February 12, 2018 | News Brief | GE and Arenko Group have announced a strategic alliance to build grid scale energy storage systems in the UK. The companies will seek to leverage the advantages of combining GE’s battery technology solution, power electronics and advanced controls with Arenko’s leadership in operating batteries in the UK market and proprietary energy trading software platform.
Arenko has invested in a 41 MW battery energy storage system supplied by GE, who is providing a fully integrated battery storage solution. The project is one of the largest in the UK and globally with the ability to provide affordable, on-demand power to the equivalent of approximately 100,000 UK homes.
This battery storage system is sited at a key strategic location in the Midlands and will commence operations in 2018. Once operational it will integrate GE and Arenko’s advanced control technologies and will be commercially operated though Arenko’s software to digitally deploy energy and access multiple services and system needs. The battery system’s reliability and performance will be underpinned and protected by GE’s long-term support.
The project will relieve pressure on the UK energy system and provide flexibility at times when it is most needed to deliver a more balanced, secure energy system and contribute to reducing the cost of energy to the UK consumer. The focus is on building long term commercial sustainable battery storage systems, which are not reliant on subsidies and incentives.
Changing consumer demands, increasing adoption of renewable energy and security of supply are driving the need for innovative energy networks to deliver a more efficient power system. As traditional centralized generation comes under increasing pressure, energy storage projects such as those announced by Arenko and GE today, will be crucial to maximize generation capacity, ensure efficient energy utilization and improve the operational efficiency of the grid.
Mirko Molinari, Global Commercial and Marketing Executive, Energy Storage at GE Power said, “Energy storage will help balance supply and demand close to real time, avoiding frequency drifts and supporting the mid-term response to grid imbalances. The flexibility it offers smooths the fluctuating nature of renewable energy, provides quick reserves when needed, stores excess energy generation and much more. Energy storage will enable a more efficient system for a more reliable supply of electricity to consumers.”
