A huge battery has been installed in Orkney to keep the lights on when there is not enough wind to blow Scottish turbines.
Scottish Hydro Electric’s power-distribution arm is testing a two-megawatt lithium ion battery at Kirkwall power station.
It is hoped the technology – developed by Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe – will be able to store excess energy from windfarms in times of plenty, and redistribute it when the weather is calm.
It has been used in Nagasaki, Japan for two years, and similar batteries are being used to power electric vehicles in the UK.
Mark Rough, of Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution said: “This exciting trial will provide valuable research into the viability of using batteries for electricity storage.
“This is likely to become increasingly important to help balance the variable output from renewable forms of generation as we move to a largely decarbonised electricity generation mix.
“Although the installation of the battery will not provide an immediate solution to the current constraints on the Orkney distribution network, it is hoped that in the long term the result of the studies will help demonstrate that batteries could provide a cost-effective way of freeing up capacity on the network to help facilitate new connections of low-carbon generation.”
Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “Today’s announcement by SSE reinforces that Scotland is leading the way when it comes to developing and testing new ideas that may help us meet the electricity and energy needs of the future.
“Smart grid technologies such as these being pioneered in Orkney are increasingly important as we move to a low-carbon economy.”
Orkney MSP Liam McArthur welcomed the announcement. He said: “This is an exciting initiative and I am delighted to see Orkney leading the way in the development of energy storage options.
“Our islands have huge potential for generating renewable energy, but a lack of sufficient grid capacity is a growing problem.
“The active network management system has freed up capacity to allow many local projects to be connected to the grid in recent years, but new solutions now need to be found if Orkney is to realise its full potential in renewables.”
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