Statera Energy has energised one of the UK’s largest battery storage sites, the 300MW/600MW Thurrock Storage project in Essex.
The facility can power up to 680,000 homes for two hours and deliver its full output within seconds, according to the developer.
Located close to London, the site will provide rapid-response capacity across the capital and the South-East, supporting grid stability and energy security.
Thurrock Storage sits adjacent to Statera’s 450MW Thurrock Flexible Generation plant, replacing the legacy of the former Tilbury coal station with low-carbon infrastructure.
Statera chief executive Tom Vernon said: “Increasing BESS capacity is essential for supporting the grid when renewable generation, such as solar and wind, is low or changes quickly. It ensures that energy can be stored efficiently and returned to the grid whenever it’s needed.”
The developer added that the project will create career opportunities and apprenticeships for operations and maintenance.
Statera now has more than 2.1GW of UK projects operational or in construction, with a further 16GW in development. The company has invested £1bn to date and plans to commit up to £7bn by 2030.
National Grid Electricity Transmission connected the facility. Director of customer and network development John Twomey said: “Battery storage plays a vital role in Britain’s clean energy transition. Connecting Thurrock Storage, the UK’s biggest battery, to our transmission network marks a significant step on that journey.”