Masdar expands UK battery storage portfolio with new Rochdale project

Abu Dhabi-based renewable energy company Masdar has started commercial operations at its second battery energy storage system (BESS) project in the UK, advancing its AED5 billion ($1.36 billion) investment program aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security and renewable energy infrastructure.

Located in Rochdale, the 35MW/70MWh facility can provide enough clean power for 35,000 homes per day, based on two charging and discharging cycles. The project will also provide grid-balancing services, responding to fluctuations in electricity supply and demand within milliseconds to support grid stability.

The launch follows Masdar’s acquisition of Arlington Energy in 2022, after which the company committed to developing a 3GWh pipeline of battery storage projects across the UK.

The portfolio is expected to support the integration of more renewable energy into the UK electricity system by storing power during periods of lower demand and releasing it when demand increases. Masdar’s investment also aligns with the UK government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which targets up to 27GW of battery storage capacity by the end of the decade.

“Beginning commercial operations at our Rochdale facility is a key milestone in our £1 billion ($1.36 billion) commitment to UK battery storage,” said Husain Al Meer, Executive Director, Global Offshore Wind & UK at Masdar.

“As electricity demand grows and renewable generation continues to expand, battery storage is becoming an increasingly vital component of maintaining a secure, reliable and affordable electricity network,” he added.

The Rochdale facility follows Masdar’s 20MW/40MWh Welkin Road battery storage project in Stockport, which began commercial operations last December.

Masdar is also developing BESS projects in Chesterfield and Cardiff, with a combined capacity of 150MW/300MWh. The company recently secured up to AED485.8 in financing from SMBC and ING for the four UK projects.

Battery storage is becoming increasingly important as electricity systems incorporate greater volumes of intermittent renewable energy. BESS facilities can store excess electricity and release it during peak demand, helping improve grid reliability while supporting efforts to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs.

The UK investments form part of Masdar’s broader push into battery storage as global electricity demand rises, driven partly by electrification, AI, and expanding digital infrastructure.

In Abu Dhabi, the company broke ground last October on a gigascale round-the-clock solar and battery storage project combining a 5.2GW solar plant with 19GWh of battery storage. The project is designed to deliver up to 1GW of baseload power each day.

Masdar is also expanding its UK offshore wind portfolio. Its investments include a AED22.2 billion co-investment with Iberdrola in the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE offshore wind project and the 3GW Dogger Bank South development in partnership with RWE.

The company currently has a global renewable energy portfolio exceeding 65GW across solar, onshore and offshore wind, battery storage, and hybrid energy projects, with a target of reaching 100GW of capacity by 2030.