Banks Renewables is leading the way in terms of bringing forward the optimum mix of wind, solar and battery storage renewables projects to support the UK’s journey to Net Zero.
The UK is one of the most productive locations for onshore wind, and solar farms are an excellent complementary technology. But, as we found out when talking with Banks Renewables’ energy development manager Lee Wilkinson, there’s a lot more work to be done to bridge the gap between demand and supply when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine and battery storage has a huge role to play if the UK is to stay on track with its net zero ambitions.
Lee Wilkinson discusses.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT BANKS RENEWABLES?
My role involves looking at new technologies and business strategies that allow us to continue to grow our renewables portfolio and investigate how Banks Renewables can have an even more significant role in supporting the UK on its journey to Net Zero.
The energy industry recognises that a huge challenge with renewable electricity generation is addressing intermittency limitations and flexible energy technologies such as batteries are a large part of the solution.
My role involves researching newer technologies such as hydrogen, pumped hydro, compressed air, and more. The challenge for many of these technologies, which are well established from a technological point of view, is to prove that they are commercially viable and ready to take forward by a developer like Banks Renewables. This often requires novel commercial strategies, new markets and incentives to be introduced by the government and throughout the industry.
HOW NEW IS BATTERY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY?
Lithium-ion batteries, like those used in mobile our phones, electric cars, and utility energy storage systems, are a well-established technology. Technologies have tech readiness levels (TRL) which measure their maturity, from level one (basic principles evidenced) to level nine (actual systems proven in operation).
Utility scale lithium-ion batteries are TRL nine as they have been operational in electricity grids around the world for several years. In the UK utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) have only recently become commercially viable, as the costs of the systems reduce due to global growth in the battery market new ancillary service markets have been developed by the UK’s energy service operator (ESO), the National Grid. The data below from Solar Media shows the growth in BESS in the UK, with most of the growth in systems larger than 50MWh occurring since 2020.
Because we can’t control the weather, we need flexible electricity storage solutions to store renewable energy when demand is low and release it when it is high, batteries have a huge role to play in providing that balance.
HOW NEW IS BATTERY STORAGE TECHNOLOGY?
Lithium-ion batteries, like those used in mobile our phones, electric cars, and utility energy storage systems, are a well-established technology. Technologies have tech readiness levels (TRL) which measure their maturity, from level one (basic principles evidenced) to level nine (actual systems proven in operation).
Utility scale lithium-ion batteries are TRL nine as they have been operational in electricity grids around the world for several years. In the UK utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) have only recently become commercially viable, as the costs of the systems reduce due to global growth in the battery market new ancillary service markets have been developed by the UK’s energy service operator (ESO), the National Grid. The data below from Solar Media shows the growth in BESS in the UK, with most of the growth in systems larger than 50MWh occurring since 2020.
We’re currently developing the biggest battery project in Europe Thorpe Marsh Green Energy Hub. If approved could store up to 2.8GWh of electricity, which is enough to supply around 340,000 households with electricity for one day, this is on the scale of a very large gas power station or even a nuclear power plant. It could be a real game changer and a huge asset that the national grid can use to help balance electricity on the grid.
WHAT ROLE DO FLEXIBLE ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS BATTERIES HAS TO PLAY IN THE ROLE OF NET ZERO?
Most people accept that we need to decarbonise the electricity supply system to help the UK to reach net zero and improve its energy security. But, moving from a system reliant on large fossil fuelled power stations to a system using more intermittent sources of electricity has its challenges. The main hurdle to overcome is how do we make sure people receive electricity when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, and ensure the electricity grid remains stable.
Frequency is key to alternating current (AC) electricity systems like the UK national grid. Electrical appliances are designed to operate at specific frequencies, in the UK this frequency is 50 Hertz (Hz). The ESO has a responsibility to maintain the frequency. Frequency can change because of imbalances in supply and demand for electricity, sometimes these imbalances can occur rapidly as a result of faults on power lines for example, when this happens a rapid response is required.
Large fossil fuelled power stations can be turned on and off quickly when required. They are great at matching supply with demand, and due to the inertia of the large rotating generators driven by steam, they can keep the electricity grid frequency stable. Because we can’t control the weather, we need flexible electricity storage solutions to store renewable energy when demand is low and release it when it is high, batteries have a huge role to play in providing that balance.
Batteries can provide this response by quickly increasing their demand or supply of electricity as needed.
For example if there was a power cut somewhere because a tree fell on a transmission line, the grid would very quickly lose lots of supply and if the demand is still high this can cause a frequency change in the grid which can be dangerous if not corrected quickly. One thing batteries do very quickly is supply power to the grid to stabilise frequency in a matter of milliseconds reducing the risk of blackouts.
HOW MANY BATTERIES DOES THE UK NEED TO REACH NET ZERO?
The need for batteries will increase as more wind and solar projects come to fruition, as well as other longer duration energy storage technologies. Aurora Energy Research forecasts 14of battery storage will be installed by 2030, and 19GW in 2050, up from around 2GW currently installed in 2023, showing that there is expected to be considerable growth in battery storage capacity this decade.
It is important to note that there is more than one way to meet net zero and solutions are evolving all the time as technologies come forward. As we produce more electricity by means of solar and wind projects, we will need more storage whether that be batteries, pumped hydrogen or other technologies that will inevitably come onto the market in the coming years.
Demand side response (DSR) is a growing area, where digital technologies enable energy consumers from big businesses to individual households to respond to the needs of the electricity system in real time to reduce supply and demand imbalances. DSR is just another tool that electricity system operator can utilise alongside battery energy storage.
HOW IS BANKS RENEWABLES UTILISING FLEXIBLE TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS BATTERIES TO SUPPORT NET ZERO?
We’re currently developing the biggest battery project in Europe. Thorpe Marsh Green Energy Hub, if approved could store up to 2.8GWh of electricity, which is enough to supply around 340,000 households with electricity for one day (assuming typical daily energy consumption of 8.2kWh), this is on the scale of a very large gas power station or even a nuclear power plant. It could be a real game changer and a huge asset that the national grid can use to help balance electricity on the grid.
In addition to this mega project, the business development team is looking to develop a pipeline of new battery energy storage projects, from 100MWh to 2.4GWh, from the highlands of Scotland to South Yorkshire.
We are also investigating the co-location of battery storage with renewable generation, which we hope will improve efficiencies and the economics of both technologies, and also enable us to make better use of grid connections. Our Common Farm Solar proposal in Rotherham and the proposed Bodinglee Wind Farm in South Lanarkshire are examples of such projects.
HOW IMPORTANT IS GETTING THE SOLAR, WIND AND STORAGE MIX RIGHT TO REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS AND IMPROVE THE UKS ENERGY SECURITY?
Put simply if the UK wants to improve its energy security, it needs to use energy sources that are available within Britain and there’s nothing better for that than wind and solar. We’re lucky in that sense. The UK is very windy, we have some of the best wind resources in the world.
If we utilise indigenous sources of renewable energy to generate electricity, it reduces our reliance on gas supplied from other countries, which is a good thing for the economy, for individuals and ultimately for the planet too! We’ve all seen and felt the ramifications of being too heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels. The effect of the war in Ukraine has amplified the need to improve energy security. Prices have increased at levels never seen before and it’s having a huge impact on everyone.
More renewable energy reduces the UKs reliance on fossil fuels, but the challenge still remains, unless the UK has a way to deliver electricity exactly when its needed, we’re still going to be reliant on fossil fuels and that’s why flexible energy storage systems like batteries are absolutely critical if the UK is to achieve its net zero targets and safeguard energy supplies for future generations.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As well as battery storage my team is also looking at alternative flexible storage solutions including, flow batteries, pumped hydro, compressed air, and hydrogen storage. The benefits these technologies bring is that we can store the energy for longer, giving more flexibility and control.
But we are a forward-thinking business and by looking at these solutions early we hope to ensure that Banks Renewables is at the forefront of renewable energy generation and storage, that we are a business that looks to maximise efficiency, minimise waste and bolster our support for the UK on its net zero journey.
Find out more about Banks Renewables.