A Swiss energy firm has announced it will convert a retired oil-fired generator into an energy storage array in the US.

Alevo Group has teamed up with the City of Lewes to develop an 8MW/4MWh GridBanks energy storage project in Delaware.

The new array will improve grid reliability in Lewes, by easing peak demand for new power generation and allowing power from renewables to be stored.

The project will also let fossil fuel power plants operate in a more efficient way and reduce costs to customers.

It is the first project in a series of major commercial deployments the firm has scheduled for 2016.