Ampeak Energy breaks ground on first 240 MWh AW1 project in UK

Global developer and operator Ampeak Energy has officially broken ground on its landmark AW1 Battery Storage Project (titled as the AW1 Project) at the Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park in Wales. The site, a former coal-fired power station, has been repurposed by Ampeak Energy into a clean energy hub.

(Editor’s note for clarity: In August of 2025, the company known as SAE (SIMEC Atlantis Energy), which owns the Uskmouth park, changed its company name to Ampeak Energy.)

The AW1 Project is a 120 MW / 240 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), as part of a huge ongoing development. Ampeak has plans in motion for a second project titled the AW2 Project, which is twice the size of AW1 at 250 MW, and may be as long as a five-hour duration battery.

“With construction of AW1 already underway and on schedule, and planning due this year on the AW2 project, which is twice the size of AW1, I am proud that we continue to ensure that our vision becomes a reality,” said Ampeak Energy CEO Graham Reid. 

AW1 also saw announcements from Ampeak and Pexapark on operating the BESS, with EDF providing optimization. While AW2 is also to be an Ampeak Energy-operated project, with Econergy providing battery storage construction and financing.

According to Ampeak Energy’s Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park detailed plans, an AW3 Project is being worked on as well, with the site capable of supporting approximately 3.5 GWh of battery storage projects. AW2 is listed as being 500 MWh, with the potential to expand up to 1 GWh, while the largest AW3 BESS, at 1.4 GWh, is slated for development in the 2030s.

The projects are named after the River Usk in Welsh Afon Wysg – “AW1”, “AW2” and “AW3”.

Political and business leaders attended the ceremony held on-site in Newport, Wales, along with Ampeak Energy’s project team, to celebrate the financial close of AW1. 

Local Newport East MP Jessica Morden was also in attendance and stated that AW1 was crucial for the city, congratulating everyone involved in the project. 

“For decades, the Uskmouth site powered heavy industry and played a vital role in our local economy. Now, as it transforms into a sustainable energy park, it will help power the industries and jobs of tomorrow,” Morden said. 

Funding for AW1 was revealed in August 2025, with a £67.4 million package secured through a consortium led by Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord/LB), which provided £45.3 million in non-recourse project finance.