Centrica has completed installation of 3MW of battery storage at the Gateshead Energy Centre.

The storage is owned by Gateshead council and Centrica will manage it under a 10 year contract, providing  flexibility services for the grid and eventually meeting peaks in local demand, providing electricity through a private wire to council-owned buildings and Tyneside buildings including Gateshead College and the Sage Gateshead concert venue.

The Gateshead District Energy Centre already has two 2MW combined heat and power (CHP) units on a private wire network.

Cllr John McElroy, Gateshead Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said:  “This battery installation completes the wider District Energy Scheme, which will provide low cost heat and power to homes, organisations and businesses in central Gateshead.”

The battery storage scheme builds on a long-term energy partnership between Gateshead Council and Centrica who have installed 2MW of solar panels on 34 public buildings in the town. The business has also separately installed CHP units at five council-owned leisure centres including Gateshead, Heworth and Dunston Leisure Centres.

The battery is one of several projects being developed by Centrica. Two more are in the pipeline for public sector projects in London and the southeast.