Energy company Pivot Power has announced plans to develop an energy superhub in Sandwell, part of its vision to help the UK achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Pivot Power, part of EDF Renewables, is teaming up with Wärtsilä, a global technology company, to build a site delivering 100MW/200MWh of battery storage – enough to power over 200,000 homes for two hours. It will help ensure clean, affordable and secure electricity supplies, and deliver large amounts of power to strategic locations in the local area, for public and commercial electric vehicle charging points.

The superhub will be located near the existing electricity substation off Painswick Close in Walsall, which falls within the borough of Sandwell – close to junction 7 of the M6, where the M5 and A34 meet. Councillor Steve Melia, West Bromwich Town Lead at Sandwell Council, said: “The site is at the heart of the English motorway network. As such, there are many hotels, bus garages and service stations nearby which are ideally situated to make use of this facility.”

Pivot Power’s first project, Energy Superhub Oxford, is nearing completion and will provide a blueprint for similar sites in towns and cities across the UK. Once opened, it will save 10,000 tonnes of CO2 every year, and help create a power infrastructure for mass-scale, rapid electric vehicle charging.

Matt Allen, CEO of Pivot Power, said: “We are working hand in hand with local authorities to help them meet their climate and clean air pledges, so people can live and work in cleaner, more sustainable cities.”

Councillor Melia added: “Pivot Power’s Sandwell energy superhub will not only ensure that more of our power comes from clean, sustainable sources but will also help to power ultra-fast public EV charging hubs in the Sandwell area, supporting our strategy to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and create sustainable jobs and economic growth.”

Construction of the Sandwell battery storage system is due to begin towards the end of 2021. Think Sandwell will be following its progress and sharing updates on our news page and Twitter feed. For information and advice about how to reduce your company’s CO2, visit our Going Greener pages.