Ørsted Goes Large-Scale with UK Battery Storage Project

Ørsted will build and operate a 20MW battery storage project near Liverpool, UK, which will be used to help the National Grid manage grid stability during changes between peak and low power demand.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Source: Low Carbon/ NEC Energy Solutions

According to Ørsted, the grid connection agreement and permits for the Carnegie Road battery storage project are already in place, with the construction scheduled to start in May and commissioning expected by the end of the year.

The project was originally developed by Shaw Energi, which will support Ørsted in the execution of the project, while NEC Energy Solutions has been selected as the supplier of the battery system.

“The future energy system will be completely transformed from what it is today, with a smarter, more flexible grid, balancing supply and demand with new technology and cleaner energy generation. We want to continue to be at the forefront of this exciting shift towards a decarbonised energy system,” Matthew Wright, Managing Director of Ørsted UK, said.

“Acquiring the Carnegie Road plant is an important step forward as it’s our first commercial-scale battery storage project. We’re investing billions of pounds in the UK’s energy infrastructure and this is another significant investment that puts the UK at the heart of the global energy transition.”

Ørsted started testing energy storage last year in connection with its Burbo Bank offshore wind farm in the UK and the EnergyLab Nordhavn project in Denmark.

In February this year, the company announced that it intends to set up a 1MW storage pilot project in Taiwan. In addition, if the Bay State Wind offshore wind project in the US is realized, Ørsted said it will build a 55MW storage project in connection with the wind farm, with the battery supporting the grid by delivering frequency response.