Ørsted has completed construction of the 300 MW Iceni battery energy storage system (BESS) near Norwich, Norfolk, marking a milestone as the project moves towards commissioning and operation. The facility is Ørsted’s first large-scale battery energy storage system in the UK.
The system has an energy storage capacity of 600 MWh and comprises 170 battery units installed alongside the onshore converter station for Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm. Once operational, it will be able to store surplus electricity and discharge it when demand rises, helping balance the electricity grid.
The project’s configuration has presented particular engineering challenges. Its battery installation is divided into two areas separated by the Hornsea 3 onshore converter station. The sections are connected by 18 cross-site cables operating at 33 kV, each more than 600 m long.
The BESS also shares a grid connection point with Hornsea 3, adding technical complexity compared with a standalone battery installation connected directly to the National Grid.
Although construction is complete, mechanical and electrical work is still being finalised. Cable installation and termination are under way, while the first stage of commissioning and testing has begun. Preparations are also progressing towards energising the battery system’s transformer.
Ørsted project manager Beatrice d’Eufemia said the project would “make the best use of renewable energy produced in the UK… helping to balance the grid, and lower electricity costs for everyone.”
Ørsted is delivering the project with Hitachi Energy, Knights Brown and Tesla. The company says Iceni will be among Europe’s largest battery energy storage installations when completed.
The project’s next milestones are completion of electrical works, energisation and commissioning before it becomes fully operational.
