Equinor sanctioned its first commercial battery storage project, aiming to manage power intermittency and balance supply and demand, the company said Oct. 3.

Construction of the 25-MW Blandford Road project in southern England will begin in January 2023 and is expected to become operation in third-quarter 2023, Equinor said.

The project, which will utilize CATL lithium-ion battery racks and connect to the SSE distribution network, marks the first from Equinor’s partnership with Noriker Power Ltd. The energy company acquired a 45% ownership share in Noriker in December 2021.

“We expect to sanction up to three battery storage projects in the country during the next 6-9 months,” Ingrid Fossgard-Moser, vice president for energy storage development within renewables at Equinor, said in a news release. “A portfolio of flexible storage assets will broaden and diversify Equinor’s energy offerings in the U.K. and strengthen our role as a reliable supplier of energy.”

Hart Energy October 2022 - Equinor Reaches FID for Battery Storage Project in England - Map of UK assets
 Map of Equinor’s assets in the U.K. (Source: Equinor)

Grupotec Renewable Ltd. will provide engineering, procurement and construction for the Blandford Road project, while Noriker will manage and develop the project, Equinor said.

The final investment decision came as the company accelerates investments in renewables and low-carbon markets. The company said battery storage can help “solve intermittency challenges and aid in the security of supply” in the U.K., where the government wants 95% of its electricity to be low carbon by 2030.

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