Zenobē, an proprietor and operator of grid-scale batteries on the GB transmission community, has introduced that Europe’s largest battery website, situated in Blackhillock, Scotland, has begun business operations.
The Blackhillock website is launching in two phases. Section 1 includes of 200MW which went stay on 3 March and shall be adopted by an extra 100MW in 2026, making a complete of 300MW/600MWh. The full capability of the positioning is the equal of powering over 3.1 million properties, stated the group, considerably greater than all of the households in Scotland, for one hour.
Intentionally situated between Inverness and Aberdeen to handle grid congestion from Viking (443 MW), Moray East (950 MW) and Beatrice (588 MW) offshore wind farms, the undertaking is alleged to considerably scale back the quantity of wasted clear vitality and is a crucial milestone to reaching the UK authorities’s mission to have a web zero energy grid by 2030.
Battery storage performs a vital function within the UK’s web zero transition with over 22GW required at least within the Authorities’s Clear Energy 2030 Plan. As Britain will increase its reliance on renewable vitality sources reminiscent of wind and photo voltaic, batteries like Blackhillock will be sure that extra energy might be saved after which used throughout instances of elevated demand.
Along with being Europe’s largest battery, the Blackhillock website would be the first on the earth to offer Stability Providers to the Nationwide Vitality System Operator (NESO) to make renewable energy safer and dependable. Wärtsilä is supplying its Quantum vitality storage system know-how and GEMS Digital Vitality Platform with SMA grid forming inverters enabling a resilient energy system with excessive energy high quality. Scottish and Southern Electrical energy Networks (SSEN) delivered the grid connection required for the positioning to harness the renewable vitality on its transmission community.
EDF Wholesale Market Providers would be the Path to Market supplier for the positioning, via its market main buying and selling platform, Powershift. This platform mixed with Zenobē’s battery optimisation specialists will construct extra flexibility into the grid, important to decreasing wind curtailment and accelerating the decarbonisation of the community.
“By integrating this cutting-edge know-how, Blackhillock will improve the reliability of the UK’s rising renewable energy system and assist scale back client payments nationwide,” stated a press launch from the group. “The positioning is predicted to avoid wasting shoppers over £170 million over the subsequent 15 years. It’ll additionally forestall roughly 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from getting into the ambiance throughout this era by integrating extra wind energy onto the transmission community.”
Commenting, Zenobē Founder Director James Basden stated: “In the present day marks a vital juncture in Britain’s clear energy journey as Zenobē provides over 30% to the capability of operational battery storage in Scotland. Battery storage has a vital function to play in our transition to renewable vitality, so I’m proud that Zenobē and our companions are main the way in which by launching Europe’s largest and most technically superior battery.
“This undertaking has further significance, with the Blackhillock website being the primary transmission related battery on the earth to ship Stability Providers alongside a number of different essential providers. Because the UK steps up the tempo on a transition to renewable energy, these providers are very important if we’re to make sure the reliability and affordability of our grid transferring forwards.”
Fintan Slye, CEO of the Nationwide Vitality System Operator, stated: “Our 2025 ambition to allow zero carbon operation of Nice Britain’s nationwide electrical energy community is central to NESO’s mission. The supply by Zenobe of this grid forming battery is a significant accomplishment and brings us a step nearer to this purpose. Battery storage is vital to the long run reliability and affordability of the UK grid and pairing it with this grid forming know-how can unlock even higher resilience for a net-zero community.”
Vitality Minister Michael Shanks stated: “”We’re losing no time in delivering clear energy by 2030, with the Blackhillock battery website marking the most recent milestone in delivering our mission to develop into a clear vitality superpower.
“With each wind turbine put up, photo voltaic panel put in, and battery facility constructed, we’re defending households from future vitality shocks.
“Battery websites like this are serving to retailer our clear, surplus vitality to scale back our reliance on fossil fuels – which can shield households and enhance our vitality safety for good.”
