Vattenfall has unveiled a 20MW battery energy storage system (BESS) adjacent to its established 16-turbine Ray Wind Farm situated near Otterburn in North East England.
Ray Wind Farm, operational for over half a decade, fulfills approximately 10% of Northumberland's energy requirements.
The freshly-introduced Battery@Ray, under Vattenfall's ownership and management, is set to bolster grid stability, bridging the gap between electricity production and consumption. Its introduction fortifies energy reliability, facilitating increased domestic renewable power generation and retention.
According to the energy firm, a single charge cycle from Battery@Ray can power around 3,500 UK homes for an entire day. By strategically positioning the battery adjacent to Ray Wind Farm, the company aims to harness shared infrastructure, such as site roads and electrical grid connections, streamlining energy production costs.
Reflecting on the evolution of renewable technology, Ross Williams, Vattenfall's project manager, remarked, “When Ray Wind Farm initially commenced operations, battery endeavors were just taking off. The leaps and bounds in battery tech over the years excites us, and Battery@Ray stands testament to our unwavering pursuit of a fossil-free future.”
He continued, “Ray epitomizes the synergy of economic and ecological benefits of green energy. As the UK steers towards net-zero and energy demands surge, localized energy storage solutions gain paramount importance. Endeavors like Battery@Ray complete the renewable energy puzzle, presenting immediate solutions.”
