Europe’s largest 600 MWh battery goes live, could power entire Scotland for two hours
The Blackhillock battery storage project will play a key role in maximizing the output of offshore wind farms.
Zenobē, a UK-based leader in battery storage, has officially commenced commercial operations at its Blackhillock battery site in Scotland.
Touted as the largest battery storage facility in Europe, the site marks a major leap forward in renewable energy integration and grid stability services. The project is being developed in two phases, with the first 200MW now live and an additional 100MW scheduled for completion in 2026. Once fully operational, the facility will have a total capacity of 300MW/600MWh.
With its ability to power more than 3.1 million homes for two hours, Blackhillock surpasses the total number of households in Scotland.
Strategically positioned between Inverness and Aberdeen, the site is designed to alleviate grid congestion caused by offshore wind farms such as Viking (443MW), Moray East (950MW), and Beatrice (588MW).
By optimizing energy utilization and reducing curtailment, the facility will play a crucial role in maximizing clean energy output.
Pioneering grid stability services on a global scale
Blackhillock is the first battery storage site worldwide to provide stability services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
Traditional fossil-fueled power plants naturally supply essential stabilizing factors like short circuit levels, reactive power, and inertia as part of their normal operations. Renewable energy sources, however, do not inherently offer these stability features.
Zenobē’s advanced battery storage system fills this gap, ensuring a steady and resilient power supply.
Zenobē co-founder James Basden underscored the project’s transformative impact, stating that it adds more than 30% to Scotland’s existing battery storage capacity. He emphasized the importance of battery storage in the UK’s transition to renewable energy, noting that the Blackhillock project sets a new benchmark as Europe’s most technically advanced battery site.
Cutting-edge technology and Strategic Partnerships
The Blackhillock battery storage system is supported by cutting-edge technology from Wärtsilä, which is supplying its Quantum energy storage system, the GEMS Digital Energy Platform, and SMA grid-forming inverters to ensure high power quality and stability. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) played a key role in integrating the battery with the national transmission grid.
Market operations for the site will be managed by EDF Wholesale Market Services through its Powershift trading platform, in collaboration with Zenobē’s battery optimization team.
By adding flexibility to the grid, the system will minimize wind curtailment and accelerate the UK’s shift to clean energy. Kraken Technologies’ advanced machine learning platform will further enhance battery dispatch, control, and data management, ensuring maximum efficiency.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks hailed the project as a crucial step toward securing the country’s clean energy future. He highlighted that battery storage facilities like Blackhillock are instrumental in reducing fossil fuel reliance and protecting households from energy price volatility.
Financial and consumer benefits
Zenobē estimates that the project will generate consumer savings of £172 million ($218.7 million) over the next 15 years.
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This includes £8 million ($10.2 million) from stability services that reduce reliance on gas turbines and £164 million ($208.6 million) from balancing services that lower grid constraints and price fluctuations.
To fund the first phase of the project, Zenobē secured £101 million ($128.4 million) in debt financing from a consortium of five banks.
The financing package includes an accordion facility to support the second phase’s 100MW expansion. With Blackhillock now live, the UK takes a significant step toward a more sustainable and cost-effective energy future.
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Europe’s largest 600 MWh battery goes live, could power entire Scotland for two hours, source
