Zenobē, a grid-scale battery storage owner and operator, has announced the acquisition of a 400MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Low Harker, Cumbria, UK, from Innova, a renewable energy and data centre developer.

The ready-to-build project supports the UK's target of reaching 25GW of BESS capacity by 2030, a substantial increase from the current 6GW.

The acquisition of the Low Harker site, which has a 2028 connection date, was facilitated by the government's decision to maintain a national approach to electricity pricing.

Innova has been developing the site since 2022 and secured planning consent in October 2023.

The Harker substation also acts as a crucial location for managing power flows and addressing locational constraints, which can lead to reduced costs for consumers.

It will also provide inertia and reactive power services, essential for network management in the region, especially after the decommissioning of the Heysham nuclear power station.

Zenobē plans to leverage its expertise in grid-forming inverters, as demonstrated at its Blackhillock site in Scotland, to enable the Harker project to offer multiple services to the grid.

This “stacking” of services aims to ensure a reliable power supply, lower energy costs and efficient use of renewable energy.

Zenobē’s global director of network infrastructure Semih Oztreves said: “The Harker project marks another milestone in delivering the flexible, resilient energy infrastructure the UK needs to accelerate its transition to net zero.

“Over the coming months, our team will focus on securing long-term route to market and supply chain partners – we look forward to engaging with the market on this. The site reflects our long-term commitment to developing, owning and operating battery solutions that support the energy transition without reliance on government subsidies.”

The 400MW Harker site adds to the 1.2GW of assets already in operation or under construction by Zenobē.

This move follows Zenobē's recent acquisition of the 1GW Butlers Wood connection, reflecting the ongoing collaboration with Innova to decarbonise the grid.

JLL provided advisory services for the transaction and served as Innova's financial advisor, with TLT and Foot Anstey providing legal counsel.

Zenobē received assistance from Pinsent Masons on legal matters and from Natural Power for technical support related to the project.