Premium

UK approaches 10GWh of operational grid-scale BESS

July 2, 2025
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

There is now 9.8GWh of large-scale BESS online in the UK, according to the latest data from Solar Media Market Research’s Battery Storage: UK Pipeline & Completed Assets Database report.

A total of 175MW/350MWh of grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects came online over the course of June, the report’s data shows.

That brings the total operational grid-scale BESS capacity in the UK to 6,745MW by power rating and 9,796MWh by energy storage capacity.

One of the most high-profile projects to have entered commercial operations was TagEnergy’s 49.9MW/99.8MWh Pitkevy BESS in Scotland, as reported by our colleagues at Solar Power Portal. The project, which uses Tesla’s Megapack 2 XL, brought TagEnergy’s operational UK BESS portfolio to 320MW.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Taking the first half of 2025 as a whole, the UK has increased its operational grid-scale BESS capacity 14% by power rating and 20% by energy storage capacity. At the turn of 2024/25 there was around 5,922MW/8,175MWh online.

For project approvals, June saw 902MW/1,703MWh of projects receive planning consent, relatively low compared to previous months. May saw over 6GWh consented, April saw nearly 3GWh while March saw over 3GWh.

The latest round of approvals brings the total pipeline of approved projects to 63,243MW/131,834MWh.

Having planning consent could be crucial for projects in the ongoing reshuffle of the grid connection queue. The reshuffle will prioritise projects that have planning consent in place, as well as those that can prove they are needed for the government’s Clean Power 2030 goals.

June did see the highest figure in 2025 yet for projects submitting planning applications: 883MW/2,805MWh of projects submitted their applications. The previous highest was in April, when 925MW/1,849MWh sought the green light. The total capacity of submitted projects now stands at 36,193MW/74,897MWh.

24 February 2026
InterContinental London - The O2, London, UK
This isn’t just another summit – it’s our biggest and most exhilarating Summit yet! Picture this: immersive workshop spaces where ideas come to life, dedicated industry working groups igniting innovation, live podcasts sparking lively discussions, hard-hitting keynotes that will leave you inspired, and an abundance of networking opportunities that will take your connections to new heights!
9 June 2026
Stuttgart, Germany
Held alongside The Battery Show Europe, Energy Storage Summit provides a focused platform to understand the policies, revenue models and deployment conditions shaping Germany’s utility-scale storage boom. With contributions from TSOs, banks, developers and optimisers, the Summit explores regulation, merchant strategies, financing, grid tariffs and project delivery in a market forecast to integrate 24GW of storage by 2037.
1 December 2026
Italy
Battery Asset Management Summit Europe is the annual meeting for owners, operators, investors, and optimisation specialists working with operational BESS assets across the continent. The Summit focuses on how to maximise performance and revenue, manage degradation, integrate advanced optimisation software, navigate evolving market and regulatory frameworks, and plan for repowering or end-of-life strategies. With insights from Europe’s most active storage markets, it equips attendees with practical guidance to run resilient, profitable battery portfolios as the sector scales.

Read Next

Premium
December 16, 2025
A total of around 4.9GW/14GWh of grid-scale BESS entered commercial operations around the world last month, a 29% fall year-on-year owing to an unusually slow month in China.
December 15, 2025
Trade association Energy Storage Europe (ESE) has welcomed proposed reforms to European Union (EU) grid connection and permitting processes.
December 15, 2025
A new battery energy storage system (BESS) cybersecurity whitepaper from consultancy firm The Brattle Group and cybersecurity solutions provider Dragos claims that a single 100MW/400MWh BESS outage could result in US$1.2 million in monthly losses.
December 12, 2025
The Ministry of the Environment in Poland has shortlisted projects for an energy storage capex support programme totalling 4.15 billion PLN (c.€1 billion), with 183 eligible to progress to the next round.
December 11, 2025
A trio of large-scale BESS announcements by major power firms of 700-800MWh capacity each in Germany show the country’s energy storage market moving into the new era of scale.