Zenobē, a leading clean energy storage company, has announced the acquisition of a significant 400MW ready-to-build battery energy storage system (BESS) project. This expansion is in keeping with the United Kingdom’s own ambitious target of reaching 25GW of BESS capacity by 2030. For comparison, the UK only holds 6GW of BESS capacity today. This highlights the importance of these types of projects to advancing our nation’s energy objectives.
The new project will more than double the UK’s operational energy storage capacity. Additionally, it will provide much-needed inertia and reactive power services. These integrated services will be essential for safe and efficient network operation, particularly in the wake of the decommissioning of Heysham nuclear power station. This pilot project will be a natural fit within the local energy ecosystem. It will improve stability and reliability all the while increasing our transition to cleaner sources of energy.
Supporting the UK’s Energy Transition
Zenobē’s acquisition is a strategic move to contribute to the UK’s energy transition. The firm understands that, as the nation pursues its net-zero emissions goal, flexible and resilient infrastructure will be more important than ever. The Harker project is an example of moving the needle on providing such infrastructure.
“The Harker project marks another milestone in delivering the flexible, resilient energy infrastructure the UK needs to accelerate its transition to net zero.” – Zenobē
With this project, Zenobē is pushing itself to the leading edge of the green energy revolution. Beyond matching up with national, broader priorities, the initiative is a testament to the company’s commitment to investing in sustainable energy solutions.
Focus on Partnerships
Zenobē’s team continues to work on making the storage project a reality. They’re looking to establish long-term route-to-market and supply chain partners over the next several months. This intense focus is absolutely critical to making sure the right project gets built and that it can be executed efficiently and operates successfully once completed.
“Over the coming months, our team will focus on securing long-term route to market and supply chain partners – we look forward to engaging with the market on this. The site reflects our long-term commitment to developing, owning and operating battery solutions that support the energy transition without reliance on government subsidies.” – Zenobē
Twinning with suitable partners will enable Zenobē to develop a robust operational framework. This will provide the most leverage for the federal investment and ensure the project contributes something truly cutting edge to the national grid.
Enhancing Network Management
The integration of this 400MW battery storage project will play an essential role in enhancing network management in the region. Those traditional power sources, which include nuclear stations, are being phased out. These rapid changes have increased the need to adopt new, flexible energy technologies that more reliably meet shifting energy demand.
Zenobē’s project offers inertia and reactive power services, as explained below. This support will help prevent future disruptions to our energy supply and speed the adoption of more renewable energy sources on our grid. This flexibility is essential for ensuring both a secure and affordable power supply as the UK works towards a low carbon energy system.