Scotland
UK
Ireland
London
Rolls-Royce has commenced construction on its first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in the UK, located in Falkirk, Scotland.
The project is being delivered under an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for Voltaria Helios Energy Storage, a leading battery storage platform.
The facility will feature the mtu EnergyPack, boasting a capacity of 86 MWh and an output of 43 MW. This is equivalent to the energy demand of approximately 10,000 homes or a major industrial site. The system is scheduled to connect to the grid in 2026 and become fully operational in 2027.
The Falkirk site is designed to store excess electricity during periods of high renewable production—particularly from wind—and feed it back into the grid during peak demand. This process helps avoid the "uneconomical turn-down" of wind turbines, maximising green energy usage and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The project aligns with the UK’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which targets 27 gigawatts (GW) of battery storage capacity by 2030 to balance the national carbon-free electricity supply.
As part of the agreement, Rolls-Royce will provide a 15-year full-wrap long-term service agreement to maintain the system. The project also utilises the Scottish supply chain, a move welcomed by project partners.
Nigel Jefferson, CEO at Voltaria, said: "The Bankside project in Falkirk is the first of many battery energy storage sites Voltaria intends to deliver and operate. Rolls-Royce were selected because we were impressed by their commercial and technical offering... Rolls-Royce and the CATL battery solution are market leaders, and both stand for quality, so our expectations for the delivery and operation of this project are high."
Andreas Görtz, President Business Unit Mobile & Sustainable at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, added: "As a European turnkey integrator, we foster the energy transition by delivering storage solutions – from system design and EPC delivery to intelligent control and lifecycle support. Our collaboration with Voltaria draws on all the experience we have gained in over 200 battery projects worldwide."
