Donegal County Council's VPP: Integrating Renewable Energy into Public Buildings

The pilot is set at a former army barracks in County Donegal, which consists of five separate buildings. Three of these already have solar panels and heat pumps, but no battery storage. The new system will introduce a battery with at least 40 kWh capacity, allowing it to store off-peak electricity for use when prices are higher. It can also sell surplus energy back to the grid when profitable, improving overall cost-efficiency.

To make the system even smarter, the pilot will use a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to manage energy distribution between the solar panels, batteries, and the grid. This system will also have the potential to integrate additional Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) in the future, expanding its capabilities.

One challenge at the site is the lack of smart meters, which limits real-time data collection. Currently, energy consumption data is gathered from utility bills, meaning upgrades will be necessary, including the installation of new inverters for better monitoring and efficiency.

If successful, this pilot project could serve as a model for other council-owned buildings in Donegal. By using renewable energy more effectively, the project aims to help the council meet Ireland’s climate targets and reduce pressure on the national electricity grid.

To find out more, watch the video interview with COPOWER project partner Paul Early from Donegal County Council.