Masdar completes first project USD 1.27bn UK battery storage investment

Stockport, England: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar has announced the start of commercial operations at its battery energy storage system (BESS) facility in Stockport, marking the first project to be completed under the company’s USD 1.27 billion (£1 billion) commitment to invest in battery energy storage across the United Kingdom.

Masdar also confirmed plans to develop two additional BESS projects in Cardiff and Chesterfield, further expanding its UK energy storage portfolio.

First project commissioned in Stockport

The Stockport facility, located on Welkin Road, has a capacity of 20 megawatts (MW) / 40 megawatt-hours (MWh) and is capable of storing enough clean electricity to power 20,000 homes for more than two hours. Construction of the project began in May 2024.

The upcoming Chesterfield and Cardiff projects will have a combined capacity of 150MW / 300MWh, enabling them to store sufficient electricity to power more than 35,000 UK homes for an entire day.

Part of a wider UK energy transition strategy

Following its acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022, Masdar committed to investing USD 1.27 billion (£1 billion) in a 3 gigawatt-hour (GWh) pipeline of BESS projects in the UK, supporting the country’s energy transition objectives. The UK government aims to deliver up to 27GW of battery storage capacity by the end of the decade as part of its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

Husain Al Meer, Masdar Director, Global Offshore Wind & UK, said, “Today’s announcements demonstrate that we are accelerating progress towards delivering on our £1 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.”

Supporting grid stability and energy security

BESS solutions play a key role in balancing and stabilising intermittent renewable energy supply by storing electricity during periods of low demand and releasing it during peak demand. This flexibility enhances grid stability and energy security, supports greater renewable integration, and contributes to lower consumer bills and reduced carbon emissions.

Masdar’s BESS facilities are built to international safety and security standards, incorporating advanced fire detection and suppression systems, 24-hour CCTV monitoring, and local emergency response capabilities.

Community and environmental integration

Masdar’s UK BESS developments are being delivered in close consultation with local stakeholders to ensure positive community impact and national economic benefit.

The Welkin Road facility is located on a previously developed brownfield site in Stockport. Construction works included biodiversity enhancements such as bird and bat boxes, the control of Japanese knotweed, and the planting of native flora. A community fund is also being established to support local initiatives.

The Chesterfield project, located at Calow Green, will repurpose land previously used for coal mining, transforming it into a clean energy generation and storage hub. The development will respect the area’s agricultural character while demonstrating how former industrial sites can be adapted for sustainable use.

Similarly, the Cardiff project is situated on an industrial brownfield site on Ipswich Road, making efficient use of existing utilities and access routes while avoiding new greenfield development.

Global portfolio and landmark projects

In October, Masdar broke ground in Abu Dhabi on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project, featuring a 5.2GW solar plant coupled with a 19GWh BESS. The project is designed to deliver up to 1GW of baseload power daily, representing the largest and most advanced system of its kind globally.

Masdar’s major UK investments also include a USD 5.7 billion (€5.2 billion) co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE offshore wind project, capable of powering 1.3 million British homes, as well as the 3GW Dogger Bank South offshore wind farm being developed in partnership with RWE.