Two major UK battery storage projects unveiled

VLC Energy has unveiled two of the largest grid connected battery electricity storage sites in the UK. The business is developing a 40MW project at Glassenbury in Kent and a 10MW project at Cleator in Cumbria, which together equates to around a quarter of the National Grid’s enhanced frequency response capacity (EFR).

During 2016, both projects have been awarded contracts under the National Grid’s EFR tender process and the Capacity Market Auction, and are designed to supply sub second response to rapid changes in demand on the grid network.

The two sites won a combined £15m contract from the National Grid in a 2016 auction to procure 200MW of new battery storage. The technology is seen as vital for the UK to make the transition to a low-carbon economy. It is estimated that electricity storage in total could grow to 6GW by 2020.

Chief executive Roy Bedlow, said: “Energy storage is critical to managing the demands on the grid, ensuring consumer needs are met and increasing our reliance on low carbon forms of electricity generation. These sites will help us tackle climate change and help the UK realise a cleaner and more energy efficient future.”

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