Q3 of 2024 saw the highest buildout of 2024 so far. 259 MW of new-build battery energy storage began commercial operations in Great Britain.
This brought the total rated power of battery systems in Great Britain to 4.3 GW and total energy capacity in Great Britain to 5.8 GWh.
Main headlines from Q3 2024:
- 259 MW of new battery energy storage capacity began commercial operations in Great Britain. This is the highest of 2024 so far.
- The new capacity came from nine new battery energy storage systems.
- These systems ranged from 10 MW to 50 MW in rated power and 1 to 2.4 hours in duration.
- 4.3 GW of battery connection capacity has Capacity Market agreements beginning in October 2024.
- 1.4 GW of Capacity Market battery connection capacity for 2024/25 yet to begin commercial operations at the end of Q3.
- We project that 280 - 780 MW of new build capacity will become commercially operational in Q4.
Quarterly buildout picks up in Q3 2024
Following the new capacity beginning commercial operations in Q3 2024, total battery capacity in Great Britain now stands at 4.3 GW and 5.8 GWh. This means the average duration of batteries in Great Britain is 1.33 hours.
Throughout this article, there will be references to the battery energy storage ‘pipeline’ and buildout ‘projections.’
- Pipeline: The list of assets expected to be built in Great Britain. Each of these has an expected quarter in which it will become commercially operational.
- Projection: A calculation of how much capacity will likely come online based on the rate of new capacity installed in previous quarters.
Our Q2 2024 buildout report stated that 136 MW of new-build battery capacity began commercial operations within the quarter. This did not account for the 50 MW Roaring Hill battery from TagEnergy or the 50 MW Penwortham battery from Gresham House. Both of these batteries began operations within Q2. This means the total new capacity in Q2 2024 was 236 MW.
At 259 MW, Q3 2024 still saw the highest quarterly increase of 2024, with Q1 remaining the lowest since 2022.
Despite this, 2024 still lags behind 2023 in terms of quarterly buildout. The average quarterly buildout in 2023 was 416 MW per quarter. In 2024, it stands at 226 MW.
Inaugural batteries and co-located sites contribute to the new capacity in Q3 2024
Nine batteries began commercial operations between July and September 2024. Many owners saw their first battery come online within the quarter.
Eku Energy’s first battery is the 40 MW / 40 MWh Maldon. Ecotricity’s first site, the 10 MW / 24 MWh Alveston, began commercial operations. This site is also co-located with a 6.9 MW wind farm.
Capbal’s two-hour 10 MW site, Forfar, began operations. Finally, Schroders Greencoat bought the Tiln project from Light Source BP. The farm includes a 61 MW solar farm co-located with the two-hour 25 MW battery.