Masdar Launches First UK Battery Storage Facility, Commits £1 Billion to Expand BESS Projects

Masdar, a global clean energy leader, has commenced commercial operations at its battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Stockport, marking the first completion under its £1 billion investment commitment in UK battery storage. The company also announced plans to develop two additional BESS projects in Cardiff and Chesterfield.

The Stockport facility, located on Welkin Road, has a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW)/40 megawatt-hours (MWh), enough to supply electricity to 20,000 homes for over two hours. The Chesterfield and Cardiff projects will provide a combined 150 MW/300 MWh, sufficient to power more than 35,000 homes in the UK for a full day. Construction of the Stockport site began in May 2024.

Following its acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022, Masdar committed to a 3-gigawatt-hour (GWh) BESS pipeline in the UK as part of its broader support for the country’s energy transition. The UK government aims to develop up to 27 GW of battery storage by 2030 under its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

Husain Al Meer, Masdar Director of Global Offshore Wind & UK, said: “Today’s announcements demonstrate that we are accelerating progress towards delivering our £1 billion pipeline. BESS is critical to helping the UK transform its energy systems, unlock more renewables deployment, and bring tangible benefits to consumers, businesses, and local communities.”

Battery storage systems provide grid flexibility by storing energy during low-demand periods and releasing it at peak times, enhancing grid stability, supporting renewable integration, and contributing to lower carbon emissions and consumer bills.

Masdar’s BESS facilities are built to international safety standards, featuring advanced fire detection and suppression systems, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and local response capabilities. Projects are developed in consultation with local stakeholders to ensure community and environmental benefits.

The Stockport facility occupies a brownfield site, with biodiversity enhancements including bird and bat boxes, control of invasive species, and planting of native flora. A community fund has also been established to support local initiatives. The Chesterfield project, sited on former coal mining land, will repurpose disturbed ground for clean energy production while maintaining the area’s agricultural character. The Cardiff project similarly utilises an industrial brownfield site, minimising the need for new greenfield development.

Masdar is also advancing large-scale solar and BESS projects globally. In Abu Dhabi, it recently broke ground on a 5.2 GW solar plant paired with a 19 GWh battery system, the largest of its kind, to deliver up to 1 GW of baseload power daily.

In the UK, Masdar has invested in major offshore wind projects, including a €5.2 billion co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4 GW East Anglia THREE offshore wind farm, powering 1.3 million homes, and the 3 GW Dogger Bank South project in partnership with RWE, further solidifying its commitment to the country’s clean energy transformation.