NatPower UK has secured an agreement with Sembcorp Utilities (UK) Limited, to deliver a 1GW / 8GWh lithium-ion battery on a 32-acre site at Wilton International in Redcar.
NatPower said the £1 billion battery is privately financed and will initially operate at four hours’ storage capacity (4GWh), with potential to double to eight hours (8GWh). Most GB batteries operate at one to two hours.
The project holds a 1GW connection agreement with the National Energy System Operator for a 400kV connection to National Grid’s substation. NatPower will build and operate the site, with the aim of connecting it to the grid by 2028. The infrastructure is being designed from the outset to power ships at berth and recharge electric propulsion systems for future vessel types.
Stefano D.M. Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower UK and NatPower Marine, said the project “will be the blueprint for how we combine high-capacity renewable energy storage with the electrification of ports and industry.”
The battery will store surplus electricity from offshore wind and other generators when production is high, then release it during periods of peak demand or low generation. This capability will help cut the curtailment of renewable energy.