RES, the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, is a global leader in the delivery and operation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
We developed and constructed Scotland’s first grid scale BESS in 2018. The project located in Broxburn, West Lothian, provides sub-second frequency response service, for the national grid. We now have more than 412MW of projects operational or in construction globally, with over 315MW of these in the UK or Ireland.
BESS works by storing electricity when demand is low and releasing it back onto the grid when demand is high. It is considered the fastest technology for responding to a sudden spike in demand or an abrupt loss of supply, helping to prevent blackouts. It is also one of the fastest growing and important components of our evolving energy network and plays an ever more critical role in creating a more resilient and flexible grid network whilst also helping to reduce electricity system costs and lower consumer bills.
Renewable UK[1]
reported earlier this year that ‘Greater levels of flexibility in the system such as energy storage will allow the UK to integrate renewables with significant savings by up to £16.7bn a year in 2050’. This is significant and one of the reasons why BESS are being rolled out at pace across Scotland and the UK.
BESS are also now commonly co-located with new renewables projects. For example, RES’ 16-turbine 105.6MW Hill of Fare Wind Farm proposal near Banchory includes a BESS capable of storing up to 200MWh of energy, subject to final detailed design.
Onshore wind is already one of the lowest-cost forms of electricity generation, around £50.90 per megawatt-hour in the recent Contracts for Difference (CfD) AR6 auction, and embedding BESS at onshore wind sites such as Hill of Fare could help to maximise the site’s total export to the energy network.
As such, BESS has become a fundamental part of our energy network, a vital component of many renewable projects, and essential to the rollout of zero and low carbon energy, supporting Scotland and the UK’s net zero targets and ensuring safe and reliable operation of our grid network.
[1] https://www.renewableuk.com/media/qmbecrol/the-role-of-onshore-co-location-in-accelerating-an-integrated-energy-system.pdf