Fluence Energy Storage Project to Provide Advanced System Stability Services in the UK

Statkraft has chosen Fluence Energy UK Ltd., a subsidiary of Fluence Energy, Inc., to deliver its first battery-based energy storage project connected directly to the transmission network. It is also the third project across the UK and Ireland that Statkraft, Europe's largest generator of renewable energy, will deliver together with Fluence, a market leader in energy storage products and services, and optimisation software for renewables and storage. Together Statkraft and Fluence will deliver the 50 MW Neilston project, awarded under Phase 2 of the UK's Stability Pathfinder programme. 

The energy storage system, which will be installed at Neilston Greener Grid Park in Renfrewshire, Scotland, is intended to support the National Grid Energy System Operator (NGESO) in ensuring system stability as more renewable energy sources come online. Unlike other operational energy storage systems in the UK, Statkraft's project will be able to provide inertia and short-circuit power to the grid to keep it stable. Those services are critical to ensuring energy security and affordability as the energy transition advances.

The project will be delivered as part of the NOA Stability Pathfinder. The programme seeks new ways of increasing transmission network stability as the synchronous fossil fuel generators that have played this role so far are being phased out in the UK, with the last coal power stations scheduled to close by 2024. 

Lloyd Godwin, Principal Project Manager at Statkraft commented, "We are pleased to be working with Fluence who will be providing the technology for our Neilston Greener Grid Park project, which has recently started construction. The project will provide an essential service to stabilise the power grid and allow more renewable energy to be transmitted through the network, without relying on coal and gas-fired power stations. This means fewer harmful emissions, and lower bills for consumers, because renewable energy is cheaper."

"Building on Fluence's history in shaping the British energy storage market, we are delighted to partner with Statkraft, a pioneer in deploying grid stability services in the country. We look forward to delivering a battery-based energy storage system critical to increasing grid stability and enabling the integration of more low-cost renewable generation," commented Brian Perusse, Managing Director of Fluence Energy UK Ltd.

For Fluence, this will be the company's 27th project contracted or delivered in the UK and Ireland, with a total company portfolio in those markets exceeding 1.4 GWh and including the first ever battery-based energy storage project in the Irish market, also delivered for Statkraft.

Fluence is also strengthening its global leadership in deploying energy storage either in technically advanced grid-forming mode or as a transmission asset (SATA). In total, the company has delivered or contracted more than 850 MWh projects of this type globally.

In March of this year, Fluence launched Ultrastack, an advanced energy storage product designed to address the complex requirements of transmission and distribution networks. Statkraft's Neilston Greener Grid Park will use some of the functionalities of Ultrastack, benefiting from new technological solutions and over 15 years of Fluence's experience in delivering advanced storage systems globally.

_{Source:  Fluence}

_{Image Source: Fluence} 

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