EDP Renewables is to install its first stand-alone battery project in the UK. The Iberian company said this was a “strategic move in optimising resources and improving energy efficiency”. The 50MW battery will have 2 hours of storage capacity.
The project, in Kent, has been acquired from Tupa Energy, and is expected to become operational by the end of 2024.
“The integration of storage systems will play a crucial role in the renewable energy mix of the future, as it will contribute to address the challenge of intermittency. By mitigating the impact of external factors that can affect availability, these systems are key in overcoming one of the main limitations faced by renewables across Europe, while producing no emissions”, said Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDPR.
EDPR said it places a high priority on energy storage as part of its long-term strategy and it expects significant growth in the technology. In its business plan for 2023-2026, the company aims to achieve a storage capacity of over 500 MW, primarily through co-located assets. It has nearly 200MW of contracted storage capacity in North America and over 4MW under construction in the Asia-Pacific region.
It described the UK as “the most advanced market in Europe for the development of battery storage assets, leveraging a comprehensive regulatory framework” including 15-year contracts in the Capacity Market.