Masdar completes first project in its $1.34bn UK battery storage investment

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) has started commercial operations at its battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Stockport – its first completed project under a GBP1 billion (US$1.34 billion) commitment to invest in UK battery energy storage.

The Stockport facility, located in Welkin Road, has a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW)/40 megawatt-hours (MWh) – enough clean electricity to power 20,000 homes for over two hours.

Masdar is also developing two new BESS projects in Cardiff and Chesterfield, both of which are way bigger than Stockport. They will have a combined capacity of 150MW and 300MWh, and can store power for more than 35,000 UK homes for an entire day.

Masdar acquired Arlington Energy in 2022 and committed to investing GBP1 billion in a 3GWh pipeline of BESS projects in the UK, where the government is aiming to build up to 27GW of battery storage by the end of this decade under its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. Construction began on the Stockport project in May 2024.

Husain Al Meer, Masdar Director, Global Offshore Wind & UK, commented: “Today’s announcements demonstrate that we are accelerating our progress towards delivering our GBP1 billion pipeline.

“BESS is critical to helping the UK to transform its energy systems, unlock more renewables deployment, and bring tangible benefits to consumers, businesses, and local communities. Masdar is proud to be at the forefront of this sector in the UK and beyond.”

Stabilising grids with stored energy

BESS solutions balance and stabilise the intermittent energy supply from renewables, providing flexible energy to the grid by storing energy in periods of low demand and releasing it at peak times. This flexibility enhances grid stability and energy security, supports the integration of renewable energy, and contributes to lowering consumer bills and carbon emissions.

Built to international standards of safety and security, Masdar’s BESS projects incorporate state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression systems, with 24-hour CCTV monitoring and local response capability.

The projects are doing much more than just store energy.

The Welkin Road plant in Stockport is located on a previously developed brownfield site. Local biodiversity was enhanced during construction. A community fund is also being established to donate money to local causes.

The Chesterfield project, located in Calow Green, will sit on land previously used for coal mining and will transform the area. The project will respect the area’s agricultural character while repurposing previously disturbed ground for a positive environmental use.

The Cardiff project is also situated on an industrial brownfield site, in Ipswich Road, repurposing under-utilised land and avoiding the need for new greenfield development, while making efficient use of established utilities and access routes.

Masdar’s major projects in the UK include a GBP5.2 billion (US$6.95 billion) co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE offshore wind facility, which will provide enough power for 1.3 million British homes, and the 3GW Dogger Bank South offshore wind farm in partnership with RWE.

In October, Masdar also broke ground in Abu Dhabi on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project, which will feature a 5.2GW solar plant, coupled with a 19GWh BESS. I will be the largest and most technologically advanced system of its kind in the world, and deliver up to 1GW baseload power every day.