Spanish renewable energy platform Matrix Renewables has announced its access to the British market with the acquisition of two independent Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects in Scotland.
Through a partnership with Green Bess Developments UK, part of the Czech investment group Creditas, Matrix will continue the development of the ECCLES and Kilmarnock Bess assets that have a combined capacity of 1GW/2GWH.
The two sites are planned for the grid that was connected in 2027 and Matrix said that it is currently in negotiation with an unnamed UK EPC provider and the completion of the technical configuration of the projects, the application and the financing structure.
Managing Director for Europe and Latin -America at Matrix Renewables, Sergio Arbeláez, explained that access to the VK, which he called the “most advanced market in Europe for independent battery storage”, is in line with the company’s investment strategy.
Matrix is planning to develop more than 2 GW of extra generation and storage capacity in the UK over the next three years, and sees more than £ 1 billion invested in the country. Supported by Global Alternative Asset Manager TPG and its $ 27 billion (£ 20.9 billion) Impact investment platform, includes the portfolio of Matrix 15.5 GW solar, storage and green hydrogen projects in Europe” the US and Latin -America.
Both the ECCLES and the Kilmarnock Bess projects are located along electricity transmission corridors between Scotland and England, which are currently very limited.
If large amounts of wind generation in Scotland produce too much electricity to be transported where it is necessary in England, the storage places, each with a capacity of 500 MW, will save electricity that would otherwise be wasted.
Intergen brought the Bess projects for planning before they, together with two other approved projects, the Gateway and New Deer Battery sites, were sold to Green Bess Developments UK in 2023.
The ECCLES Energy Center was approved in December 2024 by the Scottish Energy Constent Unit (ECU), while the Kilmarnock Energy Center was approved by the ECU this week on 7 April.
The sale was part of the acquisition of Creditas Group from Intergen from parent company Sev.en Global Investments.
