Innovative green energy storage boosts Council’s Killingworth site

A successful technology showcase, held at North Tyneside Council’s Killingworth site a fortnight ago, showcased the first battery energy storage system of its kind in the region. 

Attracting more than 60 delegates from across the North East, and held in conjunction with Newcastle-based company Connected Energy, attendees heard of how the new storage system will be used on site to store energy from the buildings solar panels, creating a microgrid at the location. 

The battery energy storage system will be used on site to store energy from the building’s solar panels, which will then be used to support the buildings energy demand alongside on-site fleet and staff electric vehicle charging. 

Delegates from the region’s local authorities, NHS Northumbria Healthcare Trust, Newcastle International Airport and many private businesses, gathered at the flagship site to see its new infrastructure in action. 

Cllr Sandra Graham, cabinet member responsible for the Climate Emergency, said: “This work underlines our commitment to reduce our carbon emissions and achieve the ambitious target of Carbon Net Zero by 2030.

“Since flicking the switch on our solar project at Killingworth back in February, we have already generated over 170,000kWh of green energy, which is a fantastic contribution to reducing our carbon footprint. Unfortunately, without any energy storage system in place we lost around 40,000kWh of this to the grid. 

“This latest installation by Connected Energy has given us the opportunity to take positive action in line with our carbon reduction commitment, and the use of battery storage will allow us to stockpile the energy that our solar plant generates, so nothing goes to waste.”

The Killingworth site is integral to the Council’s carbon reduction plans and, thanks to a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, boasts a range of green features such as energy efficient heating and lighting systems.

The system from Connected Energy is unique in that it takes batteries from end-of-life electric vans, giving them a second life as battery energy storage systems called E-STOR. Typically, the batteries still have up to 80% of their original energy storage capacity at the end of the vehicle’s life, making them ideal for this application and providing a carbon reduction benefit from the outset.

Connected Energy has been developing and delivering battery energy storage projects for over ten years. The company’s HQ is based on the Newcastle Helix site.
 
Matthew Lumsden, CEO and founder of Connected Energy, said: “We now have over 30 systems operating across the UK and Europe however the system at North Tyneside is our first installation in the North East. We’re proud to see a system in action so close to our HQ and look forward to seeing the benefits it will bring to the location.”

To find out more about battery energy storage systems, visit Connected Energy: www.connected-energy.co.uk 

If you are interested in learning how your organisation can benefit through energy efficiency and carbon reduction, local businesses and third sector organisations are invited to a free event hosted by the North Tyneside Climate Emergency Board on 6 July from 9.30 – 11.30am. Booking is essential, please email carbon@northtyneside.gov.uk to book your place.