Image: Noriker Power.
Equinor has approved the final investment decision of its first battery energy storage asset in the UK.
The move follows the Norwegian oil and gas giant acquiring a 45% stake in UK utility-scale storage and stability services developer Noriker Power in December 2021.
In addition to this equity investment, Equinor has a strategic cooperation framework with Noriker Power that allows them to directly participate in the development of assets in the UK, of which Blandford Road will be the first.
“Our ownership position in Noriker gives us a platform to build an energy storage portfolio in the UK,” said Ingrid Fossgard-Moser, vice president for energy storage development within Renewables at Equinor.
“We expect to sanction up to three battery storage projects in the country during the next 6-9 months. A portfolio of flexible storage assets will broaden and diversify Equinor’s energy offerings in the UK and strengthen our role as a reliable supplier of energy.”
Blandford Road is a 25MW/50MWh battery storage asset located in Dorset, where it will connect into the SSE distribution network. It will use CATL lithium-ion battery racks.
Grupotec Renewable Limited will provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, while Noriker will manage and develop the project for Equinor.
“Equinor aims to create a profitable renewables business by integrating battery storage assets in our portfolio in selected power markets,” said Olav Kolbeinstveit, senior vice president for power and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
“During the last 10 months we invested in two leading battery storage development companies, Noriker Power in the UK, and East Point Energy in the US. Today we took the next step and sanctioned our first commercial battery storage project.”