【SMM Analysis】EDF plans to launch over 300MW of energy storage projects within a year to support the decarbonisation of the UK's electricity grid.

EDF Renewables UK is set to launch over 300MW of battery energy storage projects within the UK's next 12 months, aiding the grid's transition to decarbonisation. The pipeline includes six projects currently under development, slated for commissioning within the year. Notable among these are the 57MW facility in Braintree, Essex, and the 47.5MW installation in Indian Queens, Cornwall. The 52MW battery in Sundon, Bedfordshire, has recently been activated, and Dorset Council has given the green light to a 47.5MW project near Mannington in Dorset.

These initiatives collectively represent a 313MW capacity, projected to power over 400,000 homes for two hours. The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030, aiming for substantial increases in renewable energy, with solar, offshore, and onshore wind capacities targeted at 50GW, 55GW, and 35GW, respectively. Battery storage is pivotal for a reliable clean energy supply, storing surplus during peaks in renewable generation for later release.

Simone Sullivan of EDF Renewables UK asserts that the imminent projects will fortify the UK's capacity to assimilate additional renewable energy, enhancing grid flexibility and resilience through power supply-demand management. Such storage solutions are integral to energy security and the government's 2030 objectives. These ventures will augment EDF Renewables UK's current 150MW-plus battery storage portfolio in operation across Oxfordshire, Kent, and the West Midlands. The company envisions a 2GW transmission-connected battery storage capacity, with 400MW already approved and the ongoing 313MW under construction.

Image source: EDF official website