The 50MW portfolio is now fully operational and includes a 40 MW facility in Glassenbury in Kent which features 3,640 battery modules with an installed energy capacity of 27.65MWh, and a 10 MW installation in Cleator in Cumbria,which consists of 900 battery modules with an installed energy capacity of 6.97MWh.
Together they represent the largest portfolio of utility-scale battery energy storage systems connected to the UK grid. The Cleator and Glassenbury sites secured two contracts with National Grid in August 2016 for battery energy storage systems to provide Enhanced Frequency Response (EFR) to the UK system operator.
NEC ES provided turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services which included its GSS® end-to-end grid storage solution, and was contracted to operate the sites to provide the EFR service directly to National Grid. Energy storage operation for EFR will be handled by an automated operating mode designed specifically for the UK frequency response service, and is part of the AEROS® controls system, NEC’s proprietary energy storage control software. NEC ES will also provide warranty service and maintenance for ten years to maintain all required operating capabilities to satisfy the terms of the EFR contracts.
“We are thrilled to be a part of these two exciting projects with VLC Energy,” said Steve Fludder, chief executive officer of NEC Energy Solutions. “In addition to providing our GSS® grid storage systems, VLC Energy has entrusted us to provide the EFR service directly to National Grid. This is a true testament to the quality of our products, our people and our reputation.”
