Global energy storage developer Eku Energy has started constructing two UK battery energy storage systems (BESS), totalling 130MWh of capacity.
The two BESS, situated in Basildon, Essex, and Loudwater, Buckinghamshire, will utilise NHOA Energy’s, a developer of turn-key energy storage systems, battery technology marking the company’s entry into the UK market.
The energy storage division of New HOrizons Ahead (NHOA), which also has business lines for e-mobility and electric vehicle (EV) fast charging infrastructure, recorded a 384% growth in online BESS capacity at the end of Q3 2022 to the end of Q3 2023, as reported by our sister site Energy-Storage.news.
In an announcement made today (19 February), Eku Energy said it anticipates the BESS projects to be operational by the end of 2024. It is worth noting that Eku Energy already has a 40MW/40MWh battery in Maldon, Essex in construction.
The individual capacity of the BESS projects was not disclosed.
The company now has 4.6GWh in development, construction and operation across the UK, Australia, Italy and Japan to deliver 9GWh by 2028.
Sandra Grauers Nilsson, CEO of Eku Energy said: “Breaking ground at Basildon and Loudwater is a major milestone for Eku Energy as we work to support the UK’s decarbonisation goals and expand our global footprint. We have an ambitious pipeline of battery storage projects which we are developing at pace and scale, and we are delighted to have partnered with NHOA Energy to advance the energy transition.”
February sees surge in BESS developments
Regular readers of Solar Power Portal will have observed the growing popularity of BESS projects in the UK across February.
Just last week (16 February) Wärtsilä revealed it is set to deploy its new Quantum High Energy BESS solution for a 300MW/600MWh project in Scotland.
Located in Kilmarnock, around 26 miles from the metropolitan area of Glasgow, it will be aimed at helping integrate growing shares of wind energy onto the grid. Construction began in January and it is scheduled for completion by the end of next year.
In other news, Electricity Supply Board (ESB) officially opened its 75MW/150MWh BESS in Dublin on 7 February, making it the largest project of its kind in Ireland.
The BESS is located at Poolbeg Energy Hub, where ESB – around 95% owned by the Irish state with the remaining stake held by its employees – is planning to deploy a combination of clean energy technologies, including offshore wind, hydrogen, and battery storage, over the coming decade.
The final UK BESS development to note is Lightsource BP energising its first UK-based BESS – the first of its global multi-gigawatt pipeline.
The two-hour duration 25MW/50MWh Tiln BESS is co-located with Lightsource BP’s 61MWp solar farm situated in Lincolnshire, a region of the UK that has seen growing interest for large-scale solar-based national significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs).
Solar Power Portal’s publisher Solar Media will host the 9th annual Energy Storage Summit EU in London, 20-21 February 2024. This year it is moving to a larger venue, bringing together Europe’s leading investors, policymakers, developers, utilities, energy buyers and service providers all in one place. Visit the official site for more info.