Grid-scale
624 MWh battery project breaks ground in the UK
Construction has commenced on a massive battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Cellarhead in the West Midlands, with 54 BESS containers installed in only 38 days.
By
Marija Maisch
Jun 28, 2024
Grid-scale
Markets
Projects & Applications
Image: Sarens
The 300 MW/624 MWh Cellarhead BESS will be connected to National Grid’s Cellarhead substation in the West Midlands and will play a critical role in stabilizing the UK electricity grid.
The project, unviled earlier this year, is developed by Atlantic Green in partnership with system integrator Ameresco and clean energy manufacturer Envision Energy.
Atlantic Green, a joint venture between two entrepreneurial shareholders – Nofar Energy and Interland Group – aims to develop around 2 GW BESS capacity in the UK.
As part of the Cellarhead BESS project, it entered into an EPC and O&M deal with Ameresco, involving battery supply, balance of plant, warranty, and availability guarantees. The EPC full wrap price stands at around $249 million, the companies revelead in May.
Tier 1 OEM Envision Energy will provide the BESS and associated services, as well as the equipment warranties.
Earlier this week, Sarens, a crane rental service, heavy lifting, and engineered transport specialist, announced that it has successfully delivered 54 BESS containers on site using advanced lifting equipment.
The project was planned to last 54 days, but the team completed the battery installations between six locations in 38 days in total, Sarens said.
The Cellarhead BESS project is anticipated to connect to the electricity grid at the end of 2026.
The UK has been the undisputed leader in BESS deployment in the old continent, but the sheer amount of projects in the pipeline and declining revenues amid market saturation are making developers turn their eyes to other parts of Europe today.
Grid connection delays in the UK have been dire, with some projects delayed well beyond 2030. However, National Grid has been working to increase the speed at which BESS projects are connected to the grid, announcing last November that it would accelerate the connection dates for 19 BESS projects with a cumulative capacity of around 10 GW
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