United Utilities (UU) has partnered with Zenobe Energy to install 2MW of battery storage at its Preston wastewater treatment plant as part of its efforts to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
The system, financed, installed and operated by Zenobe, will help UU to meet its Public Interest Commitment of achieving net-zero carbon emissions within the coming decade.
Founder of the company, James Basden, said Zenobe is confident there will be more storage systems installed this year and is working with “around half the sector” to roll out the technology to other big water companies.
The 2MW storage system is at a scale that can be rolled out commercially, with specific management applications for the water sector.
Basden told Utility Week companies are increasingly responding to pressures to reduce carbon and ensure power resilience.
The assets remain owned and operated by Zenobe so would not impact a company’s capex expenditure, Basden explained, allowing the company to improve its resilience without affecting capex spending.
Zenobe’s battery uses lithium-ion phosphate technology connected to solar panels and a battery management system to allow it to make use of any excess onsite solar power, generate revenue by selling back to the National Grid for frequency balancing, provide power resilience and reduce carbon emissions.
UU and the water companies in England and Wales have pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 as part of the Water UK Public Interest Commitments (PIC). The system is anticipated to save 6,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide over its 15-year contract.
Basden estimated a company the size of UU would require “tens of MWs” to power all its assets.
Steve Slavin, head of renewable energy at UU, said the onsite storage facility would save money on energy costs.
He said: “By generating our own power, we can protect United Utilities from a volatile energy market, which will allow us predict our cost of treatment and stabilise bills for our customers.
“The batteries will also allow us to help the National Grid even out the peaks and troughs in power demand throughout the day. This is exactly the sort of innovation water companies need to be embracing if we are to meet the sector’s goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2030.”