(REPOST: The Telegraph)
Swindon Borough Council’s battery will have capacity of 50MWh, the largest that a power project approved by local authorities can be.
It is one of a number of small-scale projects mushrooming across the country as battery technology costs drop and Government’s £246m battery boost takes hold.
Larger utility-scale projects are under development by FTSE 100 energy giants Centrica and Drax.
Swindon Council said the project is designed to have a 30-year lifespan which will offer a long-term land rental income and deliver balancing services for National Grid.
By connecting large batteries to the grid, users can help to smooth out the peaks and troughs of power demand by drawing from their own storage when prices climb.
Steve Cains, of Swindon Borough Council’s Public Power Solutions, said: “Local authorities are in a unique position to benefit from the growing demand for electricity storage, with diverse property portfolios and high energy consumption.”
He added: “We’re making it work at home here in Swindon but this project could be replicated in many other parts of the country, helping generate an income for the cash-strapped public sector.”