Ørsted, a global leader in offshore wind energy, has officially begun construction on its first large-scale UK battery energy storage system (BESS) with a golden shovel ceremony.
Located next to Ørsted’s Hornsea 3 Offshore Wind Farm near Norwich, Norfolk, the Iceni system will have a 600 MWh capacity and a 300 MW power rating, enough to power 80,000 UK homes daily.
The project, named after a Norfolk warrior tribe, is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
Preparatory works are complete, and the installation will continue with the Ørsted, Knights Brown, and Tesla Iceni team. Once finished, it will be one of the largest battery storage systems in Europe.
Beatrice d’Eufemia, Project Manager, stated that this project is significant not only for Ørsted as its first large-scale battery installation in the UK, but also for the UK energy industry, as it involves two generators using one shared grid connection. This innovation could help alleviate network congestion and maximize existing grid infrastructure.
The system will store excess energy when generation exceeds demand, allowing it to be discharged later to help balance the grid.
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