The BESS aims to energise in early 2026 after SSE made a final investment decision on the project in November 2023. Image: SSE.

The renewable energy arm of utility SSE has begun construction of a 320MW/640MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Yorkshire.

When completed, it will be one of the UK’s largest BESS. Construction of the Monks Fryston BESS officially started yesterday (8 October), as confirmed by a ceremony that included project partners Morrison Energy Services and Sungrow, the energy storage supplier, along with SSE Renewables. 

The BESS aims to energise in early 2026 after SSE made a final investment decision on the project in November 2023. It is next to a substation operated by the UK transmission system operator (TSO) National Grid.

In August, Sungrow, a manufacturer of PV inverters and energy storage systems, agreed to provide its PowerTitan liquid-cooled BESS units for the project.

Heather Donald, director of onshore wind, solar, and battery at SSE Renewables, said energy storage projects like Monks Fryston will be vital in reaching the UK’s net zero targets while providing flexibility to the grid.

“To be building a battery project of this size and scale is a huge testament to how far we have come in such a short space of time, with our first 50MW battery asset at Salisbury already entering full operations earlier this year,” Donald added.

SSE Renewables has been expanding its BESS portfolio across the UK in a bid to support the ry’s decarbonisation goals. Earlier this year (15 April), the organisation confirmed that its 50MW/100MWh 2-hour duration Salisbury project became its first operational BESS.

SSE Renewables is also constructing a 150MW battery project in Ferrybridge, West Yorkshire, which is due for completion in the first half of 2025.

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