Zenobē has officially energised a new battery storage facility in Blackhillock, Scotland, which has already taken the mantle as Europe’s largest, and yet is expected to grow even further over the coming years.
While it’s been just a couple of days since we last reported on the UK’s largest battery storage system, that site from BW ESS has already been surpassed by Zenobē’s new facility. What’s more, the Blackhillock site in Scotland is the first in the world to offer advanced stability services to the National Energy System Operator.
The project’s initial 200 MW of capacity is going live now, with a second phase adding a further 100 MW by 2026, bringing the total to 300 MW/600 MWh. This means Blackhillock alone could power more than three million homes for two hours – exceeding the total number of households in Scotland. Additionally, it is strategically positioned to address grid congestion arising from several major offshore wind farms, including Viking, Moray East and Beatrice.
By capturing clean power that might otherwise be wasted, Zenobē’s is hoping that its battery storage site can reduce costs on consumer bills by over £170 million and slash around 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ over the next 15 years. Alongside easing constraints on the national grid, Blackhillock is the first transmission-connected battery in the world able to provide short-circuit level and inertia – both vital for ensuring a stable energy network as Britain phases out fossil fuel generation.
Wärtsilä and SMA are among the technology partners contributing advanced software, hardware and grid-forming expertise to the project. EDF Wholesale Market Services, meanwhile, is acting as the Route to Market provider, offering trading and optimisation support to integrate more renewables into the UK’s energy mix. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) supplied the grid connection to unlock the wind power on its transmission network.
James Basden, Zenobē Founder Director, commented, “Today marks a critical juncture in Britain’s clean power journey as Zenobē adds over 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.”
Fintan Slye, CEO of the National Energy System Operator, added, “Our 2025 ambition to enable zero carbon operation of Great Britain’s national electricity network is central to NESO’s mission. The delivery by Zenobe 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.”
Christopher Dalley, Wholesale Market Services Director at EDF, concluded, “Zenobē’s Blackhillock project is a testament to the transformative potential of battery storage in supporting a more flexible and decarbonised energy system. We are delighted to partner with Zenobē on this landmark project, which showcases the potential of combining cutting-edge battery storage with our market-leading Powershift platform.
“Together, we’re optimising renewable energy usage, reducing curtailment, and delivering greater flexibility and resilience to the UK’s energy grid. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions, benefiting both consumers and the environment.”
