• Groundworks start at 99MW / 198MWh Clay Tye site in Essex – the biggest battery energy storage system under construction in the UK.
  • The Clay Tye launch comes immediately after the completion of West Sussex-based battery storage project Contego which has a capacity of 34 MW / 68 MWh; another FRV, Harmony Energy and Tesla project which is now live.
  • Both projects use a system of Tesla Megapack lithium-ion batteries, together with Tesla’s Autobidder AI software.
  • Together, Clay Tye and Contego strengthen FRV’s portfolio of battery energy storage projects worldwide.

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, and UK developer Harmony Energy, have announced the launch of the UK’s largest battery storage development project in their mission to contribute to the decarbonization of Britain’s energy grid.

Work has started immediately at the 99MW / 198MWh Clay Tye site in Essex, which is the biggest project of its kind under construction in the UK. Clay Tye follows the successful completion of FRV and Harmony Energy’s joint 34 MW / 68 MWh Contego battery energy storage facility in West Sussex.

Both projects use a system of Tesla Megapack lithium-ion batteries, together with Tesla’s Autobidder AI software for energy capacity exchange and efficient project management. It is the second joint project in the UK to use Tesla Megapacks, following the Holes Bay project, which was also developed by FRV and Harmony Energy in 2020.

Contego and Clay Tye are amongst the most advanced and innovative energy storage systems in the country. They represent a major step forward in FRV’s global expansion, delivering on the energy company’s ambition to expand its portfolio of battery storage projects worldwide.

Fady Jameel, Deputy President and Vice Chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel remarked:

“We are excited to expand our presence in the UK through Abdul Latif Jameel Energy’s FRV and are committed to the development and deployment of the UK’s strategic sustainable energy program. We will continue to advance the global sustainability agenda while reaching FRV’s objective of doubling its capacity to 4GW by 2024. The Clay Tye and Contego projects are a promising milestone for future developments in the country.”

Today, FRV-X, the technology platform of FRV which creates innovative solutions along the renewable energy value chain, has a pipeline of around 1GWh of battery storage projects in different phases of development worldwide, including 83MWh already under operation.

David Menéndez, head of FRV-X, said:

“The start-up of Contego plant and the progress in the construction of the Clay Tye holds enormous significance for FRV, as it brings us closer to our goal of expanding our portfolio of energy storage projects internationally. They both represent our second and third operating plants in the United Kingdom, while we have another one under construction in Australia. In doing so, we are also making a significant contribution to the evolution towards a more sustainable energy model in the country, one of our strategic objectives as a company.”

For Yorkshire-based Harmony Energy, Contego and Clay Tye represent the latest projects in a strong pipeline of battery energy storage facilities. The company has around 1.2GWh of battery projects construction ready in the UK.

Peter Kavanagh, CEO of Harmony Energy, said:

“The completion of the Contego site is a significant milestone in the continued deployment of battery energy storage in the UK, representing our largest development to date and a significant contribution to the network. But we’re not stopping there – Clay Tye will be almost three times the size and the largest site of its kind under construction in the UK.

“It’s widely recognized that battery storage is critical to achieving Net Zero in the UK and projects of this size – delivered without subsidies – will be vital in providing flexibility to the grid.”

Both sites will be connected to the UK Power Networks distribution network, providing the capability to store energy and increase flexibility of the UK National Grid as part of the country’s continuing shift away from fossil fuels.

Saadat Hussain, connections project manager at UK Power Networks, added:

“The next decade is set to be a transformative time for the electricity sector as we progress towards achieving Net Zero as a country. We look forward to playing a key role in connecting more renewable energy and electricity storage sites like these to our electricity networks.

“The electrical infrastructure work to provide a new 34MW power connection to the battery plant is now complete and the Contego site can start playing an important role in enabling the low carbon transition.”

With the entry into operation of the Contego battery energy storage project, FRV, Harmony Energy and Tesla Megapack are contributing to the decarbonization of the UK energy grid in what is one of the most innovative initiatives of its kind in the country. In doing so, FRV takes a big step towards its goal of achieving an increasingly sustainable energy system on an international scale.

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