The largest windfarm battery in the UK is fully charged and ready to keep the electricity network stable this Christmas. Charged with clean, green renewable power from the 215 turbines on the Whitelee Windfarm, the Whitelee Battery Energy Storage System will support the National Grid in maintaining the resilience and stability of the electricity grid.
The battery energy storage site uses lithium-ion battery technology; the same type of battery used in a smartphone – a perennially popular Christmas present. Comprising 50MW of energy storage capacity it’s the largest windfarm battery in the UK and has the equivalent energy storage capacity of almost 4 million smartphones*, and similarly, capable of achieving full charge in around an hour.
This means it will be on standby to provide services like reactive power and frequency response to National Grid, enhancing control and flexibility. The battery can be fully discharged or used in bursts as and when required to keep the electricity network stable by balancing supply and demand over the festive period.
The battery will also enhance the capability of storing excess energy from wind generation at times when demand is low or wind is high – for instance at night, and released at time of high demand and lower wind.
*3,943,218 based on the capacity of the iPhone 14 at 12.68 watt hours. Source: appleinsider.com