Ørsted, a leading global player in offshore wind energy, has officially begun work on its first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in the UK. The milestone was marked by a “golden shovel” ceremony, signaling the start of construction at the site located near Norwich, alongside the Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm.
The new facility, named Iceni after an ancient Norfolk tribe, will feature a 600MWh capacity and a 300MW power rating. This capacity is enough to supply the daily power needs of approximately 80,000 UK homes. The project is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026.
With preparatory work now complete, Ørsted, along with its partners Knights Brown and Tesla, will continue the construction. Once finished, the Iceni battery storage system will be one of Europe’s largest.
Beatrice d’Eufemia, the project manager, expressed her excitement about the project, noting its significance not only for Ørsted but for the UK’s energy sector. “This project is particularly exciting because it is the first large-scale battery installation for Ørsted in the UK,” she said. “It also marks a key development for the UK energy industry, as it involves two generators sharing a single grid connection. If successful, this could pave the way for more efficient use of the UK’s existing grid infrastructure, which is crucial given the current congestion issues.”
The battery energy storage system will play a critical role in stabilizing the grid. By storing excess energy generated when demand is low, the system will release that energy later, helping to balance supply and demand.
