First Bus has announced it will launch its largest battery storage site at its Hoeford bus depot in Hampshire next month.
Work is also set to begin on a larger unit in Aberdeen by the end of 2025.
The new facilities will utilise batteries to store surplus energy that can then be distributed back into the country’s power network during peak times, helping to maintain overall power supplies across the UK.
Stored energy will also be used to power a number of First Bus’ electric buses in operation in the UK.
Batteries that have reached the end of their lives will be removed from the operator’s vehicles and used for power storage, aiding in First Bus’ decarbonisation efforts, which also include a commitment to a net zero commercial bus fleet by 2035.
Once operational, the Hoeford depot will provide enough space for nearly three bus batteries, representing the potential to store one megawatt of power.
First Bus has stated it will continue to explore opportunities for more battery sites across the UK over the next few years, with the operator’s sister company, FirstGroup Energy Ltd, recently having made an investment in Palmer Energy Technology (PETL), which designs and manufactures battery energy storage systems.
Founder of Palmer Energy Technology, Dr Andy Palmer, said:With buses at the forefront of the transition to electric vehicles and net-zero transportation, I’m delighted to welcome investment from FirstGroup Energy Ltd, as well as Barclays and Oxford University, to advance development of next generation control systems. This will allow us to accelerate our business and give the UK a leading position in battery energy storage system technology.
