NatPower UK is currently developing a large 60 GWh battery storage pipeline as part of plans to significantly scale the crucial energy transition technology across the country.
John Sturman, Managing Director of NatPower UK, spoke to Clean Energy Pipeline in an interview about the company’s plans to deploy its battery energy storage system (BESS) pipeline across the country in order to make a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure.
“Our current activities in the UK are presently focused on very large-scale energy storage to help resolve the intermittency of renewables for the energy transition,” said Sturman.
“We’ve currently got a 60 GWh battery storage pipeline in the UK, and that’s the largest in the country by a significant amount.”
The Teesside BESS project, part of the Teesworks redevelopment site, is NatPower UK’s first publicly announced large-scale battery project, featuring a capacity of 1 GW / 4 GWh.
The BESS project, which already has pre-planning approval, is expected to receive full planning permission later this year, with the commercial operation date set for 2028.
Commenting on the NatPower UK’s broader pipeline, Sturman explained: “All of our projects are nearing the planning submission stage, and Teesside is just the first of many large-scale battery storage projects we have in the works.
“Each of our projects will feature a similar size and scope to Teesside, as they are critical components of the UK’s broader energy transition strategy.”
Broad Giga Park approach
One of the innovative approaches NatPower UK is exploring is its Giga Park concept.
Under this model, NatPower UK seeks to co-locate larger scale battery storage projects with multiple renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, in a single networked energy hub.
The battery storage project acts as the core asset, with surrounding renewable projects feeding into the storage system, creating an ‘internet of energy’ that optimises energy generation and distribution.
“Rather than a single co-located project, our Giga Park concept involves a central battery storage project that enables multiple wind and solar projects in the vicinity to inter-trade power with the grid,” explained Sturman.
“This approach allows for a much larger optimisation of renewable energy generation.”
NatPower UK is well-capitalised, with its own funds to fully develop its pipeline of BESS projects.
NatPower UK also has finance investors ready to step in at the later stages.
Although NatPower does not require partners for its internally developed projects, Sturman emphasised that the company is open to collaborating with developers struggling to meet grid reform timelines.
“We are actively looking for joint development agreements with developers who need assistance, especially in keeping up with the grid reform requirements,” noted Sturman.
NatPower UK is interested in co-developing energy storage projects, though the company remains open to other technology solutions that align with the energy transition, such as onshore wind and large-scale solar.
NatPower UK’s own renewables pipeline includes hundreds of megawatts of solar projects that are starting through development, while the company has recently started identifying onshore wind projects as well.
NatPower UK’s Future Outlook
Looking ahead, NatPower UK aims to have several of its 1 GW battery storage projects in the planning system by 2025.
Over the next 18 months, NatPower UK plans to submit 30 projects for planning approval, each with a 1 GW connection and the potential to scale capacity beyond 4 GWh, representing a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure.
As the UK government works towards its new target of fully decarbonising the electricity network by 2030, NatPower is also engaging with policymakers on policy changes to allow the company to build its own substations at the transmission level.
Sturman noted that the company is ready to invest £600 million in new transmission grid infrastructure, unlocking up to £11 billion of investment in energy transition projects across the country from NatPower UK alone.
“If we can achieve the necessary policy changes, we will be able to deliver critical infrastructure that will not only support our own projects but also unlock a significant number of other renewable energy developments across the country,” Sturman concluded.