Recently, the energy transition in the UK has made significant progress. NatPower UK, the UK subsidiary of global developer NatPower Group, announced an agreement with Sembcorp Utilities (UK) to invest £ 1 billion in the construction of a 1GW/8GWh lithium battery energy storage system (BESS) along the coast of Yorkshire in northeast England. The project is named Teesside Gigapark and is hailed as one of the most advanced battery energy storage projects in the UK.

The planned installed capacity of the project is 1GW, with an energy storage duration of 8GWh. Initially running for 4 hours, it can be expanded to 8 hours in the future. The project site is located in the Wilston International Park in Redcar, Sembcorp, covering an area of 32 acres. In terms of construction schedule, it is planned to obtain the construction permit in July 2026 and achieve grid connection and operation in 2028. The project has obtained the 400kV grid connection agreement approved by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) in the UK.

After the completion of Teesside Gigapark, it will be equipped with port electrification facilities and connected to a nearby 62MW Teesside wind farm to achieve on-site storage of wind power and effectively reduce wind curtailment. Stefano Sommadossi, CEO of NatPower UK, stated that this project will serve as a blueprint for future energy transformation, achieving the organic integration of large-scale renewable energy storage with port and industrial electrification.

At the same time, the UK government led National Wealth Fund announced a consortium with multiple investors to jointly invest £ 500 million to establish a new energy storage platform, Eelpower Energy. The first batch of 300MWh energy storage projects on this platform is about to start construction, and it is expected to complete the final investment decision for up to 1GWh of energy storage capacity by the end of 2025. The consortium members include UK infrastructure investor Equitix, Australian pension fund Aware Super, and UK based energy storage developer Eelpower Limited.

The UK is leading the commercialization of Long Term Energy Storage (LDES) projects globally to support a high proportion of renewable energy grids. After the Teesside Gigap project is put into operation as scheduled, it will become the largest and longest lasting energy storage power station in the UK. The intervention of the National Wealth Fund provides endorsement for commercially viable projects, helping to reduce investment risks and accelerate project implementation. Through massive investment guidance and policy support, the UK is accelerating the construction of a new generation of energy infrastructure. With the implementation of projects such as Teesside Gigapark and the mass production of energy storage on the Eelpower Energy platform, the UK's clean energy landscape will further expand, laying a solid foundation for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Editor/Yang Beihua