(REPOST: edie)

Arenko has invested in the American firm’s 41MW battery energy storage system, and will use advanced control technologies to provide on-demand electricity equivalent to approximately 100,000 UK homes.

GE Power’s global commercial and marketing executive for energy storage Mirko Molinari said: “Energy storage will help balance supply and demand close to real time, avoiding frequency drifts and supporting the mid-term response to grid imbalances.

“The flexibility it offers smooths the fluctuating nature of renewable energy, provides quick reserves when needed, stores excess energy generation and much more. Energy storage will enable a more efficient system for a more reliable supply of electricity to consumers.”

Based in the Midlands, the system is expected to come online later this year and will relieve pressure on the UK grid infrastructure by providing flexibility to account for fluctuations in supply and demand.

Demand for battery storage has grown as intermittent renewable generation increases its share of the energy mix. However, GE and Arenko want to develop a long-term commercial solution to consumer needs without a reliance on subsidies or policy incentives.

GE has been involved in battery storage solutions since 2010 and has launched 19 large-scale commercial projects worldwide. Arenko was set up in 2014, and the Midlands project will be the company’s first involvement with a solution of this scale.

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