Insights

FRV to develop it's second utility scale battery project in UK

Published 12 November, 2020
  • With 34 MW Contego in West Sussex will have a capacity of 68 MWh, using a series of 28 Tesla Megapack batteries.
  • This is a new joint battery energy storage project of FRV.
  • FRV continues its strategic plan of long-term investments in the development of utility-scale battery energy storage projects.

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and a leading global developer of renewable energy projects, has announced a second battery project in the United Kingdom, as part of a strategic energy storage pipeline to be launched globally.

Construction of the 34 MW / 68 MWh Contego project is set to start this month near Burgess Hill in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Once completed in 2021, it will be one of the largest battery energy storage plants in the UK, with a system of 28 Tesla Megapack lithium-ion batteries, using Tesla’s Autobidder AI software for real-time trading and control.

Contego will be connected to the UK Power Networks distribution network, providing the capability to store energy from renewable sources and afford peak-time flexibility to the UK National Grid as part of the country’s continuing shift away from fossil fuels.

This is FRV’s second battery energy storage project, following the successful completion of a 7.5 MW / 15 MWh battery plant at Holes Bay, Dorset.

Holes Bay, which also used Tesla’s Megapack batteries, has been operating since June 2020, participating in the EPEX spot market, in the Firm Frequency Response (FFR) and in the Balancing Mechanism. The site was the first to go live in the National Grid’s new wider access application programming interface (API) for the Balancing Mechanism.


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Mikel de Irala, Managing Director of MEA and UK for FRV, said: “Contego continues FRV’s projection in the storage systems sector and it will become one of the most advanced and innovative storage systems in the UK. We are pleased to further develop our activities and demonstrate FRV’s commitment and interest in the development of the UK’s strategic sustainable energy program.”

Felipe Hernández, Managing Director FRV-X & Engineering, said: “This project, which is the second to be developed in less than a year in the UK, proves our commitment in the country and our continuous support towards its transition to a decarbonized energy system. In the near future, we aim to keep growing our energy storage pipeline, not only in the UK, but also in all those markets where we have a presence”.

Fady Jameel, Deputy President & Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, reconfirmed the businesses commitment to sustainable energy, stating: “Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, through FRV, is jointly committed to playing a fundamental role in the UK’s energy storage sector. With the launch of Contego, our second project together, we are determined to shape a sustainable and renewable energy model as part of the UK’s ongoing transition from fossil fuels.”