Orsted to install Tesla battery for UK offshore wind farm

RENEWABLE energy group Orsted will install a Tesla Megapack battery storage system linked to Britain’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm, the Danish company said on Wednesday (Jun 12).

Energy storage is becoming increasingly important as production of renewable energy rises, because the wind might not blow or the sun shine during the peak hours when most consumers turns on their lights and appliances.

“The battery will help ensure that renewable energy is used in the best possible way, by storing it when demand is lower and then releasing it back into the system when it’s really needed,” Orsted UK and Ireland chief Duncan Clark said in a statement.

This would help reduce price volatility for consumers by making more power available, including during peak periods when energy is traditionally more expensive, Orsted said.

The system, set to be operational by 2026, will be co-located with the onshore converter station at Swardeston in eastern England, and will have a capacity of 600 megawatt hours, equivalent to the daily energy usage of 80,000 UK homes.

Orsted did not disclose the size of the battery investment. REUTERS