Building a BESS is a large project that requires teams of specialists to handle the many aspects of the project—from conception and planning to implementation.
Speak with one of our high voltage electrical engineering battery energy storage specialists today.
The civil and electrical works are referred to as the electrical Balance of Plant (EBoP). The civil and electrical works are often designed and installed by an Independent Connections Provider (ICP) electrical engineering contractor like Powersystems.
Experience in the design and installation of high voltage electrical infrastructure has placed Powersystems in a position ideally suited to carryout BESS balance of plant contracts.
Powersystems have been at the forefront of connecting battery storage to the grid, having carried out the mechanical and electrical works for one of the UK’s early test commercial battery storage projects in the Shetland isles, in 2011. With many problems to overcome not least the location, the sodium sulphur batteries weighed in at a little over 3 tonne each and there were 20 to install into purpose-built enclosures.
Powersystems are currently working with various partners that are able to carry out a full turnkey balance of plant package, including civil works, design, construction, supply, installation and commissioning of battery packages, mechanical and HV/LV electrical services.
We have assisted our customers in delivering these projects across many platforms of the development, whether it be:
Generally, the size of the site depends on the type of project being constructed; large capacity sites are usually from stand-alone projects, whereas co-located sites vary in size but are usually much smaller.
Battery energy storage systems infrastructure consists of the below points to be considered in your BESS project.
Powersystems electrical engineers are highly experienced in the design, specification, installation, and commissioning of battery energy storage systems enabling the complete installation to be carried out.
Civil works
Electrical works
Battery storage, or battery energy storage systems (BESS), are devices that enable energy from renewables, like solar and wind, to be stored and then released, or draw energy from the National Grid when demand is low and supply is high. Stored energy can be released when required in periods of higher demand, or during periods of low wind or low levels of light.
When the sun doesn’t shine and the wind stops blowing, battery storage will play an increasingly important role ensuring that your business and home can be powered by green energy. Temporary loss of electrical power can lead to chaos, financial damage and put lives at risk. Our cities and daily lives consume electricity and without the essential supply from the national grid, widespread havoc would ensue.
~ The UK government included battery storage in The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution ~
Battery energy storage systems can be charged by electricity which has been generated from wind farms or solar farms. Battery storage systems allow excess generation to be stored when demand is low and used later, rather than electricity being wasted.
Battery software systems coordinate energy production and computer systems decide when to keep energy for reserves or release energy to the National Grid. Energy is released from BESS during peak times to keep electric flowing and the costs down.
Co-located storage is likely to grow as a proportion of the UK market with 7.2 GW of projects in the pipeline, but structuring deals and offtake agreements presents a complex challenge.
The pairing of solar or wind with storage is at an early stage in the UK. Less than 10% of its 1.7 GW of operational battery energy storage systems (BESS) is co-located with wind or solar, totalling 158 MW. And most existing co-located storage projects have two separate grid connections with a limited amount of shared infrastructure.
There are currently 317 projects totalling 7.2 GW co-located with solar or wind in the development pipeline. Most co-located storage projects pair with solar PV as wind requires much more cycling and a much larger battery.
Project developers are increasingly looking at developing sites which share grid capacity, but this presents a myriad of complex challenges including structuring off take agreements. Powersystems can advise you on how to navigate your co-located storage projects. Read the Ray battery case study below.
Energy storage will be a significant enabler of the renewable energy adoption required for the United Kingdom to meet net zero by 2050.
The UK government estimates technologies like battery storage systems – supporting the integration of more low-carbon power, heat and transport technologies – could save the UK energy system up to £40 billion by 2050, ultimately reducing people’s energy bills.
The National Grid says United Kingdom could need with as much as 13 GW of electricity storage needed by 2030 to enable huge growth in renewables.
Read the latest battery energy storage case studies from Powersystems on BESS projects.
Powersystems awarded the electrical infrastructure contract to enable the integration of the 49.9 MW BESS comprising of 10 transformers each with 2 inverters (total 19) connected to 76 battery cubes.
In 2022 Powersystems return to the Ray Wind Farm site to design and construct the infrastructure to integrate a 20 MW Fluence battery system into the wind farm, which will add flexibility and provide ancillary services to the National Grid.
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