RES to manage 1 GWh Coalburn battery project for CIP in Scotland

RES has signed an asset management agreement with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) for the 500 MW / 1 GWh Coalburn battery energy storage system in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The project is located at a former coal mining site.

The facility, co-developed by CIP and Alcemi, is being constructed in two phases. The first phase, Coalburn 1, is expected to become operational later in 2025. A second 500 MW site, named Coalburn 2, is planned to follow by 2027. The project is part of a wider UK battery pipeline being developed by CIP, which states it is the country’s largest investor in battery storage. RES will be responsible for the site’s long-term operational management and performance, from its nearby control centre in Glasgow.

RES was responsible for the development, construction, and ongoing management of Scotland’s first utility-scale BESS, the 20MW Broxburn Energy Storage facility located in Broxburn, West Lothia, brought online in 2018.

“Coalburn is a significant step forward for grid-scale storage in the UK and we’re proud to be supporting its long-term operation,” said Ian Hunter, global head of asset management at RES. “We look forward to a successful long-term partnership with CIP as we help strengthen the UK’s energy infrastructure.”

Malcom Paterson, CIP’s Commercial Director, said: “CIP’s latest investments in Scottish battery energy storage will increase our BESS portfolio in the UK to a capacity of 1.5GW. This supports the UK’s pursuit of a clean power system by 2030 and the goal of delivering a net zero carbon economy by 2050.”

CIP noted it is developing a further 4.3 GW pipeline of BESS projects across the UK and is currently the UK’s largest investor in BESS.

RES is the world’s largest independent renewable energy company, with projects active across 24 countries and energy storage, solar, wind, green hydrogen, transmission, and distribution, and says it has delivered, globally, more than 28 GW of renewable energy projects and plans to bring more than 26 GW of new capacity online in the next five years. It says it has also supported 43 GW of renewable assets across 1,300 sites, offering asset management, operations and maintenance (O&M), and spare parts.

RES also reiterated in a statement that it has previously called for faster grid upgrades and a planning system that can keep pace with the rapid rollout of clean energy infrastructure.