Premium

UK approves 6GWh of BESS in May: Highest monthly total this year

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

A pinch under 6GWh of grid-scale BESS was approved for construction in the UK last month, bringing the total with planning consent to nearly 130GWh.

The figure is the highest seen in any month of 2025 so far, and comes from Solar Media Market Research’s ‘Battery Storage: UK Pipeline & Completed Assets Database’ report.

The 2,869MW/5,998MWh of grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) awarded planning consent by authorities in May brings the total approved capacity to 61,674MW/128,789MWh, up around 6% month-on-month.

However, no new projects were commissioned last month, leaving the UK’s operational capacity unchanged at 6,424MW/9,160MWh.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Major BESS projects that were approved in May include the:

Those four alone total around half of the total monthly figure, while there were smaller, single-digit planning consent wins for BESS projects including Balance Power’s 29.9MW project in Coylton, East Ayrshire.

See a summary of all the projects approved in the infographic below.

Having planning consent will be one of the key criteria for projects in the current shake-up of the UK’s grid connection queue being undertaken by energy regulator Ofgem. The government expects the shake-up to unblock the grid connection queues by taking ‘zombie’ projects out of the queue, as reported by our sister site Current.

Read the previous two monthly instalments in the ESN Premium series of UK updates from our colleagues at Solar Media Market Research:

2 December 2025
NH Collection Vittorio Veneto, Rome, Italy
Across two packed days, the Summit focused on three core themes: revenue & trading, the lifecycle of the battery, and optimisation tools. Attendees explored innovative strategies for enhancing asset performance and longevity, with a spotlight on key markets like Germany, Italy, and the UK. Stay tuned for details on the 2025 edition of the Battery Asset Management Summit Europe, where we’ll continue to chart the path forward for energy storage asset management.
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!

Read Next

August 7, 2025
The hugely anticipated draft National Electricity Market (NEM) review report, led by Tim Nelson, has been released, outlining key market reforms with implications for energy storage.
August 6, 2025
A double-header of Poland grid-scale BESS news, with GoldenPeaks Capital entering the market with a two-project acquisition, and R.Power securing a PPA for a solar-and-storage project.
Premium
August 6, 2025
The UK had its busiest month of the year so far in July for large-scale BESS project planning consents, with over 5GW/10GWh approved.
Premium
August 5, 2025
We caught up with the CEO of BESS optimiser Enspired to discuss what the emergence of tolls means for companies like his, and what role optimisers can play in the area of performance warranties.
August 5, 2025
HMC Capital has completed the acquisition of Neoen’s energy storage and renewables portfolio in Victoria, Australia.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter