EDF has entered a long-term agreement with Ampeak Energy to optimise the 120MW/240MWh Afon Wysg 1 (AW1) battery energy storage system (BESS) at Uskmouth in South Wales, marking a significant step towards the site’s transformation into a major sustainable energy park.
The battery facility will store electricity and release it during periods of high demand, helping to balance supply and demand on the UK grid while supporting the country’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Under the agreement, EDF will deploy its Powershift platform and trading team to maximise the commercial performance of AW1, ensuring electricity delivery aligns with market needs.
For more than 50 years, Uskmouth operated as a coal-fired power station supplying the national grid. Since Ampeak Energy, formerly SAE Renewables, took ownership, the site has been repurposed into one of the UK’s largest battery storage facilities, aimed at enhancing energy security and advancing the net-zero transition.
The Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park has the capacity to support approximately 3.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery storage projects, with AW1 being the first of four planned battery assets at the location.
“We’re proud to be working with Ampeak Energy on this landmark project,” said Stuart Fenner, commercial director for wholesale market services at EDF. “Battery storage is key to helping the UK reach its climate goal, and our partnership will unlock long-term value from one of the UK’s most exciting clean energy sites.”
David Taaffe, chief operating officer at Ampeak Energy, described AW1 as their flagship battery project. “Our partnership with EDF gives us the confidence to deliver lasting value and build momentum towards the creation of one of the largest battery sites in the UK, which can be a catalyst for local and national regeneration,” he said.
Construction of the AW1 project is underway, with operations expected to commence in 2027.
