TagEnergy has successfully completed the commissioning of its 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Drax, North Yorkshire, marking the company's first transmission-connected facility in the UK.
The project was completed in collaboration with National Grid engineers, following the commissioning switching programme.
The facility, fully owned and operated by TagEnergy, features Tesla's Megapack 2XL lithium-ion batteries, provided by Tesla as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor.
Habitat Energy serves as the project's route to market and battery optimiser, while renewable energy firm RES manages the asset.
Franck Woitiez, TagEnergy's Chief Executive, described the project as a key development for the UK's energy transition, highlighting its significance in delivering efficient energy storage without major delays or operational issues. “Lakeside will be the largest transmission-connected BESS project in the UK for a while, and it is an important project that truly moves the needle for the energy transition,” Woitiez stated.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration with partners Habitat Energy, Tesla, and RES in connecting more people to renewable power as part of the drive toward net-zero emissions.
TagEnergy acquired full ownership of the facility from RES in December 2021. Construction began in August 2023, with financial close achieved in October 2023 through a significant non-recourse debt package.
