Three big batteries join UK grid, including the biggest to date

Three new battery energy storage systems (BESS) have been powered up in the United Kingdom this week, including two from Macquarie Group offshore Eku Energy, and the largest battery yet to be commissioned on the UK grid.

At a ceremony on Monday, BW ESS announced the energisation of its 100MW/331MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) near Bramley, Hampshire, which it said in the largest in the grid in terms of storage capacity.

The project is the first project in Europe to be equipped with PowerTitan 2.0 liquid-cooled technology from Chinese solar company Sungrow.

Bramley BESS will help balance variable electricity demand and variable renewable energy supply on the British grid, helping to pave the way for the addition of more renewable sources.

“This is a landmark moment for BW ESS’ UK roll-out, and a notable project in the context of the UK’s energy transition,” said Erik Strømsø, CEO of BW ESS.

“Bramley is a state-of-the-art, pioneering project aligned with our mission to unlock the value of energy storage.

It was also announced this week that the Loudwater BESS and Basildon BESS were energised this week by project developer Eku Energy, which also operates the Hazelwood and Rangebank batteries in Australia.

The 40MW/55MWh Loudwater BESS is located in Buckinghamshire, while the 28MW/56MWh Basildon BESS is located in Essex. Commissioning of both projects will follow shortly, according to Daniel Burrows, CEO of Eku Energy, who was speaking at the Energy Storage Summit in London on Tuesday.

Combined with the 40MW/40MWh Baldon BESS which was commissioned in September, Eku Energy says it now boasts a total of seven assets either under construction or operational, with a development pipeline of over 50 projects around the world.

It is also building the Williamsdale battery in the ACT and is developing the Tramway Road battery near Hazelwood in Victoria.

Please see Renew Economy’s Big Battery Storage Map of Australia for more information.