Europe’s largest battery storage system has been switched on early to help ease a potential winter energy crisis.
Harmony Energy’s huge Pillswood project, by the Creyke Beck substation at Cottingham, near Hull, can hold enough electricity to power 300,000 homes for two hours. Initially planned to come online in two phases in December and March, it was accelerated to help meet winter demand, providing critical balancing services to support renewables as the squeeze on gas due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues.
It has been managed by Tesla, and will be operated through Autobidder, the algorithmic trading platform from the US green energy giant, famed for its cars and headed by Elon Musk.
Read more: Myenergi co-founder named Great British Entrepreneur of the Year
Peter Kavanagh, Harmony Energy director, said: “The completion and energisation of the Pillswood scheme, the largest of its kind in Europe by energy capacity, is a significant milestone.
“This project is the third, and largest, battery energy storage project which we have developed and subsequently delivered through construction. All stakeholders have recognised the importance of achieving energisation for this project ahead of winter, and we would like to thank Tesla, G2 Energy and Northern Powergrid for their efforts in delivering the project ahead of schedule despite a very challenging geopolitical and global supply chain environment.
“Battery energy storage systems are essential to unlocking the full potential of renewable energy in the UK, and we hope this particular one highlights Yorkshire as a leader in green energy solutions.
“These projects are not supported by taxpayer subsidy and will play a major role in contributing to the Net Zero transition, as well as ensuring the future security of the UK’s energy supply and reduced reliance on foreign gas imports.”
It is one of six similar projects to be delivered in the coming year and features a Tesla two-hour Megapack system, with the capacity to store up to 196 MWh in a single cycle. It has been built at the same location where the emerging Dogger Bank offshore wind farms off the North Yorkshire coast will connect to the grid. A land deal was agreed in February with Keyland, the property trading arm of Kelda Group, owner of Yorkshire Water, as reported.
Several other battery projects are emerging in the Humber region, where a concentration of offshore wind connections has emerged.
Centrica, having brought Rough back into use for gas storage, is also in the process of converting a former gas-fired power station at Brigg to battery storage, while there are plans for a long-demolished Thorpe Marsh Power Station site just into South Yorkshire. Like Brigg, the former coal site benefits from high voltage grid access due to its former use.
READ NEXT:
Examination of North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park plan begins
Centrica partners with Hull-based HiiRoc for hydrogen fuel switch trial at Humber power plant
Energy independence at the core of Libbi - the home battery that is Myenergi's latest eco-tech development
UK 'must capture the carbon capture supply chain' to make race to Net Zero a true success story
All your Humber business news in one place - bookmark it now
