UK planning law changes could help mega-projects clear ‘significant hurdle’
Britain's government is set to remove a significant barrier to utility-scale storage projects over 50MW.
Articles tagged with: Britain
Co-located energy storage eligible for renewable tariff payments, UK government confirms
The UK government has confirmed that energy storage systems will be eligible under the UK’s newly unveiled successor policy aimed at supporting the deployment of residential solar in the wake of feed-in tariff cuts, but only if co-located with a participating renewable energy generator.
Feature
Analysis
Open season: the next steps for energy storage
Despite the huge strides energy storage has made, significant hurdles remain before the technology in its many guises can be claimed to have fulfilled its massive potential. E-S.n editor Andy Colthorpe assesses the key successes and ongoing challenges for this indispensable part of the future power system.
Battery storage systems at ‘the edge of profitability,’ as German households reach 1GWh of capacity
The dramatic fall in cost, occuring alongside the mass roll-out of home storage systems in Germany since 2013, has highlighted the potential of decentralised batteries in virtual power plants to utility companies and grid operators.
Feature
Guest blog
Europe’s changing FCR auctions and their impact on the energy storage industry
Gone are Europe's weekly FCR auctions, replaced by daily auctions in a move designed to create greater flexibility and improve international co-operation in these markets in Europe, writes Jean-Paul Harreman of EnAppSys.
Feature
Guest blog
Cycle of life: a circular economy approach to lithium batteries
Enabling batteries to be repaired, upgraded and reused when no longer suitable for their first life will have social as well as environmental benefits, Amrit Chandan, CEO of Aceleron, argues.
ROUNDUP: Australia’s vanadium, UK battery+EV charger deal, DC-coupled optimiser launch from Alencon
News in brief from around the world in energy storage.
Feature
Editor's blog
A flow battery ‘competitive with the LG Chems and Samsungs of this world’
Some choice words from conversations with Scott McGregor, CEO at redT, Avalon Battery president and chief product officer Matt Harper and NEXTracker’s chief technology officer, Alex Au.
Solar-charged vanadium flow machine pre-qualifies for UK’s frequency response market
‘Flow batteries’ could provide frequency response in the UK for the first time ever, as a modestly sized solar-plus-storage system has been pre-qualified into National Grid’s dynamic firm frequency response (dFFR) market.
Feature
Editor's blog
From fossil fuels to sustainable futures: an (almost) virtuous circle
In which a natural gas generator manufacturer contacts Energy-Storage.news to argue the business case for a 100% renewable energy future...
Battery safety: UK net zero success could depend on 20 million ‘mini power stations’
The UK will need 20 million ‘mini power stations’ to reach its net zero energy goals, with the need to create a policy framework for technologies like solar PV and energy storage an immediate priority, a group convened in Britain’s parliament this week heard.
Optimisation of battery throughput means optimised revenues, Open Energi’s data science lead says
Batteries are now one of a “huge variety of distributed energy assets capable of providing flexible capacity to the network”, but failure to manage them correctly will limit the market opportunities available, as well as the lifetime of the systems themselves, the data science head of UK flexible energy tech company Open Energi has said.
National Grid expects more ESS with longer durations for UK’s almighty low carbon challenge
Sister site Current± has just taken an extensive look at the energy system operator’s (ESO) latest outline of potential outcomes for the next 30 years of Britain’s energy.
Feature
Editor's blog
What the heck is happening in Britain?
Despite policy uncertainty spanning years, and Brexit looming large, we still hear from the industry that the UK is a key market. Andy Colthorpe takes a closer look.
‘Significant moment’ for UK storage as regulator bids to end double charging with formal definition
The UK's regulator, Ofgem, is hoping to eradicate the double-charging of storage assets through the addition of a formal definition of energy storage to the regulatory framework.
‘Fatally onerous’: UK’s Capacity Market shuts out batteries, serves the old order
Quentin Scrimshire, head of energy storage at Kiwi Power, said the latest prices didn’t achieve the mechanism’s purpose, and instead only served to reward larger generators that would already be generating throughout the winter.
Baby steps for EOS’ zinc batteries in US ahead of 40MWh project, company targets UK for 2020
Duke Energy latest utility to test the technology, while manufacturer's partnership aims to introduce UK version next year.
Statera puts 1GW of flexible generation into Stakraft’s virtual power plant
Under the agreement, Statera will develop 1GW of high-efficiency gas reciprocating engines and energy storage.
‘Fossil fuels are the real competition’: Highview teases 250MWh ‘CRYObattery’ for the UK
“This year, we will build our first very large, or even our first ‘gigantic’ plant [in the UK],” CEO Javier Cavada said.
Just one new-build battery wins contract in UK’s 3.6GW Capacity Market auction
Existing CMUs outperformed new build in the auction, and battery storage in particular struggled to complete against other generator types like open-cycle gas turbines (OCGT).
Feature
Analysis
UK’s evolving ESS market likely to take installed base above 1.2GW this year
The pipeline of projects currently stands at 11GW, and although it is unlikely that this will all be built, we currently see nearly 800MW of projects at the ‘under construction/ready to build’ stage.
Energy storage included in UK’s home solar feed-in tariff replacement policy
Details have emerged of the UK's Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), which will see owners of small-scale solar facilities continue to be paid for surplus energy sent to the grid, aiming to close the policy gap left by the end of feed-in tariffs (FiTs), by the end of 2019.
UK listed fund Gore Street clinches 160MW Ireland portfolio
One of the UK’s first stock exchange-listed energy storage funds has entered into agreements to acquire a 160MW portfolio of battery storage projects in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
UK Big Six player Centrica opts for solar, storage to underpin global EV offering
Energy supplier Centrica has unveiled its new electric vehicle offering, targeted at helping businesses across the globe navigate the EV transition, with solar and battery storage expected to play a major role.
Feature
Analysis
Power to the people: Solar-plus-storage vs the UK’s ‘Big Six’ of energy suppliers
The UK’s energy retail market is witnessing an exodus of customers leaving the so-called Big Six for independent suppliers, who are attracting them with home solar systems and a battery to match. Liam Stoker uncovers what’s behind the trend for new energy suppliers taking to domestic PV
ScottishPower’s rush for batteries in bid to make Glasgow the UK’s first net zero city
With batteries at the heart of its plans, utility ScottishPower wants to make Glasgow the UK’s first ‘net zero energy’ city, in collaboration with Glasgow City Council.
Feature
Editor's blog
Surviving extinction: What the world needs now
While Extinction Rebellion may have helped draw attention to the scale of the problem, it’s now up to us all – especially those of us with a head-start in the industry – to bring the solutions to life.
Anger as UK gov’t proposes 15% tax rise for solar, storage purchases
The national Renewable Energy Association has taken aim at a British government proposal to hike up tax rates attached to some energy saving equipment purchases, including solar and battery storage.
‘Flow machine’ maker redT gets £3.2m funding needed to power projects
Energy storage firm redT has landed more than £3 million (US$3.92 million) from an open share offer, effectively securing its immediate future.
‘World first’ grid-scale lithium-vanadium hybrid project will be in the UK
Pivot Power will collaborate with manufacturer and system integrator redT on what is claimed to be the world’s first grid-scale hybrid battery energy storage project to use a combination of lithium-ion and vanadium technologies.