Teesworks, NatPower partner on 1 GW battery storage project in UK

Teesworks Ltd has come to an agreement with NatPower UK to build a battery energy storage system of an unprecedented capacity in Europe.

The GBP 1 billion ($1.27 billion) project will have a 1,000 MW output and 4,000 MWh of storage capacity, allowing it to dispatch at full power for four hours before needing to be recharged.

The project will occupy over 50 acres of land at the Long Acres section of the Teesworks site. The facility will not only enhance renewable energy storage but also potentially support electric vehicle charging.

Teesworks Development Director Matt Johnson announced the deal at the recent UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) saying: “This agreement is a fantastic vote of confidence in Teesworks and our mission to advance renewable energy in the Tees Valley.” 

Teesworks Ltd, a joint venture private sector partnership between JC Musgrave Capital and Northern Land Management, is overseeing the development of the Teesworks site on the banks of the River Tees in the North East of England. The 4,500 acre site, located at the heart of the Teesside Freeport, aims to become the UK’s first zero-carbon industrial cluster. 

To that end, Teesworks Ltd had previously revealed plans for blue and green hydrogen production plants and the Net Zero Teesside carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) project.

“Battery storage forms a vital part of the green energy jigsaw so the prospect of Teesworks being home to the largest facility of its kind in Europe is a truly exciting one,” Johnson said.

In terms of power output, the project will nearly equal UK energy infrastructure development company Carlton Power’s development located at the Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park in Greater Manchester. The 1,040 MW / 2,080 MWh battery project secured planning consent last July. The two-hour storage system will be delivered to the tune of GBP 750 million, subject to a final investment decision.

Meanwhile, continetal Europe’s largest battery energy storage facility under development is a 600 MW/2,400 MWh project in Belgium. Last month, Netherlands-based developer Giga Storage obtained the irrevocable permit for the construction of the project, which allows it to move on to arrange financing.

Teesworks’ project partner NatPower UK is conducting the largest clean energy development program in the UK. The company has pledged to invest over GBP 10 billion in the nation’s green energy market, including the nationwide deployment of over 60 GWh battery energy storage projects by 2040. 

According to market analytics platform Modo Energy, the UK battery energy storage fleet reached 3.9 GW with an energy capacity of 4.9 GWh at the end of the first quarter of 2024.