Tesla Megapacks to provide grid flexibility in Dorset

In the UK

The utility-scale energy storage project will be located at Holes Bay, Poole and will consist of six Tesla Megapacks that will have a combined capacity of 15MWh and will be connected to the Southern Electric Power distribution network.

The project is being led by Harmony Energy and Fotowation Renewable Ventures (FRV) as part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy. The Holes Bay project will be FRV’s first utility-scale energy storage project, with plans in place to roll out replica systems globally.

FRV’s managing director of engineering and asset management said: “Holes Bay will be the first project in a strategic energy storage pipeline [for FRV] to be launched globally.

“We are pleased to join together with Harmony Energy in this project that demonstrates the economic and technical feasibility of the battery energy storage system while supporting the development of the UK’s strategic sustainable energy program.”

Battery boon

BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) New Energy Storage Outlook report outlines that energy storage installations are poised for a 122-fold increase between now and 2040, as the uptake of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs) and falling costs of technology provides an ideal platform to drive demand for storage solutions.

The analysis predicts that the cost of lithium-ion batteries per kWh will halve by 2030, driven by demand in both stationary storage and EV markets. BNEF also predicts that EVs will penetrate the global bus, van, truck and passenger car markets faster than it envisioned in previous years.

In the UK, planning permission applications to install energy storage facilities have quadrupled since 2016, with a massive increase in capacity expected in the next few years.

Commenting on the Holes Bay project, Harmony Energy’s chief executive Peter Kavanagh added: “Utility-scale battery energy storage is critical to the future of the UK’s energy supply, often seen as the missing link in the UK’s renewable energy strategy, both in terms of controlling grid frequency and providing backup during periods of peak demand and supply.  

“We’re delighted to have worked closely with FRV and Tesla to complete this project, which is the first in our pipeline of battery energy storage plant to be built in the UK.”

Matt Mace

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