Thames Freeport - Britain's Trading Future

[ 73 ] to National Grid and to the UK’s challenging net zero target, InterGen is examining how the BESS could provide the Freeport Partners with continuous, low carbon energy to support their own sustainability objectives. Now, more than ever, companies around the globe are looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations, and procuring low or zero carbon electricity to power their businesses is a key step. The location of the Thames Freeport and its proximity to sound, existing energy infrastructure such as power grids, as well as a large volume of offshore wind projects expected to come on stream in the 2020s, will be an attractive proposition to companies wishing to locate in the Freeport area. This makes the Thames Freeport an even more attractive place to be located, as it will enable businesses to run their operations or share electrical vehicle fleets using entirely zero carbon energy. InterGen is an independent power generator with a track record of developing, constructing and operating large scale power generation projects. The company has been active in the UK market since the 1990s and has invested over £2 billion to develop and construct a portfolio of three Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) and one Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) flexible power stations totalling 2.8 GW. These are all 100 per cent owned and operated by InterGen. The company has a well-established 24-hour trading team located at its headquarters in Edinburgh, UK. This team has over 20 years of experience in the UK market, carrying out forward and spot trading, balancing and ancillary services, analysis and dispatch for the portfolio. In 2020 the 2UK Trading and Commercial team traded 200 TWh of power and 2 billion therms of gas. InterGen’s expertise and understanding of the operational challenges in the market allow the trading and commercial team to determine the right strategy for its portfolio to optimise flexibility in the rapidly evolving market. Key to the UK transition to a net zero future is providing the system operator with stability services and flexibility within the power system. This is crucial to keeping Britain powered, and InterGen is part of that transition. The company’s Energy Management Centre’s 24/7 operation desk is continuously monitoring the market, allowing InterGen’s plants to be best placed to provide essential power when intermittent generation is unavailable, as well as providing the essential frequency, voltage and inertia that is essential to maintain the stability of the electricity transmission system. The Gateway Project represents the first stage of InterGen’s strategy to diversify and become a leading energy storage system operator in the UK with an ambition to have 3 GW of projects in commercial operation by 2030, and with the potential to grow further subject to market need. InterGen has already identified further locations for grid-scale projects, including one in Lincolnshire, adjacent to the company’s existing power station. About InterGen Widespread energy storage could be key to expanding the reach of renewables and speeding the transition to a carbon-free power grid Render of proposed battery site