National Grid connects UK’s largest BESS facility
The 300 MW Thurrock Storage project at Tilbury substation in Essex now supplies flexible clean power for up to 680,000 homes.
Image credit: National Grid
UK, England, Essex: National Grid has connected the UK’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) to its transmission network at Tilbury substation in Essex.
The 300 MW Thurrock Storage project, developed by Statera Energy, has been energised and is now delivering flexible electricity across London and the south east. With a total capacity of 600 MWh, the facility can store surplus clean electricity and release it instantly when needed, helping to balance supply and demand.
National Grid reinforced its Tilbury substation to manage the significant additional load, installing new protection and control systems to ensure a secure and stable connection. The site once supplied the coal-fired Tilbury A and B power stations before their demolition, making this transition to clean energy a symbolic shift from coal to low-carbon generation.
“Battery storage plays a vital role in Britain’s clean energy transition,” said John Twomey, director of customer and network development at National Grid Electricity Transmission. “With battery connections like this, our Tilbury substation is helping power a more sustainable future for the region and the country.”
Statera Energy CEO Tom Vernon added that increasing BESS capacity is essential to stabilise the grid when renewable generation fluctuates, ensuring stored energy can be efficiently returned when required.
National Grid is also preparing to connect the 450 MW Thurrock Flexible Generation facility, further strengthening energy resilience in the region.
Source: National Grid
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