Renewable energy company Thrive Renewables has successfully commissioned its largest battery storage project to date, a 20MW facility located in Bristol, UK. With a capacity to store and deliver 1.5 hours or 30MWh of electricity, the operational battery aims to enhance flexibility and provide balancing services crucial for the UK's transition to a net-zero carbon future.
The commissioning of this project aligns with Thrive Renewables' recent announcement of its ambitious plan to double its generation capacity to over 180MW within the next five years. This expansion is part of Thrive's commitment to its active pipeline, including the funding of 192MW of new solar PV and battery storage through a £20 million investment in a UK development portfolio.
Matthew Clayton, Managing Director of Thrive Renewables, highlighted the significance of battery storage as a critical technology for the UK's energy transition. The 20MW project is expected to play a key role in storing clean electricity during periods of abundance and releasing it during peak demand. Clayton also emphasized the importance of battery storage in Thrive's diversification strategy, ensuring a range of energy sources within their portfolio, complementing existing wind, solar, and hydro projects.
In a noteworthy move earlier this year, Thrive became the first commercial battery owner to offer shared ownership to the local community. Bristol Energy Cooperative was given the opportunity to make a co-investment of up to 20%, contributing to the wider accessibility of benefits from the UK's energy transition. The arrangement allows other local causes to share in the revenues generated by the project.
Thrive acquired the project from developer Aura Power and engaged renewables consultancy Everoze as a technical advisor. Trina Storage supplied the battery system, Flexitricity will serve as the aggregator, and the site will be operated by RES.
