Dong Energy plugs offshore wind farm into world-first battery system – Telegraph.co.uk

Offshore wind giant Dong Energy has become the first to plug an offshore wind farm into a battery system to store power to be used as needed.

The world-first hybrid system has powered up on the Merseyside coast to store electricity generated from the first phase of Dong Energys 90 megawatt (MW) Burbo Bank wind farm in order to help to balance the frequency of the power grid.

The new 2MW battery system helps to combat criticism that renewable power could lead to flickering light bulbs, or even blackouts, by disrupting the normal power grid frequency of around 50 hertz.

Richard Smith, National Grids head of networks, said the system operator plans to call on Dong Energy to release electricity into the grid to help stabilise the frequency.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how the Dong Energy solution of storage connected to the offshore wind farm will provide services to help us respond to day-to-day operational challenges," he said.

Benj Sykes, Dong Energys UK boss, told The Telegraph last month that battery storage technology is a game changer for the booming offshore wind market.

Mr Sykes was speaking ahead of the launch of the second phase of the Burbo Bank offshore wind project which uses the worlds largest operating wind turbines to produce almost 260MW of power.

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Dong Energy plugs offshore wind farm into world-first battery system - Telegraph.co.uk