Statera Energy has officially energised the UK’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS) – the 300MW Thurrock Storage site – marking a significant milestone for the country’s energy transition.
Located near London and immediately north of the former Tilbury coal-fired power station, the project has now begun delivering electricity to the national grid. With a total capacity of 600MWh, the facility can power around 680,000 homes for up to two hours and respond to fluctuations in demand within seconds, enhancing grid resilience and stability.
Tom Vernon, CEO and Founder of Statera Energy, emphasised that increasing battery energy storage capacity is essential for balancing renewable energy output. “Thurrock Storage ensures that energy can be efficiently stored and returned to the grid whenever it’s needed,” he commented, following the successful connection by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET).
Thurrock Storage sits alongside the Thurrock Flexible Generation plant, a 450MW facility that provides flexible backup generation when renewable production falls short. The operational phase of Thurrock Storage is also expected to create local career opportunities and apprenticeships for operations and maintenance roles, supporting Statera’s commitment to sustainable employment in the region.
Statera Energy has more than 2.1GW of projects either delivered or under construction across the UK, with a further 16GW in the development or consented pipeline. The company has committed £1 billion in investment to date, with plans to increase that figure to £7 billion by 2030.
John Twomey, Director of Customer and Network Development at NGET, added that the successful connection of the UK’s largest battery reinforces the grid’s role in supporting a more sustainable future.
