Battery Storage Trial

Results from our Industrial & Commercial storage project produced some unexpected benefits this summer.

As well as showing the expected prolonged periods of import and export, the monitoring data also revealed abnormal loads, enabling local teams to investigate and cut down on unnecessary power use.

(Left to right) Boston Planner Stuart Holland, Innovation and Low Carbon Network Engineer Faithful Chanda, MP for Boston and Skegness Matt Warman and Boston Team Manager Ian Pollard take a look around the newly installed Tesla battery.

Lamby Way, Taunton, Boston and Spilsby have all had a 50kW (210kWh) battery installed as part of the project, which we are running in partnership with Tesla.

Innovation and Low Carbon Networks Engineer Faithful Chanda said: “The four sites were selected because they all have solar PV installed. The aim is for each of them to answer a specific question.”

Spilsby is designed to test the concept of peak shaving – using battery power to bring down the peaks of demand so the network does not become constrained.

A number of smaller experiments are taking place at Boston, including remote operation. Taunton’s role is to simulate how a battery can be used in micro-grid operation. 

Meanwhile, at Lamby Way Tesla has brought in Kiwi Power as that site will be providing fast frequency response to National Grid.    

The project will finish at the end of the year and will provide a suite of recommendations for businesses and other Distribution Network Operators.