Matrix Renewables is moving ahead with a landmark 500MW/1GWh battery energy storage (BESS) project in Eccles, Scotland, after signing a long‑term Battery Optimisation Agreement with EDF.
The system, now under construction, is set to become one of the largest standalone battery installations connected to the British electricity network when it enters commercial operation in summer 2027.
Under the agreement, EDF will manage route‑to‑market services and optimise the asset across UK power markets. Positioned along key transmission corridors between Scotland and England, the Eccles facility is designed to bolster grid resilience and improve the flow of electricity across the system.
Large‑scale storage of this kind will help the UK make better use of renewable generation by capturing surplus power and releasing it when demand rises. This capability is increasingly important as the country works toward a cleaner, more flexible electricity system aligned with the government’s Clean Power 2035 ambitions and Net Zero 2050 target.
The Eccles project forms part of Matrix Renewables’ wider strategy to expand its UK storage portfolio, with plans to develop more than 3GW nationwide in the coming years.
Chris Matthews, Chief Commercial Officer at Matrix Renewables, said: “We are proud to be delivering one of the UK’s largest battery storage projects and to partner with EDF for its commercial optimisation. Battery storage will play a critical role in enabling the continued growth of renewable energy while strengthening the resilience and flexibility of the electricity system.”
EDF’s Stuart Fenner added: “Delivering EDF’s mission to build an Electric Britain depends on flexible assets that can respond instantly to the needs of the system. This project will provide exactly that capability.”
All planning conditions have been discharged, allowing construction to progress as scheduled.
Image: Render of Eccles BESS project. Credit: Matrix Renewables.
