Equinor Advances UK’s Green Energy Goals with Blandford Road Battery Storage Operation

Equinor Advances UK’s Green Energy Goals with Blandford Road Battery Storage Operation

(IN BRIEF) Equinor has commenced operations at its Blandford Road battery storage facility in the UK, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to provide flexible power solutions and support the country’s transition to low-carbon energy. The 25 MW/50 MWh battery storage asset, fully owned by Equinor, was developed and will be operated by Noriker Power, a British battery storage company in which Equinor holds a 45% equity share. Located in Dorset and connected to the Southern Electric Power Distribution network, the facility can store enough electricity to power 75,000 UK homes for two hours. Equinor’s commitment aligns with the UK’s goal to have 95% of its electricity generated from low-carbon sources by 2030.

(PRESS RELEASE) STAVANGER, 22-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ —  Equinor ASA (OSE:EQNR, NYSE:EQNR), an oil, gas, wind and solar energy company active in more than 30 markets globally, proudly announces the operational launch of its 25 MW/50 MWh Blandford Road battery storage asset in Dorset, UK. This milestone aligns with Equinor’s dedication to providing flexible power solutions and contributing to the UK’s low-carbon energy transition. Fully owned by Equinor, the battery storage facility was developed in collaboration with British battery storage firm Noriker Power, in which Equinor holds a 45% equity share. Connected to the Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) network, Blandford Road comprises approximately 150 lithium-ion battery units, enabling it to store enough electricity to power 75,000 UK homes for two hours.

Alex Grant, UK Country Manager at Equinor, emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “This is a significant milestone for our ambition to deliver flexible power and maintain security of supply in the UK. A strong battery storage portfolio will further strengthen our position as a leading broad energy partner to the UK, building on our 40-year presence which includes being a stable supplier of oil and gas, developing the UK’s offshore wind industry, and pioneering solutions to decarbonise the UK economy,”

The UK’s Energy Security Strategy aims for 95% of the country’s electricity to be low carbon by 2030, and battery storage systems like Blandford Road play a pivotal role in achieving this target. By storing excess power generated from renewable sources, such as wind and solar, and releasing it when the grid requires it most, these systems improve security of supply and contribute to grid stability, mitigating power price extremes.

Olav Kolbeinstveit, Senior Vice President for Onshore and Markets within Renewables at Equinor, highlighted the company’s vision for a renewables portfolio, stating “Equinor envisages a renewables portfolio that combines generation assets such as wind and solar with flexible assets such as batteries to help mitigate the intermittency of the renewable power generation. In the UK, we have our largest offshore wind power position as a company with several offshore wind farms in operation and under development. In parallel, we are building our battery storage capacity, with our first asset Blandford Road in operation and our second asset Welkin Mill under construction.”

Equinor, a key player in the UK’s offshore wind industry, is concurrently developing the Welkin Mill battery storage project in Greater Manchester. With a capacity of 35 MW/70 MWh, Welkin Mill will have the capability to power over 100,000 UK homes for two hours and will connect to the distribution network operated by Electricity North West (ENWL). The project is expected to be operational in 2024.

Equinor’s energy trading subsidiary, Danske Commodities, will provide market access, balancing, and optimization services for the Blandford Road asset, leveraging its extensive 15 years of experience in the UK power markets.

“We have developed a distinct business model that integrates Equinor’s industrial perspective and financial capacity, Noriker’s local capabilities and know-how, and Danske Commodities’ power trading expertise. This business model allows us to quickly scale our battery storage portfolio in the UK and enhance value creation from power markets”, says Kolbeinstveit.

Equinor’s Commitment to the UK

Equinor has been a reliable energy partner to the UK for four decades, supplying 29% of the country’s gas and 15% of its oil. The company has been at the forefront of renewable energy development, including the world’s first floating offshore wind farm in Scotland and the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank. By 2030, Equinor aims to supply approximately seven million UK households with green electricity from its offshore wind farms. The company plans to invest over £10 billion in the UK by 2030, creating over 5,000 jobs in offshore wind, CO2 capture and storage, hydrogen, battery storage, and oil and gas.

• Equinor in the UK
• Find out more about battery storage
• Equinor confirms the construction of its first commercial battery storage asset

Media contact:

Sissel Rinde
Vice president Media relations
Corporate affairs
sisr@equinor.com
+47 412 60 584

SOURCE: Equinor ASA