UK optimization deals: GridBeyond grabs 50 MW, EDF bags 50 MW from Ganfeng’s first project in Britain

In announcements this week, big batteries in the UK show the level of competition both in electricity markets, where more precise control is required, and for battery optimizers, as they compete for market share.

The first announcement came from energy company ep Group, which said Dublin-based smart energy company GridBeyond will deliver optimization using AI for a 50MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in North Baddesley, UK, while also handling enrolment in the capacity market.

The partnership further supports ep Group’s joint venture with Norwegian power systems and battery storage specialist, Pixii, which was launched in 2025, and is known as ep Pixii. It will aim to meet demand for optimised distributed energy systems in the UK, and the trio, now in a wider partnership, will offer GridBeyond’s optimization, combined with Pixii’s BESS and power conversion tech, and ep Group’s delivery expertise.

The exact BESS project, and capacity to be made available, were not detailed. One of the few public BESS projects in the region, desote tje the busy UK battery market, was developed by Boom Power.

EDF signs on with China’s Ganfeng

Also announced this week was a deal between Chinese company Ganfeng Lithium and EDF. Again, a 50 MW BESS, this time at Kintore in Scotland, where EDF will optimize and operate the 160 MWh capacity of the system.

It marks an expansion for Ganfeng, with its first large-scale energy storage venture in the UK, and it will make use of EDF’s Powershift platform for real-time battery optimization services. EDF will also handle enrolment in market and asset optimization.

Powershift’s comprehensive platform embraces real-time market data, modelling, and AI to deliver results for battery assets, as they trade and participate across energy trading, ancillary services, grid stability and more, using Ganfeng’s own BESS platform.

“Partnering with EDF allows us to bring Ganfeng’s advanced energy storage technology to the UK market”, said Zhang Diyuan, Head of Ganfeng’s overseas energy storage business.