Super battery approved for Scottish Power’s Whitelee wind farm
11th June 2019 | Commercial Energy
Plans to install a huge a “super battery” on the site of the UK’s largest wind farm have been approved by the Scottish Government. Scottish Power, which operates the Whitelee wind farm on Eaglesham Moor near Glasgow, said its planned capacity will make it largest wind farm battery in the UK. The installation will occupy a space half the size of a football pitch, and will be able to reach a full charge from the wind farm’s 215 turbines in less than an hour.
The energy firm said the facility would support the National Grid in maintaining the resilience and stability of the electricity grid, even when the wind is not blowing. 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.
Super Battery
Last year Scottish Power became the first major UK energy company to say it would generate all its energy from wind power instead of oil and gas. Chief Executive, Keith Anderson, described thee plans for the battery storage site as a “significant step”.
“We all know that renewable energy generation needs to quadruple and we know that onshore wind is the cheapest form of green energy,” he said. “By integrating storage technologies with onshore wind, we are blowing away one of the myths about renewable generation not being available when you need it. Natural resources like wind and solar are variable in their very nature, and by using a battery we can ensure we optimise our ability to use the resource most effectively.”
He added, “If we are to meet the bold target of net-zero by 2050 and deliver the decarbonisation of our economy, transport and heating systems, large battery storage facilities such as this along with more wind farms like Whitelee are crucial.”
More information available on the website below