UK ROUNDUP: Utility-scale, remote grid and virtual power plant energy storage news from Britain
News in brief from around the world in energy storage: this edition has a distinctly British flavour.
Articles tagged with: Britain
Feature
Analysis
Britain’s sky high power prices: how could batteries capitalise on the volatility?
Following a dramatic start to the year, Energy-Storage.news takes a look at what is driving price volatility in Britain and what battery energy storage could do about it.
‘Rapid scale-up of battery storage is key’ to preventing costly waste of wind energy in the UK
An increase of 20GWh of battery storage could reduce the amount of wasted wind power in Great Britain by 50%, according to new analysis from consultancy LCP.
Industry calls on UK gov’t to reverse decision to remove consumer tax break for energy storage
UK energy storage firm AceOn has joined a call to reverse changes to Value Added Tax (VAT) rates applicable to energy storage systems that came into effect in the country in 2019.
EDF determined to play ‘major role’ in UK flexibility as it signs 50MW battery optimisation deal
EDF is set to optimise Gresham House Energy Storage Fund’s 50MW Wickham Market lithium-ion battery site.
Energy majors EDF, Centrica win battery optimisation contracts in UK
The battery storage optimisation and energy trading teams at EDF and Centrica Business Solutions - stalwarts of the UK’s Big Six of utility companies - have won 40MW of new deals to optimise large-scale battery storage systems.
Investor Gresham House raises US$160m for six new UK battery storage projects
London Stock Exchange-listed investor Gresham House Energy Storage Fund has raised £120 million (US$159.86 million) to finance six new energy storage projects.
UK’s largest battery storage project at 640MWh gets go ahead from government
The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in the UK has given the green light to the country’s biggest ever battery storage project.
Zenobe Energy gets $200 million investment to fuel 500MWh of UK battery portfolio growth
UK energy storage solutions provider Zenobe Energy is targeting an additional 500MWh of storage and 1,000 electric buses following a £150 million (US$198.94 million) investment the infrastructure equity investment arm of investment manager M&G.
Feature
Analysis
VIDEO: What’s happened in UK energy storage since 2017
Find out what’s been going on in the UK energy storage market over the past three years, presented by not-for-profit clean energy expert group Regen at the Virtual Energy Storage Summit which took place online in late September.
UK listed fund Gore Street acquires 81MW of operational battery storage for under £30 million
Gore Street Energy Storage Fund, one of two stock exchange listed energy storage funds in the UK, has acquired an 81MW operating battery storage portfolio from Anesco.
COVID-19 causes UK’s National Grid ESO to review timescale of grid services overhaul
UK electricity system operator National Grid ESO is reviewing its previously-announced timescale for the introduction of two dynamic frequency response services and phase out of the existing market regime.
Feature
Analysis
What is Dynamic Containment and what does it mean for battery energy storage in the UK?
The dynamics of balancing electricity supply and demand on the grid have been deeply affected by the coronavirus pandemic, but it's certainly not the only reason why the UK's electricity system operator is introducing a new service called Dynamic Containment. What is it and why is the UK already replacing its firm frequency response (FFR) and other ancillary services?
UK energy storage investor Gresham House ‘optimistic’ despite COVID-19 impact on share price
One of two dedicated energy storage investment funds listed on the London Stock Exchange has seen its Net Asset Value (NAV) per share fall slightly as a result of COVID-19 but remains optimistic for its performance over the year.
UK local authority’s 30MW project will participate in all available flexibility markets
The UKs largest council-owned battery storage site, the 30MW Fideoak Mill site, is now fully operational and able to participate in delivering multiple revenue-generating services.
British battery storage sector takes a ‘big step’ as ministers remove size limit barriers
Barriers have been removed allowing for battery storage projects five times the size as the current limit in Britain, in a move hailed as a “significant, positive and well-timed” step.
UK ROUNDUP: Fotowatio’s first, Listed funds going all-in, UK’s £125 billion pipeline
This week's roundup comes once again from the pages of our UK sister sites, where there's been plenty of action.
Solar-plus-storage with smart controls could cut 97% of evening peak, UK study finds
A combination of residential solar, storage and smart controls could "dramatically reduce" evening peak grid usage at homes in Britain.
EDF, Green Investment Group and Gore Street behind hundreds more megawatts of UK storage
French utility EDF is launching a major solar-plus-battery storage hybrid initiative in England and Wales as part of plans to double its installed renewable base.
Feature
Analysis
UK, Ireland energy storage primed for growth - key stakeholders see multi-GW market opportunities
This article looks at the current status of each of these end-markets and where there are similarities and differences in how the markets have developed, along with future opportunities.
Highview’s 250MWh liquid air battery gets £10m UK gov’t grant, kicks off construction this year
The UK government's Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has announced a £10 million (US$12.44 million) grant to help construct the world's largest liquid air battery.
Britishvolt’s billion-pound battery gigafactory narrows down site selection
South Wales is likely to be the location for the UK’s first lithium-ion 'gigaplant', as Britishvolt announces plans to combine the site with solar.
UK industry says more energy storage is needed, as COVID-19 offers glimpse of low carbon future
Industry voices in the UK have said that electricity market activity during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that the network will become prohibitively expensive and possibly unmanageable without the further rapid deployment of energy storage.
Statkraft signs ‘hybrid’ PPA, optimisation contract for UK solar-plus-storage facility
The contract is for the 35MW hybrid York solar farm designed and constructed by developer GRIDSERVE, which was completed late last year.
Developer offers clarity on battery safety assurances at UK’s biggest proposed solar farm
Battery energy storage deployed at Cleve Hill, the largest solar farm planned in the UK to date, will be installed and operated in line with a safety plan agreed with local fire services and the national Health and Safety Executive.
Sector-coupling demonstrator project in UK will integrate low carbon energy, heat and transport
A £31 million (US$38.06 million) demonstrator project in the UK, integrating heat, transport and energy is to progress despite COVID-19 restrictions.
Battery storage trialled to provide upward and downward flexibility to UK’s National Grid
Battery software company Arenko has teamed up with National Grid ESO to provide upward and downward reserve flexibility in a "first of its kind trial".
UK energy storage maturing from ‘false sense of security’ of contracted revenues
Merchant energy storage has become an investable asset class in the UK, a provider of battery optimisation services has said, with the market moving away from an emphasis on contracted revenue streams for supplying grid services.
Majority of ready-to-build UK battery storage projects are bigger than 30MW
There are 1.3GW of read-to-build battery storage projects in the UK, with the majority between 30MW and 49.9MW power output per project, according to new analysis from Solar Media Market Research.
UK ROUNDUP: Market reaches 1GW, RedT-Avalon merger completes, Flexibility contracts launched
A roundup of news in brief from the energy storage industry, this time with a special focus on the UK market.