Pivot Power, Wärtsilä and EDF activate 50MW of battery storage in Kelmsley, Kent

Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, Wärtsilä, the global technology company, and EDF, Britain’s biggest generator of low carbon electricity, have activated a 50MW/50MWh battery energy storage system at Pivot Power’s Kemsley site in Kent, which will help to support the transition to a decarbonised electricity system and accelerate the UK’s net zero future. 

The 50MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system is directly connected to National Grid’s high-voltage transmission network at the Kemsley substation in Kent and will provide essential flexibility to support the integration of more renewables and future-proof the UK’s electricity system.

Wärtsilä has supplied its advanced battery energy storage technology for the project coupled with GEMS Digital Energy Platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable the intelligent management of energy systems. 

EDF’s Powershift platform will provide the route to market services for Pivot Power to maximise revenues from the battery across ancillary services (including Dynamic Containment and Reactive Power), wholesale optimisation and the Balancing Mechanism. 

The Kemsley battery storage system is the second to go live as part of Pivot Power’s plans to deploy up to 40 similar sites throughout the UK, providing up to 2GW of flexible capacity. It supports EDF Renewables’ strategic plans to develop an additional 10GW of battery storage globally by 2035.

Pivot Power’s first system, in Cowley, Oxford, went live in June 2021, and forms part of Energy Superhub Oxford – a pioneering project the company is leading to showcase rapid electric vehicle (EV) charging, battery storage, low carbon heating and smart energy management technologies. 

Pivot Power is replicating its Energy Superhub model, combining grid-scale batteries with high-volume power infrastructure for EV charging, at its next two sites in Coventry and Sandwell in the West Midlands. The company has partnered with Wärtsilä to develop two new grid-scale battery storage systems, which will collectively provide 100MW/200MWh of storage capacity.

For the UK to be on track to deliver its net zero commitments, up to 13GW of new electricity storage needs to be built by 2030.  This is crucial to provide the flexibility needed to enhance the reliability of the country’s electricity system and cost-effectively integrate more renewable generation. A smarter, more flexible system could save up to £10bn a year by 2050. 

Matt Allen, CEO of Pivot Power, said: “The expansion of our battery storage portfolio is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to future-proofing the UK’s energy system and accelerating a net zero future. Through this collaboration with Wärtsilä and EDF we are creating more of the low carbon infrastructure needed to manage the integration of renewables into the grid and power our lives with clean energy.”

Andy Tang, Vice President, Energy Storage & Optimisation, Wärtsilä, said: “Wärtsilä’s ambition is to enable a 100% renewable energy system in the UK. To make this a reality, more energy flexibility is vital for balancing out the intermittent nature of this form of generation and ensuring a resilient energy system. Energy storage sits at the heart of this, and we are proud to be collaborating with Pivot Power to help drive the change that the UK’s energy infrastructure needs.”

Stuart Fenner, Head of Energy Trading Services at EDF, said: “EDF are delighted that the Kemsley battery site is successfully operational and providing essential flexibility to the energy system. We are proud to be optimising this asset with our Powershift platform and partnering with Pivot Power. This deal reinforces our commitment to helping Britain achieve net zero carbon emissions and supports our position as a leader in battery optimisation services in the UK.”

Notes to Editors
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Luke Webb        luke.webb@greenhousepr.co.uk         +44 (0) 7527 313503     
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About Pivot Power
Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, creates the low carbon infrastructure needed to future-proof our electricity system, integrate more renewable energy, and provide scalable capacity for electric vehicle charging. By creating a nationwide network of Energy Superhubs – combining big batteries and high-volume power connections – we are enabling rapid electric vehicle charging on a mass scale, powered by low carbon energy sources. A map of all our proposed Energy Superhubs can be found at: www.pivot-power.co.uk 

About Wärtsilä Energy 
Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers unlock the value of the energy transition by optimising their energy systems and future-proofing their assets. Our offering comprises flexible power plants, energy management systems, and storage, as well as lifecycle services that ensure increased efficiency and guaranteed performance. Wärtsilä has delivered 72 GW of power plant capacity in 180 countries around the world. https://www.wartsila.com/energy/ 

About Wärtsilä 
Wärtsilä is a global leader in smart technologies and complete lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising sustainable innovation, total efficiency, and data analytics, Wärtsilä maximises the environmental and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its customers. In 2019, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 5.2 billion with approximately 19,000 employees. The company has operations in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries around the world. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. https://www.wartsila.com

About EDF 
EDF is the largest aggregator of distributed flexible assets in Europe with significant presence in the UK, France, Germany and Belgium. Committed to the long-term future of energy storage systems and the critical role they play in the energy transition. Since 2017, EDF has traded third party owned assets via our proprietary flexibility platform, Powershift, with over 495MW in our portfolio.

EDF is helping Britain achieve Net Zero by leading the transition to a cleaner, low emission electric future and tackling climate change. It is the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity, meeting around one-fifth of the country’s demand and supplying millions of customers with electricity and gas.

It generates low carbon electricity from eight nuclear power stations, more than thirty onshore wind farms and two offshore wind farms, and operates one of Britain’s biggest battery storage units, one gas and one coal power station, EV charge-points, and combined heat and power plants.

EDF is leading the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, and plans for new power stations at Sizewell C in Suffolk and Bradwell B in Essex. Hinkley Point C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 7% of UK demand. The project is already making a positive impact on the local and national economy as well as boosting skills and education.

EDF also invests in a range of low carbon technologies including renewables, solar and battery storage. The company’s largest offshore wind farm is currently being built in Scotland and the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe project will be ready in 2023. It is applying research and development expertise to improve the performance of existing generation and developing the potential of new technologies.

EDF currently has one of the largest contracted portfolios of batteries in the UK, with 245MW operational batteries and contracts signed up to 495MW. Kemsley is one of the first transmission connected batteries energised in the UK, with EDF acting as the Control Point and managing Grid Code compliance for connection to the National Electricity Transmission System (NETS).

EDF is helping its customers, both in business and at home, take their first steps to sustainably powering their lives. Whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity or selling energy back to the grid. EDF is one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Imtech, is one of the largest technical service providers in the UK and Ireland.

EDF is part of EDF Group, the world’s biggest electricity generator. In the UK, the company employs around 13,000 people at locations across England and Scotland.