Norwegian energy group Equinor ASA will proceed with construction of its first commercial battery storage asset, the 25-MW/50-MWh Blandford Road project in Dorset, southern England.
Equinor today it said it has approved the final investment decision on the project, which is the first to have been progressed to this point as part of the company’s strategic partnership with Noriker Power Ltd. Under this partnership, agreed with Equinor’s acquisition of a 45% stake in Noriker in December 2021, Equinor can directly participate in projects developed by Noriker.
More projects are to come. “Our ownership position in Noriker gives us a platform to build an energy storage portfolio in the UK. We expect to sanction up to three battery storage projects in the country during the next 6-9 months,” said Ingrid Fossgard-Moser, vice president for energy storage development within Renewables at Equinor.
The Blandford Road project, which will use CATL lithium-ion battery racks and will connect to the SSE distribution network, will be managed and developed by Noriker for Equinor. Construction will start in January 2023, with commissioning expected in the third quarter of 2023.
In addition to its investment in Noriker, Equinor earlier this year acquired US battery storage developer East Point Energy.
“Equinor aims to create a profitable renewables business by integrating battery storage assets in our portfolio in selected power markets,” says Olav Kolbeinstveit, senior vice president for power and markets within Renewables at Equinor.