EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Zenobē has commenced commercial operations at its 300 MW / 600 MWh Kilmarnock South BESS in Scotland, delivered in less than two years. The subsidy-free project strengthens UK grid stability, supports offshore wind integration, and expands Zenobē’s UK operational battery capacity to 731 MW as part of its £1 billion Scottish investment programme.
Company: Zenobē
Project: Kilmarnock South BESS
Location: Kilmarnock, Scotland, UK
Capacity: 300 MW / 600 MWh
Status: Commercial Operation
Purpose: Grid Stability & Renewable Integration
UK-based battery owner and operator, Zenobē has commenced commercial operations at its 300 MW / 600 MWh Kilmarnock South Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Scotland. The project gone live in just 2 years after financial close and follows the company’s 200 MW Blackhillock BESS entering operation in March 2025.
Kilmarnock South BESS is included within the company’s £1 billion investment programme covering battery storage and clean transport infrastructure in Scotland. The commissioning of this site has increased Zenobē’s operational battery capacity in the UK to 731 MW. An additional 568MW / 1,230 MWh battery storage capacity is under construction across several locations. In Scotland, Zenobē has 1.3 GW of storage assets that are either operational or in development.
The project, located near several offshore windfarms, will also provide Stability Services using grid-forming inverters and will be the second BESS in the UK to deliver this capability after Blackhillock.
The project has been delivered with support from several industry partners. Wärtsilä supplied its Quantum energy storage system technology, Omexom handled the balance of plant works, and EDF Energy serves as the route-to-market provider. Kraken’s platform supports EDF Energy’s control, dispatch, and trading operations for the battery system.
Along with technical and commercial activities, the company continues to work with the local community through a Community Benefit Fund administered by Foundation Scotland. The fund supports education and training initiatives within the local area throughout the operational life of the project.
James Basden, Founder Director of Zenobē, said that the Kilmarnock South project operates as a subsidy-free battery asset and is designed to support lower energy system costs while contributing to UK energy security. He added that the project aligns with the company’s approach to expanding its UK battery portfolio to support greater utilization of renewable power across the electricity network.