The next stage of construction has begun on a major UK BESS project. Image: Flexitricity (also owned by Quinbrook).

Construction is underway on a new battery energy storage system (BESS) project, set to be one of the UK’s largest.

The project, located on the site of a former coal-fired power station in Uskmouth, South Wales, is a collaboration between major international energy firm E.ON and global investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners.

Building work is being undertaken by local firm Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, which states that activity is currently focused on developing the foundations for the battery and the power conversion systems (PCS) units, as well as the primary and secondary substations and transformers.

Part of the development plan involves significant ecological enhancement, including the development of a new sustainable energy park and landscaping work to make the area more appealing to wildlife, including otters and water voles.

Construction is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.

Jones Bros contacts manager Rhys Roberts said: “It’s a fantastic scheme to be a part of as the ry’s energy transition gathers speed.

“Helping turn a former coal-fired power station site into one that will play a significant role in supporting sources of renewable energy is wonderful”.

The developers note that a significant benefit of the project design is how it uses pre-existing infrastructure to minimise disruption and development time. As well as using existing grid connections and industrial water supplies in the area, the project is well served by railway, which was used to transport around 74,000m3 of construction material to the site. Additionally, a fly ash tunnel that is part of the existing site infrastructure will be cleaned out and repurposed to house cables and electrical components before ducting work is undertaken.

Rhys added: “We are always eager to minimise impact on the local area, so being able to utilise aspects like the railway for the aggregate and transporting the 20ft containers full of battery units to site is great.

“We are also turning a pre-existing garage from the old power station into a welfare building, with the target of making it Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) rating excellent.

“We are currently achieving that as part of our activity, which is due to be completed towards the end of the year.”

Big boost for UK BESS

The Uskmouth project has been in the pipeline since 2022 when global sustainable energy operator and developer Simex Atlantis Energy (SAE) signed a partnership with Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to create the project under a joint portfolio company named Uskmouth Energy Storage (UES), who will own and operate the project throughout its lifespan.

Earlier this year, E.ON entered into an agreement with Quinbrook to jointly invest in the project’s construction and acquire 50% of the project’s capacity.

Commenting at the time, Keith Gains, managing director and UK regional lead for Quinbrook, said “E.ON shares our commitment to sustainable development goals and recognises the meaningful impact that large-scale regeneration projects like Uskmouth, a former coal power station stockyard, can make to the delivery of government ambitions”

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