October 12, 2024: The UK’s largest battery energy storage system has gone live in North Yorkshire.

Clean energy company TagEnergy’s plant, Lakeside Energy Park, in Drax, near Selby, is a 100MW facility that can provide power to about 30,000 homes a day across England and Wales.

The 200MWh BESS is now the largest transmission-connected project in the UK, according to a media release. It is 100% owned and operated by TagEnergy. Tesla, Habitat Energy and RES are project partners.

Mark Selvaratnam, project manager of Lakeside Energy Park said the facility would have a ‘significant impact’ on the country’s clean energy transition. The UK has pledged to cut down its greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. He said the Drax facility would play “a vital role” in helping the government meet its target.

Franck Woitiez, chief executive TagEnergy, said, “For a while, Lakeside will be the largest transmission-connected BESS project in the UK, and it is an important project that truly moves the needle for the energy transition. We’re proud to have delivered the project efficiently, energized and connected on to National Grid’s transmission network without significant delays or operating issues. That is exactly what is needed to speed the transition.” 

TagEnergy acquired full ownership of the facility from RES in December 2021, began construction in August 2023 and achieved financial close with a non-recourse debt package in October 2023.

“We’re pleased to be working with our Lakeside project partners Habitat Energy, Tesla and RES to realise the full value of battery storage by connecting more people to more renewable power in our relentless pursuit of net zero,” Woitiez said.