A 50MW/50MWh battery energy storage system has been activated in Kent, helping to support the transition to a decarbonised electricity system and accelerate the UK’s net zero future.

The lithium-ion battery energy storage system will provide essential flexibility to support the integration of more renewables and future-proof the UK’s electricity system

The system has gone live in Pivot Power’s Kemsley site in a project also supported by advanced battery energy storage technology from Wärtsilä and EDF’s Powershift product.

The storage system is directly connected to National Grid’s high-voltage transmission network at the Kemsley substation in Kent and will provide essential flexibility to support the integration of more renewables and future-proof the UK’s electricity system.

The site is one of 40 being planned by Pivot Power, which will provide up to 2GW of flexible capacity and support strategic plans by its parent firm EDF Renewables to develop an additional 10GW of battery storage globally by 2035.

Pivot Power’s first battery energy storage system went live in June 2021 at Oxford and forms part of Energy Superhub Oxford – its flagship project that showcases rapid electric vehicle charging, battery storage, low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies.

The Energy Superhub model will be replicated by Pivot Power at its next two sites in Coventry and Sandwell in the West Midlands, combining grid-scale batteries with high-volume power infrastructure for EV charging. The company has partnered with Wärtsilä to develop two new grid-scale battery storage systems, which will collectively provide 100MW/200MWh of storage capacity.

For the UK to be on track to deliver its net zero commitments, up to 13GW of new electricity storage needs to be built by 2030.

Matt Allen, CEO of Pivot Power, said: “The expansion of our battery storage portfolio is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to future-proofing the UK’s energy system and accelerating a net zero future. Through this collaboration with Wärtsilä and EDF we are creating more of the low carbon infrastructure needed to manage the integration of renewables into the grid and power our lives with clean energy.”