A New Age of Electricity
RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Climate Change Act 2008 is the UK’s primary legislation which sets out a legal requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% against a 1990 baseline by 2050.
In 2019, the Government raised the UK’s commitment in tackling climate change by legislating a net-zero target by 2050.
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To achieve this target, the UK Government committed to decarbonising the electricity system by 2035, i.e. an electricity system that is powered solely by nuclear, low carbon and renewable energy.
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In addition to the net zero targets and commitments above, the Government has issued a Plan to make Great Britain energy independent. To achieve this, the Government has set a target to double Britain’s electricity generation by 2030.
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To transition to a net-zero electricity system and to achieve energy security, utility-scale battery energy storage systems and solar developments will be required to meet existing and future energy needs.
EMBRACING NEW TECHNOLOGIES
For a sustainable future
At Firstway Energy, we're committed to building a sustainable future for our planet. Our team of experts work together to design and develop cutting-edge solar farms and battery storage sites.
SOLAR
Utility scale solar, or solar farms as they are commonly known, generate renewable energy through photovoltaic cells, or solar panels. Solar panels are predominantly made of silicon crystals which convert daylight/sunlight into electricity, creating a clean, renewable source of energy.
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The electricity from the panels is generated in DC format and is converted to AC format by inverters. Before entering the electricity grid, the voltage of the energy is stepped up to the correct scale through transformers.
CO-LOCATION
Co-location is the location of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage within the same site as part of the same project. Co-location means that energy can be stored directly onsite when required to ensure the solar energy generation is maximised. To deliver a co-located project specific connections need to be agreed and secured with the electricity provider.
BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS (BESS)
Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are known as ‘intermittent’ energy sources. This means they only produce energy either when there is sufficient wind to turn the turbines or when there is daylight to power the solar panels. When combined with varying energy consumption patterns this means that now, and as we continue to move to net zero, there can be significant imbalances between supply and demand. For example, when supply outstrips demand, wind farms and solar farms are switched off. The wind and solar energy companies are compensated for switching off their power, known as curtailment payments, which are ultimately added to energy bills. As more and more renewable energy projects come on-stream, the risk of more wind and solar developments being asked to switch off in times of low demand will increase.
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Additionally, in times of high demand, and as more renewable projects come on-stream, energy generation will become more and more intermittent and in times of high demand power stations such as nuclear power stations or gas power stations will need to fill the demand gap when the network cannot be powered by renewables and nuclear alone.
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Battery energy storage systems, provide the solution to these problems, and supports net zero energy generation. It does this by storing the electricity produced in times of low demand to prevent oversupply, and discharge electricity in times of high demand to prevent undersupply and the requirement to turn to gas power stations on, to meet the undersupply.
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Battery energy storage systems are a key facilitator in supporting the continued, full, deployment of renewable energy by providing system stability to replace existing carbon intensive fossil fuel power stations, which will in turn reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute significantly to the transition to net-zero.
