Pivot Power activates 50MW of battery storage in Kent

26/10/2021

battery

Pivot Power has activated a 50MW/50MWh battery energy storage system at its Kemsley site in Kent to help support the transition to a decarbonised electricity system.

Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, Wärtsilä, the global technology company, and EDF, said the new site will provide essential flexibility to support the integration of more renewables and future-proof the UK’s electricity system.

The 50MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system is directly connected to National Grid’s high-voltage transmission network at the Kemsley substation in Kent.

Wärtsilä has supplied its battery energy storage technology for the project coupled with GEMS Digital Energy Platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable the intelligent management of energy systems.

The Kemsley battery storage system is the second to go live as part of Pivot Power’s plans to deploy up to 40 similar sites throughout the UK, providing up to 2GW of flexible capacity.

It supports EDF Renewables’ strategic plans to develop an additional 10GW of battery storage globally by 2035.

Pivot Power’s first system, in Cowley, Oxford, went live in June 2021, and forms part of Energy Superhub Oxford – a project the company is leading to showcase rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging, battery storage, low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies.

Pivot Power is replicating its Energy Superhub model, combining grid-scale batteries with high-volume power infrastructure for EV charging, at its next two sites in Coventry and Sandwell in the West Midlands.

The company has partnered with Wärtsilä to develop two new grid-scale battery storage systems, which will collectively provide 100MW/200MWh of storage capacity.

According to industry estimates, the UK needs up to 13GW of new electricity storage before 2030 to help meet net zero commitments.

Matt Allen, Pivot Power chief executive, said: “The expansion of our battery storage portfolio is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to future-proofing the UK’s energy system and accelerating a net zero future.

“Through this collaboration with Wärtsilä and EDF we are creating more of the low carbon infrastructure needed to manage the integration of renewables into the grid and power our lives with clean energy."

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