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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Battery-based power storage is about to be used for the first time on a large scale in the U.K.'s electricity system.
The country's grid operator, National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG) (London, England), announced the results of the world's first energy-storage auction, which attracted 37 bidders, most of which were pitching battery-storage solutions. Eight companies have been awarded contracts to provide 200 megawatts (MW) of grid-scale battery storage, which National Grid said will save the country £200 million ($262 million). The Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) contracts were awarded to EDF Energy Renewables (London), Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden), Renewable Energy Systems (RES) (Kings Langley, England), Low Carbon (London), Element Power (Portland, Oregon), E.ON (XETRA:EOAN) (Düsseldorf, Germany) and Belectric (Kolitzheim, Germany).
National Grid said that energy storage will play a vital role in dealing with "the fast changing energy landscape and increasing amount of renewable generation on the system that results in frequency volatility." It explained that the grid's system frequency must be maintained at 50 hertz, but the growing amount of renewables adds more volatility. Energy storage using batteries will act as a fast response system for balancing the grid. Up until now, the fastest frequency response was delivered in under 10 seconds, but with battery power the response time can be less than one second.
"We are constantly looking to the future to understand how we can make the most of the energy available to us," said Cordi O'Hara, director of U.K. system operator National Grid. "This project is at the very core of our Power Responsive work, to balance the Grid by the most efficient means possible, saving money and energy. These awards show that we can work with industry to bring forward new technology, and I believe storage has much to contribute to the flexible energy system of tomorrow. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the industry."
EDF Energy Renewables will be supplying 49 megawatts (MW) of the total from its planned battery operation located at the West Burton combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station in Nottinghamshire, England.
James Court, head of policy and external affairs at the U.K.'s Renewable Energy Association (REA) welcomed the contract awards: "The conclusion of the EFR auction shows that storage is now ready to deliver, and with the right framework can provide vital services to the U.K. National Grid deserve credit for kick-starting this market. In 2012 energy storage was identified as one of eight great industries the U.K. could lead the world in. The industry is starting to deliver on this promise, with the right support in place, we can go even further."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
The country's grid operator, National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG) (London, England), announced the results of the world's first energy-storage auction, which attracted 37 bidders, most of which were pitching battery-storage solutions. Eight companies have been awarded contracts to provide 200 megawatts (MW) of grid-scale battery storage, which National Grid said will save the country £200 million ($262 million). The Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) contracts were awarded to EDF Energy Renewables (London), Vattenfall AB (Stockholm, Sweden), Renewable Energy Systems (RES) (Kings Langley, England), Low Carbon (London), Element Power (Portland, Oregon), E.ON (XETRA:EOAN) (Düsseldorf, Germany) and Belectric (Kolitzheim, Germany).
National Grid said that energy storage will play a vital role in dealing with "the fast changing energy landscape and increasing amount of renewable generation on the system that results in frequency volatility." It explained that the grid's system frequency must be maintained at 50 hertz, but the growing amount of renewables adds more volatility. Energy storage using batteries will act as a fast response system for balancing the grid. Up until now, the fastest frequency response was delivered in under 10 seconds, but with battery power the response time can be less than one second.
"We are constantly looking to the future to understand how we can make the most of the energy available to us," said Cordi O'Hara, director of U.K. system operator National Grid. "This project is at the very core of our Power Responsive work, to balance the Grid by the most efficient means possible, saving money and energy. These awards show that we can work with industry to bring forward new technology, and I believe storage has much to contribute to the flexible energy system of tomorrow. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the industry."
EDF Energy Renewables will be supplying 49 megawatts (MW) of the total from its planned battery operation located at the West Burton combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station in Nottinghamshire, England.
James Court, head of policy and external affairs at the U.K.'s Renewable Energy Association (REA) welcomed the contract awards: "The conclusion of the EFR auction shows that storage is now ready to deliver, and with the right framework can provide vital services to the U.K. National Grid deserve credit for kick-starting this market. In 2012 energy storage was identified as one of eight great industries the U.K. could lead the world in. The industry is starting to deliver on this promise, with the right support in place, we can go even further."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
