Press release -
National Grid and RES launch GB’s first sub-second frequency response service using battery storage
National Grid and RES are working on the first battery energy storage systems to provide a dynamic frequency response service in sub-second timescales in Great Britain.
The parties have signed a four year contract that will see RES (Renewable Energy Systems) provide 20MW of frequency response from battery storage. This is a new service which will aid National Grid in performing its system balancing role, which increasingly requires innovation and the use of new technologies. The services delivered by RES’ battery storage systems will provide cost effective frequency response to the grid within one second of the detection of a frequency deviation.The battery storage systems will be fully operational within 18 months.
RES and National Grid have been working together to design this innovative service since 2014; work which has been a forerunner to National Grid’s upcoming tender for 200MW of Enhanced Frequency Response.
As the price of battery energy storage has fallen in line with gigawatt scale deployment in the stationary energy storage and electric vehicle fields, such services are now reducing electricity costs for consumers across global markets.RES has already commissioned six similar projects in North America.
Adam Sims, Senior Account Manager at National Grid said:
“This is the first time that battery storage will be used to provide such fast-acting frequency response service to the National Transmission Network in Great Britain. This innovative technology will enable us to respond to frequency issues in under a second, helping to maintain the integrity of the grid. This service and the forthcoming Enhanced Frequency Response service will support the network as we transition to a generation mix with greater levels of low cost renewable energy.”
John Prendergast, Energy Storage Manager at RES, said:
“We’re delighted to be working with National Grid on this contract. RES has previously pioneered the delivery of very fast frequency services in Canada and is one of the largest providers of such services in the USA. Now, developing this innovative service with National Grid is a major step in the development of RES’ UK energy storage business.
“Energy storage can play a large role in supporting the UK’s transition to a secure, low carbon, low cost energy system. We believe that this contract will play an important role in demonstrating this and will encourage policy makers and regulators to accelerate the removal of barriers to wider deployment of energy storage in the UK.”
CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
For information on National Grid: Sara Revell on +44 (0)7811 768024
For information on RES: Fiona McAra at Bottle on +44 (0)1865 770 381
Topics
- Energy issues
Categories
- emea
- energy storage
- americas
About RES
A global renewable and low carbon energy company, headquartered in the UK, RES (Renewable Energy Systems) has been active in energy storage for over six years; and in 2015 was named as one of the world’s top three energy storage integrators by Navigant Research. RES now has 13 different energy storage projects either complete, or under construction, in seven different markets; totalling more than 100MW and 60MWh and providing multiple grid services.RES pioneered the delivery of very fast frequency services with the Independent System Operator (IESO) for Ontario, Canada and is one of the largest providers of such service to PJM, the largest system operator in the USA. RES is already in the construction phase of its first UK energy storage project; a battery system integrated with solar PV being delivered in Somerset for Western Power Distribution. RES offers development and fully wrapped EPC services for energy storage, as well as its proprietary algorithm and controls system, RESolve, and offers similar services in renewable energy, transmission and demand side management.
About National Grid
National Grid as System Operator (SO) for Great Britain is required to ensure that the National Electricity Transmission System is balanced on a moment by moment basis. In order to achieve this, National Grid procures balancing services. In particular, National Grid procures a service known as dynamic frequency response, whereby providers automatically vary their power consumption or production (technology dependent) to compensate for deviations in system frequency away from the nominal Great Britain frequency of 50Hz.The closure of older fossil-fuel plant is reducing the inertia of the transmission system, requiring the SO to develop innovative new solutions such as sub-second frequency response and Enhanced Frequency Response, which is targeted at fast-acting assets such as batteries.
