Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has signed an agreement with National Grid to provide a battery storage system to aid grid balancing in the UK.

The four-year contract will see RES supply 20MW to the grid in less than a second of the detection of frequency deviation.

The battery storage system is expected to be fully operational in 18 months.

RES claims it has already commissioned six similar projects in North America.

Adam Sims, Senior Account Manager at National Grid said: “This is the first time that battery storage will be used to provide such fast-acting frequency response service to the National Transmission Network in Great Britain.

“This innovative technology will enable us to respond to frequency issues in under a second, helping to maintain the integrity of the grid. This service and the forthcoming Enhanced Frequency Response service will support the network as we transition to a generation mix with greater levels of low cost renewable energy.”