Project Spotlight
EDF Renewables UK and Ireland
5 projects totaling 250 MW / 400 MWh
Energy storage accelerates a clean electric future in the UK
Towards a net zero target
Storage fuels renewable transport investment in the UK
The UK has an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to be net-zero by 2050. Together with EDF Renewables UK and Ireland (formerly Pivot Power), Wärtsilä teamed up to help the country reach this decarbonisation target. Wärtsilä’s innovative energy storage technology supports the world’s largest hybrid and the UK’s first transmission-connected energy storage and electric vehicle (EV) charging hub. The partnership EDF Renewables accelerates the uptake of low-carbon transport and integrates more renewable power into the National Grid.
Four energy storage projects with sites in Kemsley, Cowley, Coventry and Bustleholm are deploying cutting-edge storage technology including the GEMS Digital Energy Platform and will:
- Integrate renewable generation cost-effectively
- Help enhance the reliability of the UK’s electricity system
- Support EDF Renewables in their roll-out of the innovative Energy Superhub model to enable a rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging network across the country
Main Data
| Customer | EDF Renewables UK and Ireland |
| Site sizes | 2 x 50 MW / 50 MWh 2 x 50MW / 100MWh |
| Site locations | Cowley & Kemsley – each 50MW / 50MWh Coventry & Bustleholm – each 50MW / 100MWh Sundon – 50MW / 100MWh |
| Applications | Balancing services for the UK National Grid, including:
|
| Scope of services | Engineered equipment delivery (EEQ) |
| Lifecycle solution | 10-year service agreement with performance guarantees |
| Delivery | 2020-2021 |
| COD | 2021-2022 |
Cowley
The 50 MW / 50 MWh energy storage system in Cowley is the UK’s first grid-scale energy storage system directly connected to the transmission-network. The project is the first part of what will be the world’s largest hybrid energy storage system.
- Integrates energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) charging, low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies to decarbonise Oxford by 2040, creating a blueprint for other towns and cities to achieve net zero
- First portion of the £41 million government-backed Energy Superhub Oxford project led by EDF Renewables
- This is the first project to go live as part of EDF Renewables’ planned deployment of up to 40 similar sites throughout the UK
The system consists of Wärtsilä Gridsolv Max systems and the GEMS Digital Energy Platform, which dynamically optimises energy systems and provides critical feedback to stakeholders across asset owner, operation and trading value chains.
Kemsley
In Kemsley, Kent, we are building a 50 MW / 50 MWh energy storage facility connected to the high voltage transmission network. The Wärtsilä storage system will respond in milliseconds to fluctuations in electricity supply and demand, charging or discharging to keep the system stable.
- Essential flexibility to future-proof UK’s electricity system
- Support more intermittent renewable generation
- Help the country achieve net zero
The system consists of Wärtsilä Gridsolv Max systems and the GEMS Digital Energy Platform, which dynamically optimises energy systems and provides critical feedback to stakeholders across asset owner, operation and trading value chains.
Coventry
The Coventry 50 MW / 100 MWh energy storage system will help to ensure clean, affordable and secure electricity supply when more renewables are integrated to the grid.
It will also provide additional power capacity to support the installation of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network designed to accelerate the transition to electric transport. The network will enable ultra-rapid public charging hubs.
The system consists of Wärtsilä’s Gridsolv Quantum modules and the GEMS Digital Energy Platform that optimises the energy system.
Bustleholm
The Bustleholm 50 MW / 100 MWh energy storage system will help to ensure clean, affordable and secure electricity supply when more renewables are integrated to the grid.
Just like the Coventry system, it will also provide additional power capacity to support the installation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network that will accelerate the transition to electric transport and enable ultra-rapid public charging hubs.
The system consists of our Wärtsilä Gridsolv Quantum modules, and the sophisticated GEMS Digital Energy Platform.
Sundon
We will deliver a new grid-scale energy storage facility in Sundon, Bedfordshire, UK. The 50 MW / 100 MWh project, which will form part of a new Energy Superhub in the region, will help to support the transition to a decarbonised electricity system and accelerate the UK’s net zero future.
Delivering clean, smart and flexible power
The integration of grid-scale batteries with the charging stations provides grid balancing services, plus the sophisticated GEMS software focuses on performance optimisation for both renewable—energy storage and EV charging stations—and traditional power sources. These systems provide several services—such as frequency regulation—and for each service, generate a different value stream. GEMS’ data-based intelligence optimises the suite of ancillary services to support the grid, and in doing so, helps generate revenue, enabling EDF Renewables to benefit from multiple revenue streams, while also supplying balancing services for the UK National Grid.
The deployment of these four systems showcases Wärtsilä’s competencies in optimising energy systems and combining multiple power generation assets into a flexible and reliable solution that can dynamically adjust according to the demands of the market, optimising the energy produced. As the global market, and, in particular UK clean energy goals, moves towards more flexible and sustainable energy systems, storage will continue to provide the needed flexibility and reliability to support renewables and their integration.
Energy Transition Talks: Pivot Power | Wärtsilä
We meet Matt Allen, CEO of Pivot Power
With his team, Matt is spearheading the development of an underexplored topic; how electric vehicles (EV) can be integrated into the grid. This is where the joint energy storage projects of Pivot Power and Wärtsilä come in; they bring the needed flexibility for the EV infrastructure.
Challenge
Wärtsilä's Solution
Benefit
Provide grid balancing services to the UK National Grid
Adding reliability to the grid via sophisticated storage technology to support EV charging infrastructure
Reduces carbon footprint in the UK
Integrate renewables
Grid-balancing services to ensure the reliability of electricity generation and supply across the UK grid
Enables the growing share of renewables
Support transition towards low-carbon infrastructure
Future-proofing of assets under a single portfolio
Greater National Grid stability and flexibility
Webinar
When energy storage meets electric vehicles: Smart solutions for critical infrastructure challenges
In the fast lane towards net-zero: Wärtsilä and Pivot Power discuss building sustainable energy infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of a clean transport future.
Resources
Webinar
The 1st utility scale transmission-connected energy storage solution to accelerate the UK transition to clean energy transport
Wärtsilä and Pivot Power discuss how smart technologies and flexibility are required for the growing battery storage and renewable energy infrastructure market in the UK.