Published: 19 Nov 2020, 10:36
Swindon Borough Council’s 30MW Mannington project. Image: SWGT.
Independent battery energy storage system (BESS) asset manager Still Waters Green Technology (SWGT) has acquired Swindon Borough Council’s 30MW Mannington project.
The site will now be developed jointly by council owned Public Power Solutions (PPS) and SWGT, and will see 25-container all-in-one Lithium Ion BESS integrated solutions installed.
PPS first gained planning consent for the subsidy-free energy storage project that is set to provide 65GWh of annual import and export capacity to the national grid in 2018.
Bernie Brannan, managing director, PPS, said the company was pleased to be moving forwards thanks to the agreement with SWGT.
“Battery storage is playing an increasingly important role in the UK’s energy infrastructure as more and more renewable energy projects are coming online. This project will help the Borough in its efforts to ‘build back greener’ boosting the local economic recovery, provide an income for Swindon Borough Council, and contribute to the decarbonisation of the UK’s energy sector.”
The Mannington BESS will play a key role in helping Swindon become carbon neutral, supporting renewable integration and grid stability by helping to provide flexibility to Scottish and Southern Electricity Network through participation in the capacity, frequency response and grid balancing programmes.
Olivia He, chief investment officer at SWGT added that the project was testimony to the resilience of the energy transition, which was being fuelled by “innovation and a strong appetite for renewable energy from investors.”
“It establishes a solid foundation for SWGT’s growth ambition and vision to become the preeminent UK renewable energy sponsor, supporting the integration of low-carbon power generation locally and worldwide. We would like to thank all the stakeholders’ support in PPS and SBC who contributed to the success of the inaugural phase of the project, especially during this difficult time with COVID-19.”
A number of councils are looking to battery storage to secure local grids and provide additional sources of revenue, with South Somerset District Council leading with the UK’s largest council owned BESS. It recently announced that it was to build a second site, with the 40MW facility located near Fareham in Hampshire set to open in 2022.