SPEN advances network projects as SSE breaks ground on its largest BESS

UK utilities SP Energy Networks (SPEN) and SSE have simultaneously announced milestones for three separate projects aiming to advance a net zero power network.

ScottishPower company SP Energy Networks has announced nearly £1 million ($1.3 million) of funding from Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund, managed in partnership with Innovate UK, to move two of its projects, Equiflex and LVOE, into their next stage.

This is the second round of funding secured for the projects through the Strategic Innovation Fund and will move them into the next phase of trials.

SSE has simultaneously announced that a 320MW battery energy storage (BESS) facility in Yorkshire has broken ground, marking construction on their largest battery project.

Equiflex and LVOE

Equiflex, awarded £424,011 (approximately $554,666) from the fund, aims to promote equal access to flexibility services on the power network.

The project, in partnership with Frazer-Nash Consulting Ltd, Energy Action Scotland, East Ayrshire Council, University of the West of Scotland and ScottishPower’s customer business will investigate flexibility options and barriers to access these services.

The project also aims to build a toolkit to advise stakeholders such as local authorities on how they can harness opportunities and overcome barriers to participate in the flexibility market.

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The LVOE project, awarded £490,119 (approximately $641,144), aims to address the low voltage imbalance experienced on the network as more households adopt low-carbon technologies like EVs, solar panels and heat pumps.

The number of customers adopting these technologies is increasing exponentially, and will continue to grow says SSEN, requiring substantial network upgrades to ensure everyone who wants to can install these technologies.

LVOE intends to explore the use of a low voltage power electronic device, known as the LV Optimiser, to help reduce the need for some of these upgrades, potentially offering multi-million pounds worth of savings.

Commenting in a release was Eddie Mulholland, director of Processes and Technology of SP Energy Networks: “Being able to move these projects forward, thanks to the Strategic Innovation Fund, will help us explore the feasibility of rolling these projects out, not just across our own network, but the wider electricity network.

“Securing this funding is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team as we continue to use innovation in the best interests of our customers and wider stakeholders.”

SSE’s largest BESS

At the same time as the renewed financing, SSE announced construction has started on their 320MW battery storage project at Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire – the company’s largest and one of the largest of its kind in the UK.

Once completed, the site is expected to power over half a million homes for up to two hours at a time, during times of peak power demand.

With work at Monk Fryston now underway, construction is expected to be completed by early 2026.

Commenting in a release was Heather Donald, director of Onshore Wind, Solar & Battery, SSE Renewables: “It’s fantastic to have construction underway on our largest battery storage project at Monk Fryston, and to have been joined by our project partners Morrison Energy Services and Sungrow to mark the occasion.

“Battery storage projects like this one at Monk Fryston will be vital in reaching the UK’s net zero targets, providing flexibility to the grid when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing.”

SSE’s first operational battery storage facility at Salisbury (50MW) entered full operations earlier this year, with a further two projects in construction at Ferrybridge (150MW) and Fiddler’s Ferry (150MW).