- The Blackhillock battery storage site will reach 300MW/600MWh capacity in 2026
- It will lower consumer energy bills by £170m across 15 years
- The project adds 30% to the capacity of operational battery storage in Scotland
Phase one of Europe’s largest battery storage site is now live in Blackhillock, Scotland and has begun commercial operation to provide Stability Services and help transport large quantities of offshore wind power to required locations.
The project is owned, developed and operated by Zenobē, the leading owner and operator of the UK’s grid-scale batteries on the GB transmission network. The company specialises in building a circular economy for batteries by designing, financing, building and operating battery solutions.
James Basden, Zenobē’s co-founder, said: “Today marks a critical juncture in Britain’s clean power journey as Zenobē adds more than 30% to the capacity of operational battery storage in Scotland.
“Battery storage has an essential role to play in our transition to renewable energy, so I’m proud that Zenobē and our partners are leading the way by launching Europe’s largest and most technically advanced battery.
“This project has additional importance, with the Blackhillock site being the first transmission connected battery in the world to deliver Stability Services alongside several other crucial services. As the UK steps up the pace on a transition to renewable power, these services are vital if we are to ensure the reliability and affordability of our grid moving forwards.”
With an initial capacity of 200MW and an additional 100MW added in 2026 as part of Phase two, the total site capacity will reach 300MW/600MWh. This is the equivalent of powering 3.1 million homes for two hours, a larger number of homes than there currently are in Scotland.
The Blackhillock site is on track to lower consumer energy bills by more than £170m across a period of 15 years, and is one of many green-technology projects created in alignment with the UK’s decarbonisation targets.
During this time, it will also prevent around 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “We are wasting no time in delivering clean power by 2030, with the Blackhillock battery site marking the latest milestone in delivering our mission to become a clean energy superpower.
“With every wind turbine put up, solar panel installed, and battery facility constructed, we are protecting families from future energy shocks.
“Battery sites like this are helping store our clean, surplus energy to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels – which will protect households and boost our energy security for good.”
Transporting power from offshore wind farms has proved challenging in the past, and as a result, Zenobē has deliberately placed the battery storage site between Inverness and Aberdeen to address grid congestion from the offshore wind farms Viking (443 MW), Moray East (950 MW) and Beatrice (588 MW).
Zenobē said the project will “significantly reduce the amount of wasted clean energy”.
In accordance with the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Plan, a minimum of 22GW of battery storage is required in the net zero transition. As the uptake of clean energy increases, so does the demand for storage, and excess power from renewables such as wind and solar power can be stored in places like Blackhillock until a time when demand is high.
As well as being Europe’s largest battery, Blackhillock will also be the first, globally, to provide Stability Services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) with a goal to make renewable energy more reliable and secure.
Fintan Slye, CEO of the National Energy System Operator, said: “Our 2025 ambition to enable zero carbon operation of Great Britain’s national electricity network is central to NESO’s mission.
“The delivery by Zenobē of this grid forming battery is a major accomplishment and brings us a step closer to this goal.
“Battery storage is critical to the future reliability and affordability of the UK grid and pairing it with this grid forming technology can unlock even greater resilience for a net-zero network.”
