Low Carbon and VPI Immingham combine to offer fast-response battery storage

VLC Energy has announced that two new battery projects will be connected to the grid by the end of 2017. The two energy storage plants – at Cleator in Cumbria and Glassenbury in Kent – were awarded contracts in National Grid’s Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) tender process, as well as the Capacity Market auction for delivery in 2020.

The two sites will have a combined capacity of 50MW -  25% of the total EFR contract capacity awarded by National Grid.

VLC Energy is a joint venture between Low Carbon, a renewable energy investment company, and VPI Immingham, owner of one of the largest combined heat and power plants in Europe and part of the Vitol Group.

The battery projects will use lithium-ion battery technology from LG Chem and energy management systems from NEC Energy Solutions.
Low Carbon was the only organisation to be awarded two contracts in the National Grid EFR tender process.
Russell Hardy, chairman, VPI Immingham and member of Vitol’s executive committee, added, “Batteries perfectly complement renewables and gas and together offer a cleaner, more efficient energy future for the UK.”
Roy Bedlow, Low Carbon chief executive, said, “Renewable energy is playing an increasingly important role in the UK’s energy mix and as this role expands, the development of energy storage plants will be central to the future success of the UK’s energy network.”

Further reading:

Battery storage the big winner in sub-second frequency response tender

Legal and regulatory barriers to storage

Risk v reward: adding storage to a renewable energy site

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