Equinor confirms final investment decision on the Blandford Road battery storage project in the UK.
Storage development
Equinor, with the Blandford Road project is developing battery storage in Dorset. The project will include 25 MW / 50 MWh CATL lithium-ion batteries. This will help manage the intermittency of electricity, balance supply and demand and provide grid services.
Grupotec Renewable Limited will provide engineering, procurement and construction services for the project. While Noriker will manage and develop the project for Equinor, a Finnish company. Construction of the project will begin in January 2023 and is expected to be active in the third quarter of that year.
At the end of 2021, Equinor holds a 45% interest in Noriker Power Limited. As for the Finnish company, it has the possibility of participating directly in the projects developed by Noriker. Blandford Road is the first project in Noriker’s pipeline to receive an investment decision.
A climate ambition
Today, the UK wants to increase its share of renewable energy. Recently, London published its energy security strategy. The country then announced that it wanted to produce 95% of its electricity in low-carbon form by 2030.
Ingrid Fossgard-Moser, vice president of energy storage development at Renewables says:
“Our stake in Noriker gives us a platform to build an energy storage portfolio in the UK. A portfolio of flexible storage assets will expand and diversify Equinor’s energy offering in the UK and strengthen our role as a reliable energy provider.”
To achieve its ambitions for cleaner, affordable electricity, the development of storage infrastructure in the UK is essential. Battery storage will help solve the intermittency problem and ensure security of supply.
