NextPower UK ESG (NPUK) has acquired a 29MW, two-hour duration standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) in Glasgow. Known as “Rutherglen,” the ready-to-build project is NPUK’s 13th UK acquisition and its third in November.
NPUK, a ten-year private fund launched by NextEnergy Capital, focuses on acquiring utility-scale solar and BESS projects at the ready-to-build stage to develop a large operational portfolio.
The Rutherglen BESS will connect to transmission interfaces between Scotland and England, enabling it to provide constraint management services to the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Capacity expansion is also possible through augmentation.
Dario Hernandez, head of battery storage at NextEnergy Capital, said: “The improvements in NESO dispatch capability, together with impressive lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology and cost improvements, provide an excellent entry point for monetising standalone storage.”
Ross Grier, COO and head of investments added that Rutherglen marks NPUK’s first standalone BESS project, calling it a “significant milestone for the fund.”
NPUK’s portfolio now includes 49MW of battery capacity, while total BESS capacity across NextEnergy Capital funds exceeds 700MW. Recent acquisitions include the 18.5MW Locks Solar Farm in Hampshire, bringing NPUK’s total portfolio capacity to over 500MW.
