Technology group Wärtsilä has launched a 200MW/400MWh energy storage system for energy solutions provider Zenobē in Blackhillock, Scotland, UK.
The system is claimed to be the “largest” operational battery storage site in Europe, according to the company.
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Owned and operated by Zenobē, the project will help grid operators manage supply-demand balancing, power stability, and network constraints, improving the overall reliability of the electricity system.
This project is the first to be delivered under the Network Options Assessment (NOA) Stability Pathfinder programme, an initiative by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NESO) to enhance Scotland’s long-term grid stability.
Zenobē founder and director James Basden said: “Our batteries at Blackhillock are the first to use advanced power electronics to enable a much higher uptake of renewable power on the grid. This dramatically reduces costs to consumers and increases reliability.
“Zenobē is the first to deliver this capability at scale and we are helping the UK to become more competitive through increasing the availability of clean, affordable power.”
The site is uniquely positioned to integrate wind power from nearby offshore wind farms, contributing to the UK’s goal of a net zero power grid by 2030.
Zenobē estimates that the Blackhillock project will save consumers more than £170m ($213.8m) over 15 years and prevent around 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions by integrating more wind power into the network.
Wärtsilä’s Quantum battery energy storage system and the GEMS Digital Energy Platform enable Zenobē to remotely monitor and manage the site.
The platform’s data-based intelligence allows for optimised participation in the UK’s electricity markets.
A second project, the 300MW/600MWh Kilmarnock South storage system, also supplied by Wärtsilä under the Stability Pathfinder programme, is expected to be operational by the end of this year.
In another development, Wärtsilä has been contracted by EnergyAustralia to deliver a 350MW/1474MWh capacity to the Wooreen Energy Storage System (WESS) in Victoria, Australia.
This project, booked in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, includes a 15-year service agreement and aligns with Australia’s decarbonisation goals.
The WESS is set to enhance grid stability and support renewable energy integration, with construction beginning this year and completion expected in 2027.
The shift to renewables such as wind and solar will require energy storage for reliable and efficient power, a GlobalData report highlights.
