Anesco’s Breach Farm has today become the first battery storage system to supply electricity from renewables sources to the UK National Grid Balancing Mechanism.
The Balancing Mechanism (BM) is one of the most important tools which National Grid uses to balance electricity supply and demand in real-time.
Breach Farm, a 10 megawatt (MW) battery storage site in Derbyshire, has participated in the scheme as part of a virtual power plant, overseen by aggregator Limejump.
Anesco’s chairman, Steve Shine, said he believes this is a major step forward for the renewables sectors.
He said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to achieve another first for the UK renewables industry. By entering our storage assets into the Balancing Mechanism, the door has been opened to additional revenue streams for investors and further validates the opportunity that battery storage provides.
“It’s a major step forward for the industry, with the Balancing Mechanism market offering frequent instances of profitable spreads for batteries to take advantage of. In addition, it removes much of the risk that suppliers face from uncertain system prices.
“While our storage units have previously taken part in frequency response and the wholesale market, they are now able to take advantage of these additional revenue streams and pricing opportunities. Because of the data we hold and our unique battery revenue modelling tool, we are able to provide investors with even more certainty, further bolstering the mounting appetite for stand-alone storage as well as hybrid solar and storage projects.”
One development now participating in the Balancing Mechanism is Anesco’s Clayhill solar farm.
The hybrid solar and battery storage site was the UK’s first subsidy-free solar farm and features 6MW of energy storage, co-located with 10MW of solar power.
Erik Nygard, Limejump CEO and co-founder, added: “It’s a fantastic moment for the industry and further validates our business model and the case for the development of renewable technologies, as a real solution to delivering sustainable energy future. It is through close collaboration with partners such as Anesco that these possibilities can be achieved.”
