Energy storage company Zenobē launched its 50MW/100MWh battery in Wishaw, Scotland. It said it is the first of three to connect directly to the national transmission network and is one of the largest batteries in Scotland.
The company said the commissioning of the battery in Wishaw is the first phase of its £750 million ($932 million) investment in doubling Scotland’s storage capacity over the next three years.
The other batteries are in Blackhillock, Kilmarnock South, and Eccles – planned to come online by 2026.
The launch on Wednesday was attended by Scottish parliamentarians, including Energy Minister Gillian Martin, member for Aberdeenshire East. Organisations from across the broader energy sector were also there.
Zenobē recently secured an investment of some £600 million ($745 million) from KKR, a leading global investment firm, in addition to around £270 million ($335 million) from existing shareholder Infracapital.
This investment has enabled the company to grow its business in battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) fleet sectors. It plans to expand in the UK and in markets such as the US, Australia and New Zealand.
The 200MW/400MWh battery in Kilmarnock will be live in 2024, with 100MW/200MWh live in 2025. In Blackhillock, 200MW/400 MWh will go live 2024, with 100MW/200MWh following on in 2026. The third battery, in Eccles is 400MW/800MWh and will offer two hours’ discharge when complete in 2026.
The batteries will be lithium, with Blackhillock and Kilmarnock using LFP.
Photo: The launch of Zenobe’s Wishaw battery
