BW ESS starts Hams Hall, Europe's largest battery by capacity at 1,243 MWh
The first phase of the West Midlands project brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh online, reaching commercial operation 20 days after energisation.
BW ESS has started commercial operations at the first phase of its Hams Hall battery energy storage system in North Warwickshire, England, adding 350 MW / 1,243 MWh to the grid 
bw-ess.comBW ESS newsbw-ess.comOpen source ↗
energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗. The company announced the milestone in London on November 2 and says it makes Hams Hall the largest battery in Europe by storage capacity in MWh energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗
renewableenergymagazine.comRenewable Energy Magazinerenewableenergymagazine.comOpen source ↗.
Hams Hall battery: phases and numbers
Phase one reached commercial operation just 20 days after energisation and was built "on budget and ahead of schedule", according to chief executive Erik Strømsø energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗. The site connects to the nearby Hams Hall 400 kV National Grid substation energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗.
| Parameter | Phase 1 | After phase 2 |
|---|
| Power | 350 MW | 400 MW |
| Storage | 1,243 MWh | 1,424 MWh |
| Duration | about 3.5 h | about 3.5 h |
BW ESS says the full 400 MW / 1,424 MWh system will be able to support around 1.3 million homes for up to 3.5 hours energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗. Sungrow, Energy-IO, National Grid and the system operator NESO worked with the company on commissioning, testing and preparation for operation energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗.
How the project is financed
Revenue is underpinned by a 10-year floor agreement with EDF, which guarantees a minimum income while the battery trades in the market energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗. In October BW ESS secured debt financing for the full 400 MW / 1,424 MWh project from OCBC, Rabobank and Societe Generale energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗. Hams Hall joins the 331 MWh Bramley battery in Hampshire in the company's UK portfolio, and it is part of the 2.6 GWh Ardenham portfolio co-owned with AIP Management energy-pedia.comEnergy-pediaenergy-pedia.comPhase one of Hams Hall brings 350 MW / 1,243 MWh into commercial operation; BW ESS says it is the largest battery in Europe by MWhOpen source ↗renewableenergymagazine.comRenewable Energy Magazinerenewableenergymagazine.comOpen source ↗.
Long-duration batteries of this size let the grid store surplus wind and solar output and release it during evening peaks, reducing curtailment of renewables.
