Zenobē, the UK’s largest grid-scale battery storage operator, said it acquired a 400-megawatt ready-to-build battery energy storage system (BESS) in Low Harker, Cumbria, from renewable energy developer Innova.
The site, which secured planning approval in October 2023, is expected to connect to the grid in 2028. Zenobē said the acquisition supports Britain’s target of 25GW of battery storage capacity by 2030, up from 6GW today, and aligns with its strategy to focus on transmission-connected assets above 200MW.
The project, located near the Harker substation, will provide inertia and reactive power services to the network, helping to balance the grid following the retirement of plants such as Heysham nuclear power station. It also includes commitments to community and charitable benefit schemes in partnership with local councils and organisations.
Zenobē’s Global Director of Network Infrastructure, Semih Oztreves, said: “The Harker project marks another milestone in delivering the flexible, resilient energy infrastructure the UK needs to accelerate its transition to net zero. We’re excited to take forward the development of this strategically important site and are committed to engaging with the local community to ensure the project delivers meaningful benefits throughout its lifetime.”
The company said the Cumbria site will build on its experience with grid-forming inverters at Blackhillock in Scotland, previously Europe’s largest battery project. The system will participate in multiple services to the grid, including energy balancing and stability, with the goal of reducing consumer costs.
Innova, which began developing the project in 2022, said the deal highlights the strength of its development pipeline. “The Harker project demonstrates how our development expertise has been helping to unlock clean energy infrastructure, and we’re delighted to continue working with Zenobē to accelerate the deployment of transmission scale BESS across the UK,” said Daniel Mushin, Chief Investment Officer, and Jon Sheppard, Investment Manager.
JLL advised Innova on the transaction alongside legal advisors TLT and Foot Anstey. Pinsent Masons and Natural Power advised Zenobē.
“This landmark transaction underscores the strong investor appetite for high-quality battery energy storage systems in Great Britain,” said Max Stirling, Director at JLL. “Early in the process Zenobē was quick to identify the exceptional quality of the Harker project – a testament to Innova’s development expertise in creating transmission-connected BESS assets that address critical grid infrastructure needs.”
Zenobē aims to have around 3.5GW / 12GWh of storage in operation by 2030.
