Energy storage capacity is increasing in the UK, with the announcement of a major new deal to deliver two 50MW battery superhubs in Oxford and Kent by the end of this year.
The deal between Pivot Power, part of EDF’s renewables arm and Finnish tech firm Wartsila will mean 100MW of storage capacity between sites in Cowley, Oxford and Kemsley, Kent.
Around 33% of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources last year. That figure is increasing as new solar and wind farms come online. Large battery storage stations will allow for the storage of electricity during peak generation times and its release when supply levels drop. EDF has stated its goal is to become Europe’s leading energy storage firm, aiming for 10GW of new capacity by 2035.
As we shift towards a low carbon future, with increasing amounts of electric vehicles on the roads, the demands on the grid will increase, which is what makes these large storage stations so important for the future stability of the grid. But it’s not just on a national scale that energy storage can be a game changer.
Domestic home energy storage
Technologies like the Tesla Powerwall have led to considerable excitement about the potential of energy storage in homes and businesses. For the 700,000 homes that have solar PV panels energy storage could be the next big step. It enables people to store electricity they produce but can’t use in the home (often because people are out when solar generation takes place during daylight hours).
Tanjent’s PowerBanx X battery storage, in pale grey enclosure (Image: Tanjent)
Storage comes in different forms – most obviously there are big batteries but a cheaper storage solution is to convert the spare electricity into heat that is then stored in the form of hot water that can be used later in the day.
Read more: Energy Saving Trust
