Solar batteries installed for pilot project in Nottingham

Two large solar batteries have been delivered to Nottingham as the council takes part in a pilot project around storing solar energy. 

The CleanMobilEnergy ‘vehicle to grid’ project is funded by Eu funded Interreg North-West Europe and the UK government’s Innovate UK and is expected to begin in the coming months following installation of the batteries. 

Cllr Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder for Energy, Environment and Waste Services, said: ‘Our aim with this project is to make the most of renewable energy that we’re generating in Nottingham, reducing carbon emissions and costs associated with our fleet. 

‘We are leading the way when it comes to the green agenda, and innovative projects like these are key to helping us to achieve our target of being the first carbon neutral city in the UK by 2028.’ 

Energy stored by the batteries will be generated by solar panels and monitored by an Energy Management System which can send power to the buildings in Eastcroft Depot, where the project is being stored, or to the grid during peak times. 

The batteries, which are made of recycled car batteries, can store 1,200kWh of electricity and will be installed alongside 40 bi-directional V2G chargers, 40 compatible electric vehicles, six electric bin lorries and the solar panels. 

Over 50% of the council’s vehicle fleet, which is based at the depot, are powered by electricity and maintained by the Nottingham Electric Vehicle Services.

Wayne Bexton, Director of Environment and Sustainability, said: ‘The installation of the batteries concludes the infrastructure side of a remarkable project that enables energy from solar panels to be stored and sold back into the grid at the most lucrative times of day. 

‘As a demonstrator microgrid, it means we are less reliant on energy from the national grid to power our electric vehicles, helping us save money, save carbon and work towards carbon neutrality.’ 

Once the installation of the batteries has been completed in the next few weeks, the project will be given to the council’s operations team which will monitor reductions in energy usage and carbon emissions. Findings will be shared with other local authorities and EU cities to inform the development of similar projects. 

The Nottingham project comes soon after the government announced an industry funding partnership for thousands more electric chargepoints for EVs around the UK.

Photos: Nottingham City Council