SUSI-Eelpower, a joint venture (JV) between SUSI Partners and Eelpower, has announced commercial operations of a 50-MW battery storage facility in Scotland in the U.K.
SUSI Partners is a Swiss infrastructure fund manager that specializes in sustainable energy infrastructure investments, while Eelpower is U.K.-based battery storage developer.
According to SUSI-Eelpower, the Dunsinane battery energy storage project, sited in Dundee, represents the largest standalone operational battery storage in Scotland. The facility is expected to provide balancing services to energy firm National Grid, allowing for greater integration of renewable energy.
The company has also selected utility firm EDF as its trading and optimization partner. Under this deal, EDF will provide market access and optimize operations across all revenue streams, including ancillary services, trading and balancing mechanism.
“We are delighted to be partnering with SUSI-Eelpower ensuring they have a route to market for the first Scottish distribution connected battery,” Stuart Fenner, Head of Energy Trading Services at EDF, said. “Battery storage plays a huge part in the road to net zero and helping to decarbonize our energy system and this is a major milestone for Scotland, as well as easing pressure on the National Grid.”
Scotland currently hosts 60 percent of the U.K.’s offshore wind capacity. Large-scale battery energy storage sites such as Dunsinane will allow wind energy to be stored and used during times of peak demand, benefiting Scottish homes and businesses, the JV firm says.
“Dunsinane is the first of a series of large battery assets which will transform the ability of the grid to balance the rapid growth in intermittent renewable generation and help manage constraints at this critical part of Great Britain,” said Mark Simon, CEO of Eelpower. “With EDF’s support, Dunsinane will deliver on the promise that flexible battery assets represent for Scotland.”
Earlier this year, SUSI-Eelpower commissioned a 10-MW battery in Winchester, England. As part of the Constraint Management Zone around the Rownhams grid supply point in Hampshire, the Winchester battery will provide stability to a key congested part of the national electricity grid, the company notes.
Scotland aims to achieve its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2045. Its offshore wind capacity is predicted to rise 10-fold from 1 GW to 11 GW by 2030.
