ECC were delighted to attend the sod-turning ceremony to celebrate the start of the new Shannonbridge project. ECC carried out the project’s initial survey work and civil engineering design.

A sod-turning ceremony, also known as a groundbreaking ceremony, is a crucial public relations part of any construction project and marks the start of a new building project.

Developed by Lumcloon Energy and Hanwha Energy (Korea), the new hybrid facility will, for the first time, combine a long duration battery with a synchronous condenser, to more efficiently meet the changing needs of the power system as the level of renewables (wind and solar) increases.

Batteries can deliver very rapid frequency response, reserve and ramping services, while synchronous condensers provide low carbon inertia, all of which are required to react to any sudden loss in electricity supply or surge in demand.

Both features are required to enable renewables to displace conventional generators as the primary source of our electricity. Vitally, they also support greater energy independence, given the immense threats emerging to our electricity supplies as a result of current international developments.

The €130m project will involve approximately 150 jobs over a two year construction phase and support 15 jobs on completion.