Ørsted has completed its maiden standalone, large-scale battery storage installation, a 20MW project near Liverpool.
The project comprises three battery storage containers and an associated power conversion system, all of which have been supplied by battery storage specialist NEC Energy Solutions.
Ørsted said the project, dubbed Carnegie Road, would be used to provide frequency response services to National Grid and Matthew Wright, UK managing director at the firm, said battery storage fitted into Ørsted’s vision of a world that runs “entirely on green energy”.
“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.”
The project first came to light in April last year when Ørsted acquired the project rights from developer Shaw Energi, announcing its intent to have the battery up and running by the end of 2018.
NEC Energy Solutions was then selected to provide the battery systems in June, and the project was energised just before the end of last year.
Bridgit Hartland-Johnson, who works on Ørsted’s onshore business division, pointed towards the future role of energy storage solutions alongside renewables, particularly as the energy system transitions to a more distributed nature.
“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,” she said.
While Carnegie Road is the energy company’s first standalone utility-scale energy project, it does also have a 2MW/2MWh battery located behind the meter at its Burbo Bank offshore wind farm which is used to support the 90MW wind farm’s generation and offer some grid services.
