brand new 2-hour 500 MW (1000 MWh) energy storage facility in the South Lanarkshire village of Coalburn will be one of the largest BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) sites in Europe when it is finally finished. BESS sites store excess renewable energy, generated by technologies such as solar PV and wind, in large battery modules, ready to release it back into the grid during periods of peak demand.
The client for this project was SP Energy Networks, one of the major distribution network operators (DNO’s) in the UK. With approximately 30,000 substations, 25,000 miles of overhead power lines, and 40,000 miles of underground cabling, they provide power to around 3.5 million homes and businesses.
ADE was contracted by SP Energy Networks to design and manufacture a bespoke modular enclosure to house all the necessary protection, control, and switching equipment for managing the import and export of electricity between the battery modules and the National Grid via the nearby Coalburn substation.
The result was a 4 module enclosure, totalling 16.67 metres long, 10 metres wide, and 3.7 metres high. The modules were fitted out at ADE with lighting, sockets, heating, a fire alarm system, ventilation, and dehumidifiers, as well as a kitchen, toilet, and washroom. Following delivery to site, the enclosures were positioned and connected before installation of the protection, control, and switchgear panels commenced. The Coalburn BESS facility is due to come online in October 2025.
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