NatPower Unveils BESS with 8 GWh Over Eight Hours Storage Strength in the UK

Natpower, has revealed plans to inject EUR 1 billion into a large-scale battery storage project at Sembcorp Utilities’ Wilton International Site near Middlesbrough.

The investment is set to deliver one of the UK’s largest BESS facilities, with both capacity and duration expected to more than double those of current UK sites, Natpower said in a statement. The initiative is fully private and does not rely on government contracts. 

Natpower’s facility is expected to save the UK up to EUR 3.5 billion annually through enhanced grid efficiency and reduced curtailment of clean power sources. In partnership with local colleges and environmental groups, Natpower plans to create around 200 construction jobs while also developing specialized clean energy training programs.

A unique feature of the GigaPark will be supplying shore power (cold ironing) to berthed ships, cutting dockside emissions and powering future electric vessels. 

High-Capacity, Long-Duration Storage Upto 8GWh - 8 Hrs

NatPower UK has secured a 32-acre agreement at Wilton International in Redcar, targeting delivery of a 1GW / 8GWh lithium-ion Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), making it Britain’s largest and longest-duration project of its kind. 

Starting with 4 GWh of four-hour storage, the Teesside GigaPark can scale up to 8 GWh over eight hours.

According to CEO Stefano D.M. Sommadossi, “Teesside, our most advanced GigaPark, will be the blueprint for combining large-scale storage with electrification of ports and industry, transforming Teesside into a net-zero economic powerhouse within five years”.

The project includes a 1 GW connection agreement with the National Energy System Operator of the UK, ensuring a 400 kV link to the National Grid substation. NatPower aims to build and connect the site by 2028. For that the company will design infrastructure from the ground up to support port electrification, such as cold ironing and electric ship propulsion. 

Industrial Reach and New Opportunities

The reliability and scale of the GigaPark are expected to appeal to data centres, logistics, manufacturing, and other energy-intensive sectors. Natpower is already in talks with industrial off-takers, progressing draft commercial agreements for future partnerships.

This announcement comes as Labour’s National Wealth Fund committed to a EUR 500 million venture supporting battery storage across the UK. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and energy minister Michael Shanks have emphasised battery storage’s role in lowering bills and supporting clean power growth. 

With UK electricity demand forecast to soar by 50 percent before 2050 and shipping expected to add another 15 percent demand, the Teesside GigaPark’s robust battery system will store surplus clean energy for instant release during peak times or low generation, stabilizing the grid and reducing the need for fossil fuel-powered peaker plants, Natpower said.