A coalition of battery storage operators, including Eelpower, Field Energy, Harmony Energy and Zenobē, have called on the UK government to acknowledge the critical necessity of battery storage in ensuring infrastructure support is fit for purpose. The coalition is concerned that, while the government focuses on building new renewable energy sources, net zero could be derailed without urgent action.
Currently, when there is a surplus of wind power that cannot be transported elsewhere, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) has to decide what to do: to turn off the turbines or to store the power. Battery storage is usually the cheapest option. Yet the ESO so often seems to favour turning off the turbines – wasting the renewable energy – and choosing fossil fuel generation instead. The coalition’s data shows that batteries are being skipped in 90% of the time during the constraint periods, even when they are the cheapest and fastest solution.
The consequences are concerning: consumers pay far more and investor confidence is dwindling.
As the ESO prepares to transition into the new National Energy System Operator (NESO), the coalition call for truly resolute cooperation to solve the long-standing issues and ensure grid-scale batteries are being properly used.
James Basden, founder of Zenobē said, “Investment in batteries does not need money from the government, but it does require a market that works properly, and that is not currently the case.
Solving this issue does not require major new investment or infrastructure. With more transparency and engagement with industry, we can fix this quickly.
The government has an opportunity to cut bills and emissions by insuring that grid-scale batteries are being properly utilised and that the market is fit for purpose.
As a coalition we are ready to work together with the government, the ESO and Ofgem to urgently fix this long-standing issue and reduce the consistently high levels of constraint skips we are seeing.”
Peter Kavanagh, CEO of Harmony Energy, added: “Urgent action on balancing mechanism skips is required if we are to deliver a sustainable future for Britain.
If we get this right, we can unlock investment and deliver value for consumers right across the UK.”