Energy storage player Eku Energy has completed commissioning of a 40MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Essex, in the UK.
The Maldon BESS site is Eku’s first UK project to reach commercial operation and will deliver “critical energy storage capability” to the local and national grid.
The asset will help to alleviate the UK’s network congestion, bolster grid resilience and support net zero targets by bringing more clean energy to the grid.
The BESS has also secured a long-term Capacity Market contract and is being traded by EDF.
The two-acre site was built by Trina Storage and supported by independent connection provider (ICP), ESM Power.
Eku was founded in 2022 and operates in the UK, Australia, Italy and Japan.
It is jointly owned by Macquarie Asset Management and BCI Capital, one of Canada’s largest pension funds.
Daniel Burrows, CEO of Eku Energy, said: “Battery energy storage provides important firming capability to increase the grid’s renewable energy hosting capacity.
“Through our strong local presence in the United Kingdom and our global specialist expertise in energy storage, we are proud to be helping the United Kingdom deliver safe, secure and reliable green energy as we accelerate the energy transition.”
UK Power Networks connected the battery to the local electricity network and project manager Zhen Wang said: “We play a key role in supporting the country’s transition to Net Zero by ensuring there is sufficient electrical network capacity for customers to connect low carbon technologies such as EVs or renewable generation.
“Utility batteries are a cornerstone of this strategy, and we were pleased to take part in progressing Eku Energy’s Maldon BESS project.”