A 200-megawatt (MW) and 400-megawatt hour (MWh) energy storage system, delivered by Wärtsilä to Zenobē in Blackhillock, Scotland, is now operational, marking the largest battery storage site in Europe.
This project is the first to be implemented under the Network Options Assessment (NOA) Stability Pathfinder programme, an initiative by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NESO) in Scotland aimed at enhancing long-term grid stability.
Zenobē, a specialist in grid-scale battery storage, owns and operates the Blackhillock system, which is designed to assist grid operators in balancing supply and demand, managing power stability, and alleviating network constraints. The facility provides critical stability services, including short-circuit level and true synthetic inertia, essential for a grid transitioning away from fossil fuel power plants. Zenobē estimates that the project will save consumers more than £170 million over the next 15 years.
The Blackhillock site is strategically located near three major offshore wind farms in the North Sea, positioning it to integrate significant wind power generation. By balancing the intermittent output from wind resources, the system minimizes the risk of energy wastage and supports the UK government’s goal of achieving a net zero power grid by 2030. Zenobē’s calculations also suggest that integrating additional wind power into the transmission network will prevent approximately 2.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over a 15-year period.
Wärtsilä’s contribution comes in the form of its Quantum battery energy storage system, complemented by the GEMS Digital Energy Platform. This sophisticated digital tool enables Zenobē to remotely monitor and operate the facility, optimizing energy flows during periods of peak renewable generation. The data-driven insights provided by GEMS facilitate participation in high-value segments of the UK electricity markets, easing network constraints and enhancing overall system efficiency.
In addition to the Blackhillock facility, Wärtsilä is supplying a second project to Zenobē—Kilmarnock South, a 300 MW / 600 MWh storage system built with Wärtsilä’s Quantum High Energy storage system. Expected to be operational by the end of 2025, Kilmarnock South will further enhance grid stability and reinforce the strategic importance of battery storage in the UK’s energy infrastructure transformation.
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