E.ON breaks ground on battery project

7th April 2017
Source: E.ON
Posted By : Anna Flockett
E.ON breaks ground on battery project

The installation of a 10MW battery has begun at E.ON’s biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant at Blackburn Meadows near Sheffield, which is a new energy storage project that will help keep power supplies stable and balance the range of power generation sources feeding into the UK’s national grid.

The 10MW lithium-ion battery is the size of four shipping containers. It will have the same power as roughly 100 family cars and will be able to hold the same amount of energy as 500,000 mobile phone batteries.

E.ON’s was one of eight projects to be awarded a contract by UK transmission system operator National Grid, which will use the batteries to help balance supply and demand, a role which is becoming increasingly important with the growth of more volatile, weather-dependent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. It is estimated that these projects will save National Grid and thus customers about £200m a year on transmission costs.

As well as helping to make more efficient use of renewable energy sources, the batteries will also be able to provide extra power to the network at times of peak demand as part of the Capacity Market.

Work began on site in January with the system planned to be fully operational by late 2017.

This will be one of the first commercial battery systems in Britain and will provide a necessary technology at times of either an over- or under-supply of energy to the grid, E.ON’s battery system will respond within one second, absorbing or discharging power into the local distribution network, ensuring that the power supply and quality is maintained.

“This is a milestone for E.ON in the new energy world and an important recognition of the enormous potential for battery solutions in the UK,” said David Topping, Director of Business Heat and Power Solutions at E.ON. “Blackburn Meadows is already a real example of the new energy world – a renewable energy plant that provides both electricity to the grid and a more sustainable and affordable source of heating and hot water to local homes and businesses.

“Batteries at this scale allow us to make best of all renewable energy sources by harnessing the energy and having it ready for use whenever it’s needed – increasing the share of renewable energy in the grid while at the same time providing a secure supply for our customers.

E.ON has signed a contract with Nidec ASI to supply the battery storage system using its power conversion technology.

NIDEC's Global Director of Sales, PV and BESS, Matteo Rizzi, said: “This is the second important order we have received related to the first round EFR National Grid tender taking our overall market share in terms of MW to 30% in the UK. We are pleased to be working with E.ON on this project which we hope will lay the framework for future endeavours where our technology and experience in energy storage can contribute to E.ON’s efforts to provide competitive, reliable solutions and services to their customers.”

Customer solutions such as energy storage, cleaner on-site generation, or energy management are part of a range of energy solutions offered by E.ON to help customers to use energy more efficiently and make businesses more profitable.


You must be logged in to comment

Write a comment

No comments




Sign up to view our publications

Sign up

Sign up to view our downloads

Sign up

GISEC Global
23rd April 2024
United Arab Emirates Halls 2-8 - Dubai World Trade Centre
The Magnetics Show US
22nd May 2024
United States of America The Pasadena Convention Center
2024 World Battery & Energy Storage Industry Expo (WBE)
8th August 2024
China 1st and 2nd Floor, Area A, China Import and Export Fair Complex