Zenobē, a UK leading owner and operator of grid-scale batteries on the GB transmission network, has announced that Europe’s largest battery site, located in Blackhillock, Scotland, has begun commercial operations today.
The Blackhillock site is launching in two phases. Phase 1 comprises of 200MW and will be followed by a further 100MW in 2026, making a total of 300MW/600MWh. The total capacity of the site is the equivalent of powering >3.1 million homes, substantially more than all the households in Scotland, for two hours.
Deliberately located between Inverness and Aberdeen to address grid congestion from Viking (443 MW), Moray East (950 MW) and Beatrice (588 MW) offshore wind farms, the project significantly reduces the amount of wasted clean energy and is an important milestone to achieving the UK government’s mission to have a net zero power grid by 2030.
Battery storage plays a critical role in the UK’s net zero transition with over 22GW required as a minimum in the Government’s Clean Power 2030 Plan. As Britain increases its reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, batteries like Blackhillock will ensure that excess power can be stored and then used during times of increased demand.
In addition to being Europe’s largest battery, the Blackhillock site will be the first in the world to provide Stability Services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to make renewable power more secure and reliable. The Stability Services include short-circuit level and inertia, both of which are essential for the grid to function efficiently and ease network constraints at times of peak energy usage as the UK looks to phase out fossil fuel plants.
Wärtsilä supplied its Quantum energy storage systems and GEMS Digital Energy Platform for the project, enabling Zenobē to remotely monitor, operate, and diagnose the equipment. Blackhillock is the largest transmission-connected battery in Europe. It is supported by SMA grid forming technology. SMA provided grid studies designed to deliver robust grid support and delivered 62 Medium voltage stations offering 333MWs of inertia and 84 MVA of short circuit level (SCL).
EDF Wholesale Market Services will be the Route to Market provider for the battery, through its market leading trading platform, Powershift. This platform combined with Zenobē’s battery optimisation experts will build more flexibility into the grid, essential to reducing wind curtailment and accelerating the decarbonisation of the network. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) delivered the grid connection required for the site to harness the renewable energy on its transmission network.
By integrating this cutting-edge technology, Blackhillock will enhance the reliability of the UK’s growing renewable power system and help reduce consumer bills nationwide. The site is expected to save consumers over £170 million over the next 15 years. It will also prevent approximately 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere during this period by integrating more wind power onto the transmission network.
Commenting, Zenobē Founder Director James Basden said: “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, 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 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.”
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.”
Christopher Dalley, Wholesale Market Services Director at EDF, commented: “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.”
Andrew Tang, Vice President of Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimisation said: “Wärtsilä is proud to collaborate with Zenobē on this innovative project. As a first-of-its-kind initiative, Blackhillock will play a pivotal role in balancing the grid, supporting the UK’s ambitious goal of achieving 100% renewable energy generation. Our state-of-the-art energy storage solutions are designed to help
Zenobē meet their decarbonisation targets efficiently and effectively. Our GEMS suite of software services will provide unprecedented visibility and control in the operations of this system. Together, we are setting a new standard for energy storage and grid stability in the UK, paving the way for a greener future.”
