First of two 50MW battery storage facilities will provide much needed flexibility to the grid as the UK moves towards a clean energy system powered by renewables
EDF Renewables UK has announced the official opening and go live of its grid-scale Bustleholme battery storage facility in Sandwell, northwest of Birmingham. Connected to the transmission network at National Grid’s Bustleholme substation, the site is a key step in creating a greener energy system for the region and accelerating the UK’s drive to net zero.
Battery energy storage systems are essential to unlocking the full potential of renewable energy in the UK by storing power generated during periods of oversupply, such as when it is windy, and then releasing such power back into the national electrical network when there is greater demand.
By balancing supply and demand, the battery facility will increase the resiliency of the electricity system and allow more renewables to come onto the grid, reducing the region’s carbon emissions and supporting sustainable economic growth.
Alongside a second battery site in Coventry, which is due to go live in December, the developments have the potential to supercharge the West Midlands’ green transport revolution, by helping to create the power infrastructure for mass-scale, rapid EV charging. Through a private-wire network, large amounts of power can be delivered to sites in the northwest of Birmingham that can be used for rapid charging, supporting the installation of public charging hubs, bus depots and commercial fleets.
Providing the private wire infrastructure that would encourage greater take up of electric vehicles, means that the Bustleholme development can also have an Impact on air quality. This is particularly important for Sandwell as a region designated as an Air Quality Management Area due to poor air quality caused by traffic and industrial emissions.
Matthew Boulton, Director of Solar, Storage and Private Wire at EDF Renewables UK, said: “Battery storage is essential as we move away from fossil fuels so we are delighted to be bringing our Bustleholme facility online.
“As more of our lives are powered by electricity – from heating to cars – our energy system is changing, and batteries are an important part of the solution, helping to balance supply and demand as we bring more renewables onto the grid. Having more of our electricity generated renewably from homegrown sources will lead to lower bills and greater energy security.
“Together with our development of a battery facility in Coventry, it highlights the West Midlands as a leader in creating an energy system fit for the future.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands,said: “Our region was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and today the West Midlands finds itself at the forefront of the Green Industrial Revolution.
“Green energy sources will play a vital role in helping us to honour our #WM2041 Net Zero commitment and reliable battery storage – for when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining – is essential if we are to harness the full potential of renewable energy.
“This EDF Renewables Bustleholme announcement will upgrade battery storage capability in our region and showcase the benefits to local people and businesses that a low carbon future can deliver.”
Battery storage is essential to enable greater use of renewable energy and meet the UK Government’s target to decarbonise the country’s electricity system by 2035. According to National Grid’s Future Energy Scenario for 2023, up to 30GW of electricity storage will be required in the UK by 2050 to support the increased installation of renewable generation. It will also deliver economic benefits, helping to create a smarter, more flexible energy system which could save up to £40 billion by 2050.
EDF Renewables UK Is replicating core elements of the Energy Superhub Oxford project, one of the most ambitious urban decarbonisation projects undertaken in the UK to date which combines a cutting-edge 50MW hybrid battery with Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle (EV) charging network. The Bustleholme site forms an integral part of EDF Renewables’ storage network, designed to deliver up to 2 GW of transmission-connected battery storage and high-volume power connections across the UK.
