Can a coal plant be turned into a battery energy storage system?

One of the UK's defunct coal plants in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire, is being turned into a battery energy storage system (Credit: Getty Images) For many decades, the most important form of energy storage was pumped hydropower.

Where is Europe's most extensive battery energy storage system being built?

Construction is underway on what is set to become Europe’s most extensive battery energy storage system (BESS) at Coalburn, South Lanarkshire.

Will Britain's last coal-fired power station come to an end?

It's an unassuming place for a major era of British history to come to an end. Surrounded by farmland drenched by recent rains and trees with leaves starting to turn ahead of the autumn – all within earshot of the thundering traffic from the M1 motorway – the UK's last coal-fired power station is shutting down for good.

Could a battery array be built on a coal-fired power station?

Building an array of batteries on the site of an old coal-fired power station has multiple advantages, says Donald. "First and foremost, there's a grid connection there," she says. That means linking the BESS to the grid is as straightforward as it can be.

How efficient is a thermal energy storage system?

The roundtrip efficiency, which depends on the existing steam cycle efficiency, is typically around 40%. After successfully validating the thermal energy storage concept in their demonstration facility in Belgrade, E2S Power is currently developing three utility-scale pilot projects with major utilities in Europe and North America.