Smeaton BESS: Go-ahead for 228MW storage facility in the UK

The Scottish Government approves the Smeaton BESS, a 228 MW energy storage project by Kona Energy, designed to enhance grid management and reduce constraint costs in the UK.

Partagez:

The Scottish Government has approved the construction of the Smeaton Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), a 228 MW, 456 MWh storage project near Dalkeith, East Lothian.
The project, developed by Kona Energy, aims to store electricity generated by renewable sources and feed it back into the grid at times of peak demand.
This type of solution responds to concrete issues of grid management and cost reduction linked to infrastructure constraints.

Cost Optimization and Network Constraint Management

Grid constraints are a major issue for the Electricity System Operator (ESO) and National Grid, particularly in Scotland where wind power is often produced in excess of grid capacity.
This results in significant costs associated with limiting production.
National Grid ESO estimates that these costs could reach £3 billion by 2029.
The Smeaton BESS is part of the strategy to reduce these costs by storing excess energy and re-injecting it when demand is high, improving overall grid efficiency.
Anticipating the closure of the Torness nuclear power plant in 2028, the storage project is positioned as a key infrastructure for maintaining grid stability in the region.
Kona Energy, in partnership with players such as Zenobē, Eku and Field, is presenting technological solutions to the challenges of managing constraints through energy storage.

Network Resilience and Investment Strategy

The Smeaton BESS represents a strategic investment to optimize existing energy infrastructure.
Reducing constraints minimizes energy wastage and enhances security of supply.
The involvement of financial partners such as Opus Corporate Finance LLP underlines the growing interest in large-scale energy storage solutions in the UK.
The project also benefits from the expertise of Dr Lu Zhang, recently appointed Technical Director, who will bring in-depth knowledge of battery development and integration into the grid.
The aim is to ensure a return on investment by maximizing grid efficiency and reducing costs for consumers.
This dynamic is in line with the proposals put forward by Kona Energy and its partners as part of ESO’s “Constraints Collaboration Project”, which aim to use energy storage to mitigate the costs of constraints.

Impacts on the energy market and future prospects

The development of solutions like the Smeaton BESS reflects a broader trend in the energy sector: the need for flexible infrastructures capable of responding to fluctuations in production and demand.
By optimizing the grid, these systems help stabilize energy prices while avoiding the extra costs associated with energy transmission limitations.
This pragmatic approach is essential to ensure optimal integration of renewable sources and to meet market needs.
The Smeaton BESS project, by integrating into the existing grid, represents a model for future storage initiatives that could play a crucial role in the evolution of the national energy strategy.
By increasing storage capacity, industry players hope to reduce grid inefficiencies and improve the profitability of renewable energy projects.

The U.S. energy storage market set a historic record in early 2025, surpassing 2 GW installed in the first quarter despite increasing uncertainty regarding federal fiscal policies and tax credits.
The Sino-Moroccan joint venture COBCO has begun manufacturing essential lithium-ion battery components at its Jorf Lasfar plant, targeting a final annual capacity of 70 GWh, enough to equip one million electric vehicles.
Trianel teams with BKW and Luxcara to build a 900 MW lithium-iron-phosphate storage park in Waltrop, the first phase of a complex that could reach 1.5 GW and stabilise the German grid.
Blue Whale Energy partners with UNIGRID to deploy behind-the-meter storage systems adapted to constrained commercial and industrial urban areas in Southeast Asia.
Northvolt, recently placed under judicial administration, has received an indicative offer from a foreign investor to acquire its Swedish assets, signaling a potential imminent restart of its battery production units.
The frame agreement aligns Jinko ESS’s utility-scale storage technology with Metlen’s development pipeline, unlocking more than 3GWh across Chile and Europe while reducing delivery risk for grid operators.
Buffalo-based Viridi has obtained the cETLus mark for its RPS150 system, meeting the UL 9540 standard only days after a public battery fire-containment demonstration.
Tesla is building a giant electricity storage facility in Shanghai, China, signing a $560 million contract to meet growing demands on the urban electricity grid.
Envision Energy signs a turnkey contract with Kallista Energy for a 120 MW / 240 MWh energy storage project in Saleux, Hauts-de-France, marking its entry into France’s stationary battery market.
The Dubai-based company obtains a USD72mn loan to add a 300MWh battery system to its 500MW solar plant in Kom Ombo, with commissioning expected in July 2025.
Asian developer Gurīn Energy selected Saft to supply a battery storage system exceeding 1 GWh in Fukushima, marking a new stage in Japan’s energy storage deployment.
Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer CBAK Energy confirmed a $11.6mn order for LFP cylindrical batteries to power the electric motorcycle fleet of a rapidly growing African group.
China’s 600MW/2400MWh project enters energisation phase following the installation of 240 battery containers, initiating initial maintenance of this ultra-high-voltage hybrid energy facility.
Wanhua Chemical has signed a strategic agreement with Serbian manufacturer ElevenEs to establish a localised supply chain for LFP battery materials, reinforcing their technical and industrial cooperation in the European market.
The partnership targets the development, construction and operation of over 500 MW of battery energy storage systems in France, with 200 MW nearing the construction phase.
Envision Energy and SUN Terra join forces to build a full energy storage value chain in Southeast Asia, India and Australia, including local manufacturing and technology licensing.
EDF Renouvelables has started building its first large-scale energy storage battery in Poland, a 50 MW project set to be operational by late 2025 in the Opole region.
Enfinity Global has sold a 49% minority stake in two energy storage projects in the US and Italy to Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure, a major player in alternative investments.
Sigenergy deployed a 20 MWh modular energy storage system on a solar power plant in Bulgaria, demonstrating a targeted industrial investment in high-efficiency storage technologies.
Chinese lithium-ion battery maker CBAK Energy received a new $3mn order from India’s Livguard, bringing the total value of their agreements to $7.9mn.