Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar has strengthened its presence in the United Kingdom (UK) by starting commercial operations of its second battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the country.
In a press release, Masdar said that the opening of the facility in Rochdale is the latest milestone in Masdar’s planned £1 billion investment program in BESS projects in the UK. The 35-megawatt (MW)/70-megawatt-hours (MWh) Rochdale plant will provide enough clean power for 35,000 homes per day, based upon two charging and discharging cycles per day. The facility will also provide critical grid balancing services, responding to fluctuations in supply and demand within milliseconds to help maintain a secure and reliable electricity network.
£1 billion investment in UK energy infrastructure
Following its acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022, Masdar committed to developing a 3 gigawatt-hours (GWh) pipeline of BESS projects in the UK, one of the largest in the country. The portfolio will play a vital role in supporting the integration of renewables into the country’s energy mix and enhancing grid stability, with the aim of lowering consumer bills. The investment also aligns with the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which targets the development of up to 27 GW of battery storage by the end of this decade.
Husain Al Meer, Executive Director, Global Offshore Wind & UK, Masdar, said, “Beginning commercial operations at our Rochdale facility is a key milestone in our £1 billion commitment to UK battery storage. As electricity demand grows and renewable generation continues to expand, battery storage is becoming an increasingly vital component of maintaining a secure, reliable and affordable electricity network. Our continuing rollout of our £1 billion pipeline reflects Masdar’s long-term commitment to the UK and we are proud to be supporting the country’s energy security by delivering the flexible infrastructure needed to enable greater renewable energy deployment.”
The Rochdale project follows Masdar’s 20MW/40MWh Welkin Road project in Stockport, which began commercial operations last December. The company is also currently developing projects in Chesterfield and Cardiff, which will have a combined capacity of 150MW/300MWh. Project financing for the four projects was successfully completed last month, with Masdar securing up to £97 million from SMBC and ING.
Enhancing grid stability
BESS solutions are critical to integrating renewables into modern electricity networks, providing flexible energy to the grid by storing energy during periods of low demand and releasing it at peak times. This flexibility enhances grid stability and energy security, supports the integration of renewable energy, and contributes to lowering consumer bills and carbon emissions.
Built to international standards of safety and security, Masdar’s BESS projects incorporate state-of-the-art fire detection and suppression systems, with 24-hour CCTV monitoring and local response capability.
The company’s UK BESS projects are also being built in close consultation with local stakeholders to ensure they deliver a positive impact on local communities, as well as providing tangible national economic benefit.
Global storage leadership
As electricity demand accelerates, driven by electrification and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital infrastructure, Masdar is strengthening its global leadership position in battery storage. Last October, Masdar broke ground in Abu Dhabi on the world’s first gigascale 24/7 solar and battery storage project, which will combine a 5.2GW solar plant with a 19GWh BESS to deliver up to 1GW of baseload power every day.
Beyond battery storage, Masdar is a leading investor, developer, and operator in the UK offshore wind sector. Major UK projects include a €5.2 billion co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE offshore wind facility, which will power the equivalent of 1.3 million homes, and the 3GW Dogger Bank South offshore wind farm being developed in partnership with RWE.
Masdar has built one of the world’s fastest-growing renewable energy portfolios, with more than 65GW of capacity across established and high-growth renewable energy markets, spanning technologies including solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, battery storage and hybrid solutions. With a clear pathway to 100GW of energy capacity by 2030, Masdar continues to expand through disciplined investment in strategic markets, delivering reliable, affordable clean power to meet rapidly growing electricity demand while supporting energy security and economic growth.
