Renewables lead to energy switch

As conventional power stations in the UK are taken offline and replaced by renewables, our supply of energy is becoming increasingly intermittent and unpredictable.

At the same time, the way we use energy is expected to undergo fundamental change in coming years, as demand for electricity is likely to increase from the electrification of cars and other technologies such as heating.

One solution to the challenge of balancing the supply of electricity with demand is through battery storage which works by storing power when there is an excess, such as when wind farms are generating late at night, then releasing it to the national grid when needed. Other options include small scale gas plants taking gas from the local network to produce additional electricity when supply cannot keep up with sudden peaks in demand.

The Government and national grid are supportive of these kinds of technology and offer special contracts for the services they provide. The next auction to award such contracts is being held in early 2018 and there has been a surge of developers submitting their project proposals.

The Government also recently announced they would be making changes to the regulatory frameworks and planning regime which should make battery storage easier to develop.

Storage is an opportunity to reinvigorate the energy sector and this technology brings new opportunities for landowners and businesses whose land is not suitable for other forms of renewable energy generation such as solar or wind projects.

The key requirement for battery storage is close proximity to a substation for a connection. Most developments take up only 4,000 – 12,000 square metres or one to three acres of land, meaning this could be an opportunity for landowners across the country.

And not only landowners in rural areas can benefit – urban sites offer opportunities to those in city environments, industrial estates or brownfield land.

Additionally, battery storage can be close to residential areas as little or no noise or pollution is produced. It is also relatively small-scale compared to other energy technologies, making it less visually intrusive and potentially less contentious.

Energy storage facilities are typically made up of containers holding arrays of batteries located in a secure compound. These installations are temporary and can be installed and decommissioned in a relatively short time, with minimal disturbance to the underlying ground.

Alternatively, depending on the availability of the local gas infrastructure, gas-peaking plants (that generally run only when there is a high demand) can also deliver the same back-up service as battery storage, in a similar containerised layout although these sites generally have to be more remote from housing. Maintenance is often minimal and after installation there are few reasons for any further works. In return developers are offering leases for 20-30 years with attractive annual rent payments.

Power stations like Longannet in Fife have been overtaken by renewables.