A 48MW energy storage system is to be built in Germany.

The unit in Jardelund will have a storage capacity of more than 50MWh and is scheduled to begin operating in December 2017.

It will be delivered by Japanese technology firm NEC and EnspireME, a 50-50 joint venture established between Mitsubishi and Eneco.

The battery storage system will supply sustainable reserve capacity to balance the European electricity grid.

This is especially important in Germany, where large volumes of renewable energy have been installed to provide a stable power reserve.

Mitsubishi Corporation and Eneco have also agreed to start a pilot project involving the storage of locally produced surplus wind energy.

Michihiro Ezawa, General Manager of NEC’s Energy Storage System Division, said: “The market for battery energy storage systems is expected to grow significantly with the expansion of the renewable energy market.

“Leveraging this large scale project in Germany, the leading market for the introduction of renewable energy and NEC’s comprehensive battery energy storage know-how, we aim to globally expand the business of battery energy storage systems.”

In the UK, a long-running consumer code has been extended to cover battery storage systems and related products.