Vodafone Procure & Connect has teamed up with Shell Energy Europe to explore how it could power its operations more sustainably and intelligently.
The collaboration revolves around large-scale battery storage in particular. Vodafone will, as part of the initiative, access part of the capacity of a Shell-managed battery-storage site in Bramley, Hampshire. This storage facility has a 100MW/3-hour capacity, making it one of the biggest in the UK.
Shell of course has its roots as a traditional oil producer, but now has a diverse range of business operations. This includes making oil-derived products like the Shell Gadus grease and industrial lubricant products like gear oil. It is also involved in generating renewable power and helping customers to decarbonise.
Shell’s head for power trading in Europe, Rupen Tanna, said:
“This collaboration shows how companies in different sectors can work together to test innovative approaches to energy use. We are pleased to work with Vodafone Procure & Connect on how storage can be brought into corporate energy strategies.”
The UK grid is becoming increasingly more reliant on renewable energy sources, which can vary depending on environmental conditions. Taking advantage of battery storage can add flexibility to how companies like Vodafone source energy for their operations; for example, it can allow energy to be stored when renewable energy is abundant, or demand is low. This could later be used by Vodafone itself during peak-demand periods or released back into the grid if not needed by the company itself.
