By Tage Erikson TagEnergy announced its 100MW/200MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) has connected to the UK’s 132kV Drax substation on the national grid. This makes it the UK’s largest transmission-connected battery, it said. The project is 100% owned and operated by TagEnergy. Tesla has provided a system of Tesla Megapack 2XL lithium-ion batteries. Habitat Energy partners as route to market and battery optimiser, while the British independent renewable energy company RES (Renewable Energy Systems) is asset manager. Franck Woitiez, CEO of TagEnergy, said: “For a while, Lakeside will be the largest transmission-connected BESS project in the UK, and it is an important project that truly moves the needle for the energy transition.” The project team said the new facility will boost the capacity and flexibility of the network, helping to balance the system by soaking up surplus clean electricity and discharging it back when the grid needs it. National Grid’s adjacent Drax 400kV substation already hosts the connection for Drax power station – the UK’s largest biomass facility – and will also connect the Eastern Green Link 2 electrical connection when it starts importing energy from Scotland in 2029. TagEnergy was founded in 2019 as part of the French Impala SAS Group. It acquired full ownership of the facility from RES in December 2021. It commenced construction in August 2023 and closed financing in October 2023. In October, TagEnergy had another 100MW/200MWh Tesla Megapack BESS energised in Yorkshire. For a short time, that was the UK’s largest transmission-connected BESS.