Anesco and Limejump are to bring 185 MW of energy storage on line by the end of 2018, creating the “largest portfolio of energy storage in the UK” and playing “a significant role in balancing the grid through the capacity market, frequency response and wider market participation.”

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Anesco battery installation

Anesco and Limejump are to bring 185 MW of energy storage on line by the end of 2018, creating the “largest portfolio of energy storage in the UK” and playing “a significant role in balancing the grid through the capacity market, frequency response and wider market participation.”

Working in conjunction with Limejump, which will operate the facilities, Anesco says the 185 MW of storage “is now planned for entry into the capacity market in August.” It will join Limejump’s Virtual Power Plant portfolio in playing an active role in dynamic frequency response, providing the grid with a sub-second response to support supply and demand requirements.

According to Steve Shine, Anesco executive chairman, the move is “further proof of the significant growth of the sector…As well as aiding grid stability, energy storage can help maximise the use of renewable power being generated, while breeding a more resilient local grid. It’s an exciting time for the sector and we predict momentum will continue to grow, as more and more generators look to benefit from the technology.”

Anesco (which has its origins in the energy services sector, but is now diversified into renewables and storage project development) says it recently connected its twentieth utility scale battery unit, increasing its operating storage portfolio to 18.9 MW.

Erik Nygard, chief executive of Limejump, said: “Anesco’s speed and expertise in developing energy storage projects is paving the way for this technology to become an integral part of the UK’s future energy mix. The key to bringing more storage online will be to optimise the revenue that can be earned by generators and developers, from securing a good price for power exported onto the grid, to participation in the full range of revenue-generating schemes such as the capacity market.

“Limejump is proud to be commercially operating the Anesco projects within our Virtual Power Plant, providing them with access to the full breadth of market opportunities and enabling more distributed generators and commercial assets to participate in grid balancing schemes.”

Anesco’s solar farm portfolio recently reached a milestone 101 sites, with a combined generation capacity of 480 MW, while the company’s renewable asset monitoring system, AnescoMeter, is now the largest renewable O&M service in the UK, currently covering over 21 500 installations.