- Battery units have arrived at the 320MW/640MWh battery energy storage project under construction in North Yorkshire
- When complete Monk Fryston BESS will be one of the UK’s largest operational battery storage sites
- Monk Fryston will be capable of powering over half a million homes for two hours during peak demand
SSE’s largest battery project has reached a significant construction milestone, with the arrival of battery units to its Monk Fryston site in North Yorkshire, England.
The 320MW/640MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) project is over six times the size of SSE Renewables’ operational 50MW/100MWh battery in Salisbury and more than double the size of its two other 150MW/300MWh BESS sites in construction at Ferrybridge and Fiddler’s Ferry, both also in Yorkshire. When complete Monk Fryston BESS will be one of the UK’s largest operational battery storage sites.
With construction at Monk Fryston having started in May 2024, the arrival of the battery units marks the next delivery stage of the construction process at the site. When fully operational, Monk Fryston will be capable of powering over half a million UK homes for up to two hours at a time* during times of peak demand.
Morrison Energy Services, a part of M Group Services’ Energy Division, is SSE’s principal contractor for the Monk Fryston project and will oversee the installation of the battery energy storage system units which are supplied by Sungrow. Sungrow is also working with SSE Renewables on its nearby Ferrybridge battery storage project.
Installations are expected to continue over the coming months with the project expected to be fully operational in early 2026. Monk Fryston will be capable of powering over half a million UK homes for up to two hours at a time* during times of peak demand.
Heather Donald, Director of Onshore Wind, Solar and Battery, SSE Renewables, said: “The arrival of the batteries at Monk Fryston is another significant milestone for our largest battery storage project currently in construction.
“Working with our principal contractor and supply partners, we are making great progress on the delivery of one of the largest projects of its kind in the UK.
“Battery storage projects such as Monk Fryston provide much needed flexibility to the grid during times of peak demand and will play an important role in the UK’s homegrown green energy system in years to come.”
Andy Clark, Contract Director, Morrison Energy Services, said: “We’ve achieved another key milestone on the Monk Fryston 320MW BESS project for SSE Renewables.
“The first battery assets have now arrived and we are now beginning installations on site, alongside PCS units, that we started installing before Christmas.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with SSE Renewables on this critical project which is due to go live during 2026.”
Shawn Shi, President of Sungrow Europe, said: “At Sungrow, our top priority is delivering cutting-edge energy storage solutions and exceptional service to our partners. This project highlights the crucial role of advanced storage technology in enhancing grid flexibility and energy security.
“With our innovative PowerTitan system and expert support, along with our esteemed partners we enable seamless and efficient project execution, accelerating the transition to clean energy.”
* The 320MW/640MWh Monk Fryston BESS will be capable of powering approximately 533,000 homes for up to two hours at a time. Calculation based on OFGEM’s published average household consumption figures adjusted to reflect a peak in energy demand usage (i.e. winter daytime).
About SSE Renewables
SSE Renewables is a leading developer and operator of renewable energy generation, focusing on onshore and offshore wind, hydro, solar and battery storage. Part of energy infrastructure company SSE plc, UK-listed in the FTSE100, it is delivering clean power assets to increase SSE’s operational renewable generation capacity from 5GW today to up to 9GW by 2027 as part of a ~£20bn clean energy plan, the five-year Net Zero Acceleration Programme (NZAP) Plus. This includes delivery of the world’s largest offshore wind farm in construction, the 3.6GW Dogger Bank Wind Farm. SSE Renewables has a team of around 2,000 renewable energy professionals with a passion for championing clean energy delivery, each based across the markets in which it operates. Its core market focus is on the UK and Ireland, with a growing international presence in carefully selected markets in Continental Europe and Japan.