Work is well underway on the construction of the UK’s second Energy Superhub in Coventry. This follows the opening of Energy Superhub Oxford back in July. Like the Oxford site (shown in the photos), which was rolled out by Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, it will feature a battery storage plant and electric vehicle (EV) charging hub.
The new site will feature a 50MW/100MWh lithium battery plant delivered by global technology company Wärtsilä. This will be directly connected to the UK’s high-voltage transmission network. As well as providing power for the electric vehicle Superhub, the network with multi-megawatts of power, will also feed strategic charging locations around the city.
This battery will also be capable of powering 100,000 homes with clean energy for two hours. This will help support Britain’s integration of renewables by storing energy when the supply is plentiful and releasing it when it’s lower. Construction work by EDF Renewables started back in August and the new site is due to open next year.
Matthew Boulton, EDF Renewables UK director of storage, said: “Transport and energy are the UK’s two most polluting sectors. Our Energy Superhub model helps to cut emissions from both at the same time, scaling up renewable energy and clean transport to accelerate a net zero future.
“Building on the foundation of the first Energy Superhub in Oxford, we are focused on applying the model to meet unique regional and local challenges.
“Coventry has long been at the forefront of transport innovation and our smart power infrastructure will deliver the capacity they need to lead the UK’s transition to electric mobility.”
Following the completion of Energy Superhub Coventry, 40 similar projects will be rolled out across the UK. Alongside EDF Renewables UK’s other grid-scale batteries, the Coventry site will play an integral role in supporting the UK’s transition to renewable energy. The Government has announced plans to decarbonise the UK power system by 2035.
As a result, it has set targets of 50GW of offshore wind and 70GW of solar capacity by the 2030s. Energy storage through grid-scale batteries is needed to provide short-term flexibility to balance the intermittency of supply from renewable energy.
EDF Renewables UK is developing Energy Superhubs across the UK to deliver up to 2GW of transmission-connected battery storage. This is to support more renewables and create the power infrastructure for mass-scale, rapid EV charging and broader urban decarbonisation.
This innovative model supports EDF Group’s ambition to become Europe’s leading emobility energy company by 2023 and forms a key pillar of its plan to develop an additional 10GW of battery storage globally by 2035.
Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council, said: “Coventry has always been a city at the forefront of innovation; from leading the way in car manufacturing to driving the green industrial revolution today.
“We’re pleased to work with EDF Renewables UK, which will help power homes with cleaner energy, decarbonise transport and improve air quality. This will complement our plans for greener travel in the city, including Very Light Rail and our plans to completely electrify Coventry’s bus fleet by 2025.”
