Macquarie’s battery storage developer breaks ground on two British projects

Hazelwood big battery BESS engie eku
Hazelwood big battery. Source: Engie

Eku Energy, the battery storage developer owned by Macquarie Group, says it has broken ground on two new battery storage projects in England as it expands its global portfolio.

Eku Energy started life consolidating Macquarie’s Green Investment Group’s existing battery storage activities in the UK, Australia, Japan and Taiwan – a pipeline totalling over 3GWh.

That project portfolio has since been expanded to 4.6GWh, including its first operational battery project, the 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood Battery Energy Storage System at the site of the decommissioned Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria.

Eku Energy is also in the process of constructing the 200MW/400MWh Rangebank Battery Energy Storage System in Cranbourne West in Victoria and is developing the 250MW/500MWh Williamsdale Battery Energy Storage System in the ACT.

The two new British projects breaking ground this week include a 28MW/56MWh battery storage system in Basildon, Essex, and a 40MW/55MWh system in Loudwater, Buckinghamshire.

Built using battery energy storage systems from Italy’s NHOA Energy, both projects are expected to be operational by year’s end.  

“Breaking ground at Basildon and Loudwater is a major milestone for Eku Energy as we work to support the UK’s decarbonisation goals and expand our global footprint,” said Sandra Grauers Nilsson, CEO of Eku Energy.

“We have an ambitious pipeline of battery storage projects which we are developing at pace and scale, and we are delighted to have partnered with NHOA Energy to advance the energy transition.”

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.

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