‘Super’ battery projects enter final assessment phase

Ofgem has confirmed the 77 projects entering the final assessment stage of a ‘super battery’ support scheme.

The regulator said the Long Duration Electricity Storage (LDES) projects will promote growth and stop green energy going to waste. 

Supporting a government growth pledge to build major new LDES projects for the first time in 40 years, Ofgem launched a new cap and floor support scheme in April to unlock billions in investment and boost Great Britain’s tech economy. 

An initial group of 171 projects applied to the scheme and Ofgem said 77 are now eligible to progress to the second phase of the process. The projects include a variety of storage methods such as Li-Ion batteries, flow batteries and pumped hydro storage, which releases water stored at height to turn turbines. 

Beatrice Filkin, Director of Major Projects Infrastructure for Ofgem, said: “Renewable power is the key to seizing control of our own energy system and end the costly reliance on the turbulent wholesale gas market, so we don’t want to see a single watt go to waste. 

“That’s why we need to boost our ability to store as much homegrown energy as we can to let the turbines keep turning when the wind is at its strongest - and on the days when the gusts drop and the sun doesn’t shine that reserve of excess clean power can be called upon.”