Flexible energy specialist Flexitricity has partnered with Gresham House Energy Storage Fund plc, the listed Investment Trust managed by Gresham House Asset Management, to optimise 20MW of their flexible energy portfolio.

The partnership will see Flexitricity optimising the Noriker Staunch project, a mixture of gas generators and lithium ion battery storage based in Gloucester, from their 24/7 control room in Edinburgh. The site will be optimised across frequency response services, will also be traded in the day ahead and intraday energy markets, and will be available to National Grid in the Balancing Mechanism.

The Noriker Staunch site utilises batteries to quickly ramp up and down in order to be able to provide the fast response required for frequency response services, while the gas engines are available to deliver long duration responses. 

Having this capability and infrastructure combined with Flexitricity's expertise will ensure the asset is available to the National Grid at the right time and the right price, allowing Gresham House Energy Storage Fund to maximise revenues and returns for investors.

Flexibility, procured through services such as frequency response, is vital to maintaining a stable energy system as the grid decarbonises. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that flexibility will be the cornerstone of future electricity systems, with over 80% growth expected globally over the next decade. 

Flexitricity has been a pioneer in the demand-response industry, generating over  £20million for its energy partners since its launch in 2004. It is the first supplier in the UK to provide full, active participation in the Balancing Mechanism for demand response assets.

Flexitricity brings market-leading expertise in frequency response, having been the first company to make aggregated flexibility available for frequency response in 2012.

This latest partnership further cements their hold of the UK market, after securing a 19.5MW battery storage portfolio at Larport Farm earlier this year and several other large-scale projects.

Andy Lowe, Sales Director at Flexitricity, said: "We are very excited to grow our share of the UK's flexible energy market through our partnership with Gresham House Energy Storage Fund.

"It's an incredibly exciting time to work in this industry. The transition towards a low-carbon economy continues to create a huge opportunity for flexible energy consumers and battery storage developers to help the National Grid meet the energy demands of the UK. 

"Monetising these opportunities isn't easy which is why the right partnerships are so vital. Flexitricity opens the door to the full range of available revenue streams and our 24/7 control room ensures we can monitor the energy markets and the site's capabilities every second of the day."

Ben Guest, Portfolio Manager of Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, said: "Flexible generation assets - and battery-led projects in particular - are crucial, enabling the deployment of significant incremental amounts of renewable energy projects and energy storage also offers investors an attractive new asset class as the UK transitions to a cleaner, more sustainable system.

"We are pleased to be working with a partner of Flexitricity's pedigree to ensure both the smooth running and the optimisation of our Noriker Staunch site."

Flexitricity | https://www.flexitricity.com

Gresham House | https://greshamhouse.com