Ørsted, a Danish energy company, has completed investment plans for a battery energy storage system (BESS) to be connected to the onshore converter for the Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm.
Located in Swardeston, near Norwich, the Tesla BESS will make more power available, including during peak periods. This will reduce price volatility for consumers and make the UK’s energy systems easier to manage, Ørsted said.
The BESS, which has a capacity of 300MW/600MWh, is a “natural addition” to Ørsted’s offshore wind energy generation activities.
The BESS is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and will be one of the largest in Europe, according to Ørsted. Hornsea 3, which will build on the company’s operational Hornsea 1 (1.2 GW). Hornsea 2 (1.3 GW) offshore wind farms are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2027.
Hornsea 3 is the newest large-scale offshore wind farm in Great Britain. The UK pipeline for BESS projects has increased by two-thirds in the past twelve months, marking the second consecutive twelve-month period in which the pipeline has increased by this amount.
However, in the British market (Great Britain), revenues have leveled off somewhat. The Gore Street Energy Storage Fund recently announced that sales grew 5% to £41.4 million in the twelve months to March 31, 2024, with declines in Britain offset by growth in Ireland and the US. During the same period, the fund’s operational capacity also grew by 45%, reaching a capacity of 421.4 MW.
Duncan Clark, head of UK & Ireland in Ørsted, said: “Our 12 operational UK offshore wind farms deliver a huge amount of clean energy to the grid. The battery will help ensure that renewable energy is used in the best possible way by storing it when demand is lower and then releasing it back into the system when it is really needed, unlocking the potential of renewable energy maximized while providing greater energy security and value. consumers. With this investment we contribute significantly to Ørsted’s growing portfolio of storage solutions, combined with onshore and offshore sustainable assets.”
The range of additional services and revenue profile of the BESS, in addition to its favorable position within the UK electricity system and co-location for efficient construction and operation, support the investment scenario.
Mike Snyder, Senior Director of Megapack at Tesla, said: “Tesla is excited to be part of this industry-leading project together with an exceptional partner. This project demonstrates the value and flexibility of Tesla’s best-in-class power electronics, which delivers improved grid stability and enables more renewables on the grid.”
Ørsted currently has a total of 660 MW (1,850 MWh) storage projects operating or under construction in the UK and US, including the project announced today.
This article was originally published on our sister site, Current±.