Battery Generators – A Key Step Towards A Zero-Carbon Grid

Date: 15/11/21

As the dust settles from the COP26 climate conference, many grand plans and agreements have been made that may or may not come to fruition on the international stage. However, here in the UK, we are already leading the way in renewable energy technology that is making a real difference to our country’s carbon footprint.

According to the latest Government figures, the UK generated 37.3% of its energy needs from renewable sources in the second quarter of 2021, with solar power accounting for 6.6%. This was down slightly on previous quarters due to light winds and low levels of sunshine, with the average renewable energy contribution normally over 40%. However, while wind farms and huge solar arrays may be the most obvious way we’re changing our power grid, there are also changes being made in other, more subtle ways, such as the creation of battery generators.

Growing Battery Capacity

According to the National Grid, ‘battery storage technology has a key part to play in ensuring homes and businesses can be powered by green energy even when the sun isn’t shining, or the wind has stopped blowing’. It stores renewable energy during peak production, and releases it during peak demand, avoiding the need for fossil fuel power stations to take over the supply.

Battery capacity in Britain is rising rapidly. Figures from the RenewableUK Energy Storage Project research show that capacity has risen from just 2MW in 2012, to 10.5GW in 2019, to an estimated 16.1GW today. Not all of this is online yet, with operational capacity standing at just 1.1GW, but almost 9GW of battery storage is either under construction or has been granted planning permission, with 1.6GW in the planning system and a further 4.5GW in early development.

Exciting New Storage Projects

Existing battery generators assets include the 100MW Capenhurst unit, near Chester, and the recently completed 34MW Contego installation near Burgess Hill in Sussex. Work has also begun on a brand-new project at Clay Tye near the M25 in Essex, which will add a further 99MW of storage. A 49.5MW installation in Salisbury and a similar sized project at Creyke Beck near Hull are also in the pipeline.

The National Grid has claimed that the increase in renewable energy production, backed by state of the art batteries and other storage technology, could make it possible to operate a zero-carbon energy system as early as 2025.

Battery Storage On Site

As one of the UK’s leading generator hire companies, Think Hire are proud to play our part in helping companies to enjoy the benefits of the battery-backed renewable energy revolution. We have a wide range of battery power systems for off-grid sites, that offer both solar and hybrid power generators to power site lighting and the new generation of electric powered plant. Not only do these significantly reduce the carbon emissions on site, they also cut fuel costs, saving money as well as saving the environment. For more details of how you can use battery storage to manage your site power needs more efficiently and effectively, contact the Think Hire team today.

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