Project history and progress

Our first battery energy storage system (BESS) project at Salisbry, Wiltshire, England, is now operational.

The 50MW/100MWh project, which could power over 80,000 homes* for two hours at times of peak demand, is the first operational battery site in our portfolio.

The Member of Parliament for Salisbury, John Glen MP who also serves as Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, officially marked the asset reaching this major milestone at a ceremony held in April 2024.

Construction of the 26-battery unit project began on a site next to the old Quidhampton Quarry at Salisbury in 2022 in conjunction with project partners, technology group Wärtsilä.

Now operational, the BESS asset is capable of storing up to 100MWh of energy for flexible dispatch when needed to the National Grid. When called upon, the system can operate for up to two hours at a time at times of peak demand.

Our flagship operational battery project

Salisbury BESS is now SSE Renewables’ flagship operational battery site and will make an important contribution to the delivery of SSE plc’s Net Zero Acceleration Programme, a fully funded five-year investment plan which will see SSE Renewables investing over £7bn to 2027, or almost £4m a day on average, to deliver the low carbon infrastructure that will support the transition to net zero, including new battery storage technology.

In addition to Salisbury, we are currently constructing a 150MW battery project in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire, which is due to complete in the first half of next year, and a 320MW battery project in Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire, which will be able to deliver flexible energy at scale once completed in up to two years’ time.