Specialist investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has partnered with E.ON to construct a 230MW/460MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Uskmouth, South Wales.
The project, situated on the site of a former coal power station stockyard, will become one of the UK’s largest BESS projects being developed to date. It is expected to support the local area with around 140 jobs across 2024.
Under the terms of the agreement, E.ON will acquire 50% of the project capacity and jointly invest in its construction. The 2-hour duration asset is expected to be operational in Q1 2025, with construction having commenced in November 2023.
Plans for the project were unveiled in May 2022 when global sustainable energy developer, owner and operator Simec Atlantis Energy (SAE) agreed a partnership Quinbrook to pursue the project via the joint portfolio company Uskmouth Energy Storage (UES).
Since then, Quinbrook has acquired the exclusive development rights for the project and completed all major development milestones, including planning approvals, grid import agreements with National Grid, project design and equipment procurement.
As previously reported on Solar Power Portal, UES will own and operate the project.
“E.ON shares our commitment to sustainable development goals and recognises the meaningful impact that large-scale regeneration projects like Uskmouth, a former coal power station stockyard, can make to the delivery of the government’s Levelling Up ambitions,” commented Keith Gains, managing director and UK regional lead for Quinbrook.
“We are pleased to welcome E.ON as a partner and look forward to working together to complete construction of this milestone project, which will be a key contributor to achieving the UK’s net zero targets.”
Quinbrook continues to push large-scale projects in the UK
The Uskmouth BESS asset is the latest large-scale project Quinbrook is pursuing and adding to its portfolio. Perhaps the most noteworthy UK development for Quinbrook is the flagship 373MW Cleve Hill solar-plus-storage nationally significant infrastructure project (NSIP).
Once complete, Cleve Hill Solar Park will have 880,000 solar panels and battery storage. The energy secretary granted it development consent in May 2020. Quinbrook acquired the project in 2021 with it first being developed via a joint venture between Hive Energy and Wirsol.
Readers of Solar Power Portal may be aware that the project recently saw its proposed battery safety management plan rejected by Swale Borough Council’s planning committee.