess the engineering, financial and regulatory viability of the scheme, as well as the potential benefits it could offer in supporting decarbonisation and wider economic growth.

The outcome of the study will be used to inform the Northern Ireland Executive and the Utility Regulator, and to help Mutual Energy determine if the project merits being further progressed.

Any future development of the scheme would be subject to the relevant planning, consulting and permitting requirements.

For more information, visit highergroundni.com