SEUK says it has available land and connections to enable the installation of the batteries at its Wilton International site.
The company currently operates 70 MegaWatts of batteries, with a further 50 MegaWatts already in the pipeline and due to be operational early next year.
As one of the UK’s largest battery portfolios, the units can supply power and other services to the national grid in a matter of milliseconds.
Such rapid response time is key to maintaining a secure and stable energy system that will aid the UK’s low-carbon transition, SEUK stresses in a Dec 14 regulatory filing.
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This plan to expand its battery portfolio, comes months after SEUK’s announcement of Whitetail Clean Energy – a first-of-a-kind 300 MegaWatt zero emission plant.
These moves aligns with the company’s heighted adoption of technologies supporting a greener future. Proceeding with these developments would bring SEUK’s total energy portfolio to over 1.6 GigaWatts, with almost half a gigawatt being supplied by batteries.
“Now, more than ever, flexible energy sources play an increasingly important role in maintaining secure and reliable energy supplies. With a growing reliance on renewables, the UK energy system needs to be flexible and able to respond quickly to changes,” notes Andy Koss, CEO of UK & Middle East at Sembcorp Industries.
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He adds that SEUK is committed to accelerating the energy transition with sustainable solutions.
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen welcomes this move.
“This investment will add 70 cleaner, healthier and safer jobs to the thousands we are already delivering across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as we develop the critical technologies that are needed to make the UK net zero by 2050,” he notes.
With Europe’s largest battery being created on the Wilton site, Houchen says it puts forth a clear message that anyone wanting to pioneer low-carbon innovation should come to Teeside.
Sembcorp Industries does not expect this announcement to have a material impact on its earnings per share and net asset value per share of Sembcorp Industries for FY2021 ending on Dec 31.
Shares in Sembcorp Industries closed flat at $1.96 on Dec 14, before the announcement.
Cover image: file photo
