ContourGlobal has acquired the 500MW/2GW-hour (GWh) Wallace battery energy storage project in Ayr, Scotland, from New Energy Partnership, marking its first move into the UK.

Wallace is said to be one of Scotland’s largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) developments currently under way.

The facility offers four hours of energy storage, allowing it to absorb power during periods of excess renewable generation and discharge electricity to the grid when additional flexibility is required.

The site is located behind key transmission constraint boundaries, positioning it to support grid balancing against the region’s substantial wind generation surplus.

ContourGlobal said the addition will be the largest BESS project in its portfolio in terms of energy storage capacity.

Last month, the company commissioned a hybrid asset in Chile combining 200MW and 1.3GWh BESS.

It is also planning to begin construction on a 360MW/1.4GWh hybrid solar-plus-storage project in Arizona, US, in the coming months.

The Scottish project has full planning consent, a land option secured and has received Gate 2 status under the UK grid connection reform process.

It is expected to take part in upcoming UK Capacity Market auctions and participate in contracted and merchant arrangements, in line with market interest for tolling and route-to-market options.

The region’s surplus renewable generation, cooler climate and growing demand for digital infrastructure are expected to drive further demand for projects that enable grid stability and help reduce curtailment of clean energy.

ContourGlobal CEO Antonio Cammisecra said: “Entering the United Kingdom is a key step in our strategy to become a leading independent power producer in renewables and energy storage.

“The UK combines a world-class regulatory environment, a deep and liquid energy market, and a critical and growing need for flexible storage assets to support the integration of its wind generation capacity.

“Scotland, in particular, offers a compelling opportunity: the region produces a significant surplus of renewable energy that faces grid constraints in reaching demand centres further south, and large-scale battery storage is key to unlocking that value.

“We are proud to add the UK to our growing portfolio, and we expect to significantly expand our presence with a diversified pipeline of development opportunities in renewable generation and energy storage.”

ContourGlobal, an independent power producer, was acquired by US private equity firm KKR in 2022 in an all-cash deal valued at £1.75bn ($2.18bn).