A 35MW/70MWh battery storage plant has started commercial operations.

Built by Masdar, the opening of the facility in Rochdale is the latest milestone in the company’s planned £1bn investment programme in BESS projects in the UK, following its acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022. Masdar is committed to developing a 3GWh pipeline of BESS projects in the UK, one of the largest in the country.

Husain Al Meer, executive director, global offshore wind and UK, Masdar said: “As electricity demand grows and renewable generation continues to expand, battery storage is becoming an increasingly vital component of maintaining a secure, reliable and affordable electricity network.”

The Rochdale project follows Masdar’s 20MW/40MWh Welkin Road project in Stockport beginning commercial operations last December. The company is also currently developing projects in Chesterfield and Cardiff, which will have a combined capacity of 150MW/300MWh. Project financing for the four projects was successfully completed last month, with Masdar securing up to £97 million from SMBC and ING.

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