TagEnergy's 100MW Lakeside Energy Park battery energy storage system (BESS) has been successfully connected and energised to the UK's electricity transmission network, marking a key milestone in the country's energy transition. Located in North Yorkshire, the facility is now the largest transmission-connected BESS project in the UK.
The project, supported by National Grid, was connected to the grid via the 132kV Drax substation. The integration of the facility will enhance the capacity and flexibility of the grid, enabling it to absorb surplus clean electricity when available and discharge it during periods of higher demand.
National Grid worked alongside its contractor Omexom to upgrade the Drax 132kV substation, including extending busbars, upgrading protection and control systems, and installing an operational tripping scheme. These improvements ensure the network remains stable and secure while accommodating the additional clean power from the battery storage.
“This is a key moment in the pursuit of the UK's clean energy targets,” said Mark Brindley, Portfolio Director for Northern Regions at National Grid Electricity Transmission. “Battery storage technologies play an essential role in delivering a net zero energy system in Britain, and connecting Lakeside BESS to our transmission network is a vital step in this transition.”
Owned by TagEnergy and developed in partnership with Tesla, Habitat Energy, and RES, the Lakeside BESS will support the region's renewable energy potential, storing and discharging green energy to power homes and businesses, while also helping to alleviate grid constraints.
Franck Woitiez, CEO of TagEnergy, expressed pride in the project's success: “Lakeside will be the largest transmission-connected BESS project in the UK for some time, and it is an important step in advancing the energy transition. We are pleased to have delivered this project efficiently, and this is exactly the kind of progress needed to accelerate the shift to net zero.”
