SSE wins 1.1GW of renewable power contracts in Britain’s T-4 capacity auction
28 Feb 2024Three under construction battery storage projects, plus hydro, pumped storage and onshore wind units, among 35 renewable sites to win provisional contracts for homegrown GB energy supply
SSE is pleased to confirm that hydroelectric, pumped storage, battery storage and onshore wind units have provisionally secured more than 1.1GW* of contracts for the delivery year, 2027/28, in the latest T-4 capacity auction in Great Britain.
A total of 46 hydroelectric, pumped storage, battery storage and onshore wind units across 35 site locations in Scotland and England have secured agreements for 1,148MW of de-rated* electricity generation capacity. These contract awards are part of an overall 5.7GW of de-rated* capacity agreements which SSE has secured across its Renewables and Thermal fleet, including Joint Venture interests.
Overall, SSE Renewables has secured provisional one-year contracts for 1,074MW* of de-rated hydro-electricity generation and pumped storage capacity at 29 hydro sites in the Scottish Highlands. This includes 36.5MW of capacity at the company’s Sloy scheme, which is the largest conventional hydro-electric power station in the UK; 30MW of capacity at the Tummel power station, where two new state-of-the-art hydro turbines are currently being installed as part of a comprehensive asset refurbishment; and 283MW of pumped storage capacity at Foyers. A further 11MW of one-year contract capacity has been secured across three onshore wind farms in Scotland, Artfield Fell (2MW), Drumderg (2MW) and Hadyard Hill (7MW). The contracts apply for the 12 months from 1 October 2027 to 30 September 2028.
SSE Renewables has also secured 15-year agreements for three under-construction battery storage sites in Northern England at Monk Fryston (32MW), Ferrybridge (15MW) and Fiddler’s Ferry (15MW). The three projects are being delivered as part of SSE’s 1.2GW secured pipeline of utility-scale battery and solar projects across the UK and Ireland. The Ferrybridge and Fiddler’s Ferry sites were formerly coal-fired power stations, highlighting the potential for historic energy locations to be repurposed for a net zero future.
"This is an excellent result for our company and demonstrates how SSE is optimising value across our technologies to deliver homegrown renewable energy for British energy customers.
Stephen Wheeler Managing Director of SSE Renewables
Through this auction process our hydro power assets are continuing to demonstrate their value to Great Britain’s energy market some 80 years after they first brought electricity to the Scottish Highlands. Additionally, contract wins for new battery storage projects which we’re currently building in Northern England are supporting our accelerated growth plans through the delivery of our secure 1.2GW pipeline of utility scale solar and battery projects.
In securing over 1.1GW of capacity, our mix of renewable technologies will play important and complementary roles in delivering increasing amounts of renewable energy generation and flexibility to help meet the UK’s climate action goals."
The provisional results are subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
These latest capacity auction wins follow success in last week’s T-1 auction, in which SSE Renewables secured provisional agreements for around 46MW of de-rated* capacity for the same delivery year. This capacity will be delivered from its battery energy storage system under construction in Salisbury, England (10MW) and its Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm (74MW, SSE share 49%) off the Scottish coast.
*A de-rating factor is applied to all capacity according to rules set by the UK Government.