EDF Renewables to add 400MWh of battery capacity to UK grid

A 57MW facility in Braintree, Essex, a 114MW site in Swainsthorpe, Norwich, and a 50MW location near Sellindge, Kent, will respectively provide 114, 228 and 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of storage. According to EDF Renewables, all three battery storage sites are co-located with nearby solar projects.

“The approval of our Sellindge, Norwich and Braintree battery storage facilities is an active proof point of the growing momentum behind battery storage and we are really pleased with the progress we’ve been able to make over the summer,” said Simone Sullivan, head of Storage at EDF Renewables UK. “We are taking an important step towards creating a smarter, cleaner and more resilient electricity system that will enable the transition to renewables that we need as we look to tackle the climate crisis. 

 “What we’re doing is not only providing the battery technology needed to improve grid flexibility but also co-locating it near our planned solar farms – breaking new ground to ensure a zero-carbon energy system for these regions.” 

As of Q2 2023, total battery energy storage capacity in Great Britain reached 2.9GW, forecasted to rise to 4GW by the end of the year. EDF Renewables UK currently has two 50MW battery storage facilities operational in Kemsley and Oxford, with two more sites in the West Midlands becoming operational this autumn, and a further two sites currently in construction. In total, the company says it plans to deliver up to 2GW of transmission-connected battery storage and high-volume power connections through its Energy Superhub approach. These Energy Superhubs combine transmission-connected batteries and power infrastructure for EV charging, enabling more renewables and accelerating the decarbonisation of transport.