London-based renewable energy developer Elements Green has acquired the 300MW/600MWh Newarthill Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Scotland from developer Geocore.
The transmission-connected project, located near Motherwell, was granted planning permission in February 2025 and is designed to last for two hours, with the potential to extend to four hours. The project is expected to be completed in October 2029.
A network connection has been established via an adjacent 275 kV substation, with a network offer obtained from the UK National Energy System Operator (NESO) as part of the ongoing network reform process.
Elements Green said the acquisition strengthens its position in strategically important areas of the UK transmission network as renewable energy penetration increases and system operators look for additional flexibility capacity.
The Newarthill project is located close to the B6 and B4 network boundaries in Scotland, an area characterized by high levels of renewable generation in addition to transmission restrictions. Large-scale BESS projects in these locations are increasingly seen as crucial for managing congestion, reducing the curtailment of renewable energy sources and supporting system stability.
Battery storage projects such as Newarthill can absorb excess renewable generation during periods of network congestion before offloading electricity back to the grid during periods of higher demand, reducing reliance on peak thermal generation.
“Newarthill is located at a crucial network junction, where high urban demand coincides with significant renewable energy generation, making it an ideal asset for Elements Green as it deepens its presence in the UK BESS market. I am confident the project will play a meaningful role in supporting wider system stability,” said Lloyd Garvie, director of Geocore
Legal advisors to Elements Green on the transaction were Bird & Bird and Brodies, while Savills Earth Capital Advisors acted as financial advisor to Geocore.
The acquisition adds to Elements Green’s international development portfolio, which exceeds 14 GW of solar PV and energy storage projects. Current developments include the 1.1 GW Great North Road Solar & Biodiversity Park in the UK, with 440 MW of BESS capacity, the 350 MW Eurimbula Renewable Energy Park in Australia combined with 666 MW of storage, and the 400 MW Alfstedt BESS project in Germany.
In January this year, Elements Green completed the acquisition of a 148.8 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in West Sussex from developer Envirotech Energy Solutions.
