In a groundbreaking collaboration, Kraken, the global utilities operating system, and EDF Energy are joining forces to develop Europe’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS). Located in Moray, Scotland, this 200 MW/400 MWh project is set to revolutionise how renewable energy is stored and traded, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient grid.
A Game-Changer for Renewable Energy
The Blackhillock site, owned by Zenobe—a UK leader in battery storage development—will serve as the epicentre of this ambitious project. Kraken’s advanced platform will manage the control and dispatch of energy, enabling EDF to trade power more efficiently. With machine learning at its core, Kraken’s system maximises the use of solar and wind energy, ensuring a faster, cheaper, and more reliable transition to renewables.
This isn’t just about storing energy; it’s about transforming the grid. The project will address the stability issues caused by the intermittent nature of renewable energy generation, offering a cost-effective solution that benefits both the environment and consumers.
Scaling Up for a Greener Tomorrow
The Blackhillock battery is just the beginning. Plans are already in place to expand the site’s capacity to 300 MW by next year, enough to power 3.1 million homes—more than every household in Scotland. Over the next 15 years, this expansion is expected to save consumers £170 million and reduce CO2 emissions by a staggering 3.4 million tonnes.
Charlotte Johnson, General Manager of Infrastructure Flex at Kraken, emphasised the importance of grid-scale batteries in the renewable energy transition: “We’re working with partners like EDF and Zenobe to transform the grid, making full use of the cheapest energy available—wind and solar—to bring down bills for everyone.”
A Milestone for Clean Energy Innovation
James Basden, Co-Founder and Director of Zenobe, highlighted the significance of the project: “This marks a pivotal moment in Britain’s clean power journey. Blackhillock will be Europe’s largest and most technically advanced battery, and the first transmission-connected battery in the world to deliver stability services. This is a vital step in accelerating the transition to renewable power at scale.”
With Kraken now managing 50% of the UK’s grid-scale batteries and an additional 4.2 GW in the pipeline, the future of renewable energy storage looks brighter than ever.
