Executive Summary
- BW ESS has announced the start of commercial operations for the first phase of its Hams Hall battery energy storage system in the West Midlands
- The milestone brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh of storage capacity into commercial operation making it the largest BESS by storage capacity in Europe – the full 400 MW / 1,424 MWh will go up during the second phase
- The project reached commercial operation just 20 days after energisation, with partners including National Grid, NESO, Energy-IO and Sungrow
BW ESS has announced the start of commercial operations for the first phase of its Hams Hall battery energy storage system (BESS) in the West Midlands – with the project reaching commercial operation just 20 days after energisation.
The milestone brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh of storage capacity into commercial operation, making it the largest BESS by storage capacity in Europe. The company says it is a ‘significant step forward in the delivery of infrastructure supporting the UK’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy system.’
Among the partner companies involved in the project include National Grid, NESO, Energy-IO and Sungrow. The latter outlined its role in delivering in 20 days through direct access to technical expertise, deploying dedicated BESS engineers directly to site, as well as prioritising fault identification and chiller operation to address potential technical issues before hot commissioning began.
The rapid turnaround was also delivered by close customer-HQ coordination. Customer representatives were present on site almost daily, with both sides able to address outstanding issues quickly.
Hams Hall’s capacity will increase to 400 MW / 1,424 MWh following completion of its second phase. At full capacity, the project will be capable of supporting the electricity needs of around 1.3 million homes for approximately 3.5 hours.
“The start of commercial operations at Hams Hall is a landmark moment for BW ESS and a significant addition to Europe’s energy infrastructure,” said Erik Strømsø, CEO and co-founder of BW ESS. “The project was built and commissioned on budget and ahead of schedule, which is a remarkable achievement for a system of this scale and complexity and a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, and the commitment and collaboration of our partners.”
James Li, vice president Europe at Sungrow, said the ‘incredible achievement’ demonstrated how the ‘right technical support and strong partnerships can accelerate the delivery of critical energy infrastructure as the UK expands its renewable energy capacity.’
This is not the only project the two companies have worked on. As Electrical Insight reported last month, BW ESS and Danske Commodities sealed a 10-year agreement for the Berkswell BESS, also in the West Midlands and expected to be operational by Q427, for which Sungrow’s PowerTitan 3 technology is used.
The long-term revenues for this project are also underpinned by a 10-year agreement with EDF, with other financing secured from lenders OCBC, Rabobank, and Societe Generale.
