Construction is officially under way on SSE’s largest battery storage project at Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire.

A ceremony to mark the start of construction works on the 320MW facility took place recently with representatives from SSE Renewables, principal contractors Morrison Energy Services and energy storage supplier Sungrow in attendance.

The project is SSE’s largest battery storage facility in construction and one of the largest of its kind in the UK. Once completed, the site could power over half a million homes for up to two hours at a time, during times of peak demand.

Heather Donald, director of onshore wind, solar and battery at SSE Renewables, said: “It’s fantastic to have construction under way on our largest battery storage project at Monk Fryston, and to have been joined by our project partners Morrison Energy Services and Sungrow to mark the occasion.

“To be building a battery project of this size and scale is a huge testament to how far we have come in such a short space of time, with our first 50MW battery asset at Salisbury already entering full operations earlier this year.

“Battery storage projects like this one at Monk Fryston will be vital in reaching the UK’s net zero targets, providing flexibility to the grid when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing."

SSE’s first operational battery storage facility at Salisbury (50MW) entered full operations earlier this year, with a further two projects in construction at Ferrybridge (150MW) and Fiddler’s Ferry (150MW).

With work at Monk Fryston now under way, construction is expected to be completed by early 2026.

Once complete, the site will be capable of powering approximately 533,000 homes for up to two hours at a time.

To mark this project milestone, SSE Renewables, Morrison Energy Services and Sungrow have planted a ceremonial tree near the entrance to the site.