Mitie and Elements Green get building on 720 MWh Staythorpe battery storage project in the UK

Mitie Power & Grid and renewables developer Elements Green have begun construction on the 360 MW / 720 MWh Staythorpe battery energy storage system (BESS) in Newark, Nottinghamshire, approximately 180 kilometers north of London. 

The £71.5 million facility (USD 83 million) is a significant grid-scale BESS projects in Europe and is slated to be operational by mid-2027. Once complete, it is expected to store enough renewable energy to power more than 95,000 homes for a full day, strengthening U.K. energy resilience and supporting the transition to net zero. 

Mitie, through its specialist arm G2 Energy, will lead design and construction of the facility, and its associated 400kV grid substation. Elements Green will oversee the project’s community and environmental commitments, including a 25.7% biodiversity net gain through 12 acres of new woodland, wildflower meadows, and the planting of more than 120 trees. 

The project will have a planned lifespan of 40 years and Mitie states that the build phase will create around 60 jobs. 

The project has been in the news several times in the past weeks, with RES securing the five-year operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the BESS, which is due to commence in 2026. Chinese energy storage manufacturer Hithium is likely to have won the contract to deliver its 5 MWh BESS DC blocks for the full 720 MWh capacity.

Mark Caskey, managing director of Mitie Projects stated that the company was proud to use its expertise to support the UK’s clean energy goals.

“We’re proud to be delivering one of the U.K.’s most significant energy storage projects,” Caskey said. “Staythorpe BESS is a perfect example of how Mitie Power & Grid is applying its deep infrastructure expertise to support the UK’s clean energy transition.”

Elements Green CEO Rasmus Friis said the partnership with Mitie helped support the local community. 

“Our relationship with Mitie combines leading technical expertise with a shared commitment to biodiversity, education, local jobs and supporting the community – creating a project that works for both people and planet,” Friis said. 

Friis then added it was about “working hand in hand with our neighbours to deliver lasting value.”