Member Article

Industry partners collaborate on solar park battery storage

In a first for the UK energy efficiency market, a solar park owner, energy supplier and energy efficiency solutions company have joined forces to commission one of the country’s first commercial scale battery storage units.

The collaborative project undertaken by Farm Power Apollo, Opus Energy and Anesco has seen a 250kWh battery storage unit connected to Slepe Farm solar park in Dorset. The unit will be used to store energy generated by the 498.4 kWp ground-mounted solar installation and then release it when it is more needed by the National Grid.

It is the first time industry partners have worked together in such a way. The project has been embraced by the partners to demonstrate how solar can be a key part of the generation mix and a sustainable way to manage generation capacity with customer need.

“This ground-breaking project shows how innovation by landowners, renewable energy asset owners, energy suppliers and energy services companies can create a new way of delivering renewable energy” commented Mark Simon, managing director of Farm Power Apollo, owner of the Slepe Farm solar PV array.

“We have worked with Anesco for many years and their introduction of this neat battery storage solution, along with the collaboration and expertise of Opus Energy, has allowed the Slepe Farm project to claim another first.”

Adrian Pike, CEO of Anesco, commented: “If the UK is to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, while coping with growing demand, then effective and sustainable power systems need to be utilised, and the ability to store energy and manage generation to match customer need is a vital part of this.”

He added: “With this successful partnership we have demonstrated a model and approach to renewable energy generation that could effectively be replicated. Ultimately projects such as this will help power from renewables achieve grid parity quicker than otherwise and reduce the draw on green levies in the future.”

Nigel Williams, commercial manager for renewables, Opus Energy, said: “This initiative represents a seamless extension of our existing relationship with Anesco and we are delighted to act as their partner at Slepe Farm, to facilitate access to additional revenue streams. The use of battery storage, in combination with continuing improvements to the technology, stand to hasten the day that solar is able to compete in the energy market in its own right.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anesco Limited .