Belectric launches 40MW of battery storage projects in UK, Germany

Leading utility-scale solar and energy storage developer Belectric announced Monday it had commissioned three large-scale battery storage facilities in the UK and Germany with a total capacity of over 40MW.

Based in Germany, Belectric boasts over 285 completed solar PV power plants with a capacity of over 1.6GW and numerous rooftop solar systems, as well as branching into energy storage in recent years.

With a footprint covering Europe, America, and Africa, the company boasts over 5 years “unrivalled experience”.

Announced on Monday, the company confirmed that it had completed the commissioning process of three new large-scale battery storage facilities using first and second life automotive battery modules sourced from different manufacturers.

The battery systems are providing frequency response and related system services with capacity of over 40 MW.

“Battery modules from the automotive industry offer a number of advantages that make them very suitable for applications requiring high C-rates, a wide temperature range, or specific safety requirements,” explained Tim Müller, BELECTRIC’s Chief Technology Officer.

“With our engineering experience and in-house technology, we are well placed to enable the growing number of batteries that come to the end of their life in automotive applications to serve the rising storage needs in the utility industry.”

The most recently-completed battery storage facility is a 22 MW project commissioned in Wales and tied into an existing wind farm to provide frequency services to the UK’s National Grid under an Enhanced Frequency Response contract set to run for four years.

The other two projects were commissioned in Germany, with capacity of 14 MW and 7 MW each. The former was built on the premises of a large-scale car manufacturing facility and uses battery modules to power electric and hybrid vehicles assembled at the same plant.

The latter project supports the operational capabilities of an existing power station and also provides frequency response services to the European electricity grid.

Belectric also has several projects in its pipeline and in operation in Australia, including a 3.2 MW solar farm in Mildura, Victoria, which was completed in 2014, and the 4.77 MW Chillamurra Solar Plant in Goondiwindi in Queensland announced last June, which was completed in June.

Chillamurra was developed by YD Projects using the Belectric’s PEG PV power plant system.

“We are satisfied from the experience with the PEG system at Goondiwindi. It offers great savings related to material supply, transportation and installation,” said Glenn Clark, YD Projects sales manager, earlier in the month.

“The PEG system’s simplicity and the cost-effective material supply and installations were clearly demonstrated during the Chillamurra Solar Plant. We believe the system has a great potential in Australia.”