Biogas pioneer overcomes grid limits with innovation double-act
Icknield Biogas, run by David Bermingham in partnership with local farmer Guy Hildred (both pictured above alongside Wattor’s CCO, Kevin Ball), has been producing biomethane for more than a decade. It currently supplies enough clean gas to power around 6,000 homes, thanks to successful site expansion over time. Yet as output has grown, so too has the electricity demand. The plant now draws 150-200 kWh an hour from National Grid to power their operations. This is exposing the business to significant and rising energy costs.
David and Guy looked into building a large solar and storage system to overcome this challenge but ran into a roadblock. The local grid operator imposed a less than one-megawatt cap on new connections. Without a technical workaround, expansion would have been impossible, just as their costs continued to rise.
View the full case study here:
Wattstor brings innovation to the table
The team at Icknield Gas were introduced to Wattstor, thanks to our reputation for excellence in renewable system design. It was soon clear that we could both overcome their grid constraint problem and ensure that all electricity could be provided to the site under a single, simple tariff, Price Protect.
DC-coupling unlocks project
The project team adopted a DC-coupled system to manage combined output from the solar and battery units. This kept grid connected generation levels below the maximum kW threshold required by the distribution network operator. This allowed a 1.2 MW solar array and a 2.4MWh battery generation scheme to operate behind the meter.
“The DC-coupled design means we can run the solar and battery together without breaching grid limits. It’s a model that could be replicated on other constrained sites.”
Kevin Ball, Wattstor CCO
Long-term tariff stabilises costs
With the technical barrier solved, attention turned to how to fund the investment and manage future energy costs. Traditional power purchase agreements (PPAs) were considered, but David wanted protection against market volatility.
Under Wattstor’s Price Protect tariff, the site now has a 25-year capped electricity price. If wholesale rates fall, the tariff reduces accordingly. The contract covers all of Icknield’s electricity demand, whether from the grid or the onsite renewable energy system, giving the business a high degree of long-term cost certainty unusual in the sector.
“We needed cover for all our electricity, not just what we generated onsite. Price Protect gives us stability and supports our target of running fully on renewables.”
David Bermingham, Icknield Gas CEO
Wider relevance
By combining a technical solution to grid constraints with a new commercial model, Icknield Biogas has created a pathway towards one hundred percent renewable operation. The approach could be replicated by other UK biogas sites, and by energy-intensive businesses facing similar challenges with grid connection and cost exposure. Kevin Ball summarises the end results well:
“This project is proof that companies don’t need to choose between sustainability and profitability. With Price Protect, they can achieve both.”
Next steps
If you have a grid constrained site or would like to explore the potential for Price Protect to lower your energy bills, get in touch with team today.
Know someone who'd be interested in this? Why not share it: