Battery storage operator Zenobe Energy is to provide UK water company United Utilities with a 2MW battery for its Clifton Marsh wastewater treatment works in Preston, Lancashire.

The battery will connect to solar panels at the site and will be fully active by the end of May. 

Zenobe will provide a complete solution that uses its own market intelligence models and proprietary software to manage the batteries. This will optimise any excess onsite solar, trade in a range of electricity markets, provide power resilience and reduce carbon emissions. It is expected to  save at least 6,700 tonnes of CO2 over the life of the 15 year contract.

Steve Slavin, Head of Renewable Energy at United Utilities, said: “Having an electricity storage facility on site is really useful. It means we can make the most of any available green energy. Not only is that good for the environment it’s good for our business too. Energy is one of a water company’s largest operational costs. 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.”