VLC Energy has connected 50MW of battery storage.
The firm, a joint venture between developer Low Carbon and VPI Immingham, has two main sites: the 40MW battery park in Glassenbury, Kent, and a 10MW battery park in Cleator in Cumbria.
Both sites won contracts as part of National Grid’s enhanced frequency response (EFR) tender in 2016 and both have secured capacity market contracts.
The developments use LG Chem lithium-ion battery modules and energy management systems from NEC.
Low Carbon chief executive, Roy Bedlow, said the company planned to expand its portfolio, stating 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.”
Russell Hardy, chairman, VPI Immingham and CEO EMEA of parent firm Vitol, said battery storage “holds the key to the future of the power landscape, both in the UK and internationally. Ensuring grid resilience is a necessary step in the growth of renewable generation”.
Leon Walker, quantitative analysis manager, at National Grid said the EFR service would save the system operator an estimated £200m over four years by enabling “ultra-fast” system balancing.
“This is good news for consumers who benefit from our cost efficiencies, and paves the way for battery technology to establish itself as an important component of our energy system,” said Walker.
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