Photo Credit : WAM
Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC, known as Masdar, has started commercial operations at its second battery energy storage system project in the United Kingdom, strengthening its role in supporting the country’s energy security and renewable energy transition.
The new facility, located in Rochdale, forms part of Masdar’s planned £1 billion investment programme for battery energy storage system projects across the UK.
With a capacity of 35 megawatts and 70 megawatt-hours, the Rochdale plant can supply enough electricity for approximately 35,000 homes each day, based on two charging and discharging cycles.
The project will also provide grid-balancing services by responding to changes in electricity supply and demand within milliseconds. This capability will help improve the stability, security and reliability of the UK power network.
Masdar entered the UK battery storage market following its acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022. The company subsequently committed to developing a 3 gigawatt-hour pipeline of storage projects, representing one of the country’s largest portfolios.
The investments are expected to support the integration of renewable energy, improve grid flexibility and contribute to reducing electricity costs for consumers. They also align with the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which aims to establish up to 27GW of battery storage capacity by the end of the decade.
Husain Al Meer, Executive Director of Global Offshore Wind and UK at Masdar, described the start of operations in Rochdale as an important milestone in the company’s £1 billion UK battery storage commitment.
He said battery storage was becoming increasingly important as electricity demand rises and renewable generation expands, adding that Masdar remains committed to delivering the infrastructure needed to strengthen UK energy security and support further renewable energy deployment.
The Rochdale facility follows Masdar’s 20MW/40MWh Welkin Road project in Stockport, which began commercial operations in December.
Masdar is also developing storage projects in Chesterfield and Cardiff with a combined capacity of 150MW/300MWh. Financing for the four UK projects was completed recently, with the company securing up to £97 million from SMBC and ING.
Battery storage systems store electricity during periods of low demand and release it when demand rises. This flexibility helps stabilise electricity networks, enables greater use of renewable power and supports reductions in carbon emissions and consumer energy costs.
Masdar said its UK facilities are being developed according to international safety and security standards. The projects include advanced fire detection and suppression systems, round-the-clock CCTV monitoring and local emergency response capabilities.
The company is also consulting with local stakeholders to ensure the projects provide benefits to surrounding communities while contributing to the wider UK economy.
Masdar is expanding its battery storage portfolio as global electricity demand increases due to electrification, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. In October, the company broke ground in Abu Dhabi on a gigascale solar and battery storage project combining a 5.2GW solar plant with a 19GWh storage system. The development is designed to deliver up to 1GW of baseload power around the clock.
In addition to battery storage, Masdar is a major investor and developer in the UK offshore wind sector. Its projects include a €5.2 billion co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE wind farm and the proposed 3GW Dogger Bank South project being developed with RWE.
Masdar currently has more than 65GW of renewable energy capacity across global markets, covering solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, battery storage and hybrid technologies. The company aims to increase its total capacity to 100GW by 2030.
