A final investment decision for the 350 MW/1,400 MWh Kilmarnock South battery energy storage project in South Ayrshire, Scotland, was taken by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP). To begin commercial operations in Q1 2028, the lithium-ion BESS construction is already underway. Backed by an investment of more than €270 million, the four-hour project will store surplus Scottish wind power and release electricity to the grid when needed. It will become CIP’s longest-duration BESS asset in the UK once operational.
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Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a Danish firm that specializes in infrastructure investments, has taken the final investment decision (FID) for the Kilmarnock South BESS in southern Scotland, marking another major step in the country’s growing energy storage sector. The 350 MW/1,400 MWh lithium-ion battery project is now under construction and is expected to begin commercial operations in the first quarter of 2028.
Located in South Ayrshire, Kilmarnock South represents an investment of more than €270 million. The project is being developed through CIP’s fourth flagship fund, Copenhagen Infrastructure IV (CI IV).
With a four-hour storage duration, Kilmarnock South will become the longest-duration battery project in CIP’s UK storage portfolio once it starts operating. The system will store surplus electricity generated by Scotland’s wind farms and release that power back to the grid when network capacity is available.
This role is becoming increasingly important as Scotland expands its renewable power generation. Wind energy can sometimes be curtailed when more electricity is produced than the grid can immediately accommodate. Battery storage can help capture some of that otherwise unused electricity and make it available when demand or grid conditions require it.
Nischal Agarwal, Partner at CIP, highlighted the importance of well-located storage projects in supporting a more flexible power system.
“CIP is pleased to add Kilmarnock South to our growing portfolio of UK battery projects,” Agarwal said, noting that the project will be the longest-duration BESS asset in CIP’s UK fleet when commissioned. He added that storage can help capture the benefits of low-cost renewable power while supporting security of supply and helping stabilize energy costs.
Kilmarnock South will be CIP’s fourth transmission-connected BESS investment in Scotland. It joins Coalburn 1, which entered commercial operation in August 2026, as well as Coalburn 2 and Devilla.
Once all four projects are fully commissioned, CIP’s Scottish BESS portfolio will have a combined power capacity of 1.85 GW and an energy storage capacity of 4.4 GWh. The portfolio is expected to provide a substantial source of flexibility for the Scottish and wider British electricity system.
UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks also pointed to the role of the projects in making better use of Scottish wind power. He said the new battery capacity would help reduce renewable energy going unused while supporting greater energy security and potentially lower energy costs over the longer term.
With construction already underway, Kilmarnock South is set to become an important addition to Scotland’s battery storage infrastructure when it comes online in 2028.