A 32-acre site at Wilton International will become one of Britain’s highest capacity Battery Energy Storage System.
£1billion of private investment from NatPower has made the new Teesside GigaPark possible, which has a planned National Grid connection date of 2028.
One of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the country, it will store surplus renewable electricity produced by offshore wind, then distribute this through the network when production levels drop or demand peaks. The widespread deployment of this technology on a national level could save the UK up to £3.5billion per year.
According to Stefano D.M. Sommadossi, CEO of NatPowrr UK and NatPower marine, Teesside will be’ the blueprint for how we combine high-capacity renewable energy storage with the electrification of ports and industry. Within five years, we can transform one of the UK’s most important industrial hubs into a net-zero economic powerhouse and then replicate this model in ports across the globe.’
The 1GQ/8GWh lithium-ion BESS site The impact locally included providing more flexible shore power for ships using the extensive harbour infrastructure, effectively eliminating their emissions while docked, at anchor, or powering near-shore electric propulsion. Sembcorp Energy, which manages the Wilston International site, believes the new facility will help set new benchmarks for the UK energy sector.
‘We are pleased to support NatPower to bring one of the UK’s most advanced battery energy storage projects to Wilton International,’ said Mike Patrick, CEO of Sembcorp Energy UK. ‘With its robust grid infrastructure, Wilton International offers the ideal platform for scaling long-duration battery storage and supporting maritime electrification. This project further strengthens Wilton International’s role as a strategic site for low-carbon innovation, driving the UK’s journey towards a net-zero future.’
Image: Igor Omilaev /Unsplash
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