UK-based renewable energy company Anesco has announced the start of operations at its 10MW Breach Farm battery storage site.
Image: Anesco’s battery storage facility. Photo: Courtesy of Anesco Ltd
The battery storage system has started supplying electricity to National Grid’s Balancing Mechanism.
The system, located in Derbyshire, has participated in the scheme as part of a virtual power plant, which is being overseen by aggregator Limejump.
Anesco executive chairman Steve Shine said that the company’s entry into the Balancing Mechanism is a major step forward for the industry and can further fuel the growth appetite for investment.
Shine said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to achieve another first for the UK renewables industry. By entering our storage assets into the Balancing Mechanism, the door has been opened to additional revenue streams for investors and further validates the opportunity that battery storage provides.
“It’s a major step forward for the industry, with the Balancing Mechanism market offering frequent instances of profitable spreads for batteries to take advantage of. In addition, it removes much of the risk that suppliers face from uncertain system prices.”
Another high profile development which is now participating in the Balancing Mechanism is Anesco’s Clayhill solar farm. The hybrid solar and battery storage site is claimed to be UK’s first subsidy-free solar farm, with a 6MW energy storage, co-located with 10MW of solar power.
Anesco’s energy storage portfolio, which currently stands at 87MW in operating assets, is expected to exceed 380MW by 2020. The company has developed 102 solar farms till date and it operates and maintains more than 21,500 sites.
Limejump CEO and co-founder Erik Nygard said: “It’s a fantastic moment for the industry and further validates our business model and the case for the development of renewable technologies, as a real solution to delivering sustainable energy future.
“It is through close collaboration with partners such as Anesco that these possibilities can be achieved.”