‘Critical’ 300-megawatt Scottish battery storage system changes hands
“As the UK continues to decarbonise its electricity system, projects of this scale and positioning will become increasingly important”
A large Scottish battery storage facility described as a “critical” part of the national infrastructure has changed hands.
Savills Earth Capital Advisors said it had supported Geocore on the sale of the Newarthill 300-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS), located near Motherwell, to Elements Green, acting as sole financial advisor, for an undisclosed sum.
It said the transaction marked a “significant step forward in supporting and cementing Scotland’s role in the UK energy transition”.
A battery energy storage system consists of several large batteries that store electrical power for use at a later time. They can be charged using excess electricity generated by wind or solar farms, for example, or by grid connection during periods of lower demand. However, many of these projects have attracted local criticism over their impact on the landscape and concerns regarding the risk of fire.
Several large-scale BESS projects have been given the nod in recent years. Such facilities generally provide sufficient power for relatively short periods of a few hours before requiring recharging.
Lloyd Garvie, director of Geocore, said: “After spending the past four years developing the Newarthill BESS project and navigating a complex period of grid queue reform it is hugely rewarding to have secured the right long‑term owner and funder.
“Newarthill sits at a critical grid node, where high urban demand coincides with significant renewable generation, making it an ideal asset for Elements Green as it deepens its presence in the UK BESS market.
“I’m confident the project will play a meaningful role in supporting wider system stability.”
Rasmus Friis, chief executive of Elements Green, said: “This acquisition represents another important step in Elements Green’s strategy to build a portfolio of large-scale, transmission connected energy storage assets across key parts of the UK network.
“As the UK continues to decarbonise its electricity system, projects of this scale and positioning will become increasingly important. We would like to thank everyone involved in the transaction for their collaboration and hard work throughout the process.”
David Cunningham, co-head of Savills Earth Capital Advisors, added: “This deal marked our second engagement with Elements Green, further supporting an efficient and well streamlined execution.”
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