Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 11:19 am
Conrad Energy has announced the full energisation of its 25MW 50MWh battery energy storage site (BESS) in Bispham, Blackpool.
The site is capable of storing enough energy to keep around 10,000 homes energised for four hours and marks the completion of months of preparation work in partnership with local communities, landlords and local authorities.
The Blackpool site is the first of seven battery sites under construction in partnership with General Electric’s (GE) battery division and Electricity North West and is the first to be taken from start to finish with Conrad Energy’s in-house construction team.
Discussing the project, Conrad Energy’s Chief Executive Officer Steven Hardman said: “Long-term partnerships are a cornerstone of our vision of a world powered by a sustainable net zero energy system. This project has strengthened our relationships with key partners and allowed us to build relationships with new local partners in Blackpool.”
The development of the technology is enabling battery storage to fulfil its role in maximising the usefulness of renewable energy. The fully operational site will now be handed over to Conrad Energy’s Operations and Maintenance teams to ensure it remains at optimal performance, with the power it stores being traded on the wholesale markets or offered to the system operator to provide frequency response by their in-house optimisation team.
Conrad Energy’s Trading Director Steve Moody added: “Our proprietary optimisation platform iON is used for our own and other owners’ sites to ensure the best returns for all energy assets under our management. This is the first of seven battery energy storage sites, which further increase our impact on both the trading and frequency response markets.”
The company offers route to market Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to reap the full benefits of their iON platform and dedicated in-house trading team.
Yesterday saw a ceremony at the Blackpool battery energy storage site with Paul English, Head of Global Sales, Solare and Storage at GE Renewable Energy and Steven Hardman, Conrad Energy’s CEO in attendance.
