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Consequences are pushing up costs for consumers while wasting clean energy, say BESS owners
National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) is consistently underusing batteries, even when they are the cheapest and fastest solution to meet the needs of the GB grid.
In an open letter signed by four battery storage developers, including Zenobe, the consequences mean consumers are paying more, clean renewable energy is being wasted and fossil fuel generation is being used instead.
The letter, signed by the CEOs of Zenobe, Eel Power, Field Energy and Harmony Energy, stated: “Our own data – verified by the ESO – shows that batteries are being skipped over 90% of the time during constraint periods for some sites … The cost of these constraints to consumers could exceed £2 billion a year by 2030.
“Meanwhile, investor confidence is dwindling.”
Ageing computers and an outdated electricity network means National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) is often unable to use batteries designed to deliver cheap green power.
When there is too much wind power and the system is unable to transport it elsewhere, the ESO has a choice to either curtail wind turbines or store this excess energy in batteries.
The letter stated: “The cheaper option is often to use battery storage.
“Today, however, the ESO is consistently underusing – ‘skipping’ – batteries.
“Even when batteries are the cheapest and fastest solution to meet the needs of the GB grid, the ESO favours more expensive options too frequently.” |
