Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, has placed an order with Wartsila to deliver 100MW of energy storage in the UK.
The first two projects, which are 50MW apiece, are being developed in Cowley in Oxford and Kemsley in Kent.
Both are expected to be fully operational before the end of this year. Wartsila will support the projects under 10-year service agreements with flexible performance guarantees.
The order was booked with Wartsila in December 2019.
The two lithium-ion batteries will be the first projects completed as part of Pivot Power’s programme to develop, own and operate up to 2GW of grid-scale energy storage and high volume power connections directly connected to the UK high-voltage transmission system.
According to Pivot Power the projects will provide flexible capacity and reliability to support increased renewable energy generation and EV charging infrastructure.
The agreement with Pivot Power is the largest energy storage deal in Europe to date for Wartsila.
Pivot Power engineering director Adrien Lebrun said: “At Pivot Power we are committed to enabling a clean electric future and accelerating the expansion of electric vehicles across the UK, and as part of EDF Renewables we are making this vision a reality.
“These Wartsila energy storage systems allow us to harness cutting-edge technology to future-proof our investments in a changing energy market, supporting our long-term goal to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint and bring us closer to net zero.”
Wartsila energy storage and optimisation vice president Andrew Tang said: “We believe that a clean energy future for the UK is not just possible, it is deliverable.
“These exciting projects will support a cost-effective, reliable and low-carbon energy system and promote the rapid adoption of clean transport in the UK. These pioneering energy storage projects highlight the capabilities of GridSolv and GEMS to provide flexible energy services in the energy market.”
The contract is the first to be announced since EDF Renewables acquired Pivot Power in November 2019.