SEMBCORP Energy unveiled plans yesterday to build Europe's largest battery in Teeside.

It is aiming to boost its portfolio and strengthen the UK's renewable infrastructure as the country pushes to reach net zero carbon emissions.

The group intends to construct the battery in north east England as part of a 360MW energy storage system at its Wilton International site.

Battery units can supply power to the national grid in a matter of milliseconds, with rapid response time crucial to maintaining an energy system that will support the UK's lowcarbon transition.

The latest announcement is the latest in a series of good news stories for Teeside, with BP having unveiled 500MW plans to turn the area into the UK's green hydrogen hub.

Sembcorp Industries' chief executive of UK & Middle East, Andy Koss said: "The location of batteries at Wilton International strengthens

Teesside's green regeneration and position as a hub of low-carbon innovation in the north east."

Green energy has become an increasingly urgent area of expansion for the UK amid the deepening winter gas price crisis, which has seen 25 UK energy firms collapse since September.

So far, 4m customers have been directly affected by the meltdown. Further reductions in the UK's reliance on flows of fossil fuels could help mitigate future market shocks.

(c) 2021 City A.M., source Newspaper