1.4 GWh at a single site. Europe’s BESS market has a new leader in the UK

International energy storage operator BW ESS has had an eventful week in the European energy storage market. The company entered the French market by acquiring two utility-scale BESS assets from Recurrent Energy. At the same time, it achieved financial close for the Hams Hall project in the UK, which will become Europe’s largest operational battery energy storage facility by energy capacity (1.424 GWh).

Debut in France

BW ESS is entering the French market with the acquisition of two standalone BESS projects, each rated at 100 MW / 400 MWh (a combined 200 MW / 800 MWh). The facilities are located in the Calvados and Pyrénées-Orientales departments.

Both projects are at an advanced stage of development. BW ESS plans to work closely with Recurrent Energy on their construction and subsequent operation.

BW ESS CEO Erik Strømsø emphasizes that the investment addresses the specific characteristics of France’s energy mix. The country’s electricity system, which relies heavily on nuclear power, requires increasing flexibility due to the growing share of renewable energy sources and fluctuations in demand. Battery storage facilities are expected to provide fast-response capacity reserves and absorb surplus electricity generated from low-carbon sources.

Financing secured for a giant UK project

Meanwhile, the company has finalized a debt financing package for its flagship Hams Hall project in the UK. Three banks – OCBC, Rabobank, and Societe Generale – will provide equal shares of debt financing for the project, which will have a target power capacity of 400 MW and an energy storage capacity of 1,424 MWh.

Located near a National Grid substation, the project will be developed in two phases:

• Phase one – will deliver 350 MW / 1,243 MWh and is scheduled to become operational before the end of 2026.
• Phase two – will increase the facility’s total capacity to the target 400 MW / 1,424 MWh.

The long-term revenue stream for the project’s first phase has been secured through a 10-year floor & optimization agreement signed with EDF in the first half of 2026.