China’s BYD is to supply its lithium-ion battery tech for a new 25-megawatt energy storage project for a local authority in the UK.
BYD— which has already made inroads into the UK’s BESS market— has been selected to provide the China-made battery system for the project by South Somerset District Council.
The Council said the facility, “one of the largest and most-advanced” in the UK, is expected to start operating by the end of this year and will “provide essential power management assistance to the National Grid”.
Council leader Ric Pallister said the BESS would also “provide invaluable revenue to help protect and strengthen vital services for our communities”.
The exact location of the facility, which the Council said would be able to produce enough power to supply more than 30,000 homes for one hour, is not being disclosed.
However, the Council said the BESS will be 75 metres from a major grid substation and could be expanded at a later date to increase battery storage capacity.
The Council is the investor and co-owner of the facility, Opium Power Limited will be the project manager and co-owner. BSR Connect is the project roll out connection contractor and Western Power Distribution will be the local distribution network operator.
BSR Connect managing director Simon Roberts said: “BSR Connect is really pleased to be the independent connections provider working with the Council and Opium Power Ltd on the 33kV connection of their new energy storage project.“
BBB reported earlier this year that BYD had supplied two 1,200kWh lithium-ion batteries for low head river hydropower projects in the UK.
In March, BYD confirmed plans to open a battery recycling plant in Shanghai to help reduce raw material costs and tackle battery waste.
