Centrica has completed work on a 49MW battery storage facility on the former site of the Roosecote power station in Cumbria.
The company said the batteries will help to maintain the stability of the electricity system by providing frequency response services to National Grid. Construction started in March 2017 and took around 18 months to complete.
The plot was originally home to a coal-fired power station that was later replaced by the first combined-cycle gas turbine in Great Britain. The gas plant was mothballed in 2012 after Centrica cancelled plans to build a new biomass power station.
Mark Futyan, distributed power systems director at Centrica Business Solutions, said: “The Roosecote site is truly unique, having been home to the latest technology of its time and is an exemplar of the transition we’ve made from dirty coal to cleaner, more flexible power.”
Picture: Centrica’s 49MW Roosecote battery storage facility in Cumbria
Meanwhile, Orsted has commissioned its first standalone battery project – a 20MW system in Liverpool – after acquiring the scheme from Shaw Energi in April.
Matthew Wright, UK managing director at Orsted said: “We have a vision to create a world that runs entirely on green energy, and that means we will need more than just clean energy generation.
“That’s why we’re investing in energy storage systems like Carnegie Road, to accelerate the transition to a smarter, low carbon grid.
“Batteries, and other innovative storage technologies will form a critical part of an integrated green energy system required to ensure we keep the lights on without harming our planet.”
Orsted, like Centrica, said the batteries will support the power grid by providing frequency response services.
Picture: Orsted’s 20MW Carnegie Road battery storage system in Liverpool
Bridgit Hartland-Johnson from Orsted’s newly-formed onshore business unit, said: “The way we generate electricity is also changing as we add more low carbon sources from wind and solar to the grid.”
She added: “These changes mean that the way we balance and operate the grid, also need to adapt to become more agile and flexible. The combination of storage and renewable energy means we can now deliver infrastructure that enhances grid operations and ultimately delivers much better value for us as consumers.”
The firm has previously installed a 2MW battery system alongside the Burbo Bank offshore windfarm.