Osprey's first BESS installation

Osprey Charging Network, one of the UK’s largest rapid charge point operators, has installed a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at its popular Lamb & Flag charging station (3x 75kW rapid charge points) on the A40 in Abergavenny. This is the first charging site on Osprey’s nationwide network to benefit from an integrated battery system.

Analysis of the dynamics of the system on a low-voltage grid connection at a busy charging site will be used to inform further BESS integration on the Osprey estate.

The company’s proprietary software platform Osprey Iris will monitor and analyse the battery and site performance, including the detail of the energy input, output and associated costs, to ensure the future deployment of BESS is targeted to the EV charging sites where it makes most sense for customers and Osprey.

Osprey partnered with Palmer Energy Technology on this project, bringing together Osprey's years of experience operating one of the UK's largest EV charging networks with Palmer's deep technical expertise in battery storage systems.

Osprey’s Head of Development, Marcus Lewis, said:

“We know there are significant benefits to integrating battery storage with rapid EV charging, allowing us to fine tune our grid connections whilst delivering the ultra-rapid charging and market-leading Osprey experience customers expect.

“However, we want to be targeted in our deployment of BESS on the Osprey estate. This isn’t a PR stunt. Our trial sites will equip us with crucial analysis and guide the roll out to come.”

Charging networks are turning to BESS integration to complement grid connections in delivering high-power charging, as the cost of the standing and capacity charges associated with maintaining large grid connections continues to rise. At some ultra-rapid charging hubs, energy costs have risen thousands of per cent since changes to the way they are levied were made in 2021/22. ChargeUK reported in 2025 an average increase of 462% in fixed network charges across public chargers of all speeds.

Palmer Energy Technology’s Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Freedman, said:

“We’re delighted to have worked with Osprey to install their first BESS at the Lamb & Flag in Abergavenny, and support them with valuable operating data and insight to inform the installation of further battery solutions across the UK. By utilising our intelligent battery management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS) we are able to optimise the performance of the BESS in real-time, alongside maximising usable capacity and improving system efficiency for Osprey.”

Adding on-site battery to power charge points complements power drawn from the grid, with three major benefits:

1.        The battery adds capacity and reduces the size of the grid connection the chargers need, in turn reducing operating costs, without impacting the power delivery to customers at peak times.

2.        The battery reduces EV charge points’ reliance on local distribution networks at peak times, instead charging up at times of high renewable energy production and/or at times of lower costs.

3.        Batteries enable the expansion of EV charging sites where there is good demand but limited grid capacity, improving the availability of chargers especially in rural areas.