EDF has entered into a long-term Battery Optimisation Agreement with Matrix Renewables for a 500MW/1GWh battery energy storage system under development at Eccles, Scotland. Under the agreement, EDF will provide route-to-market services and optimise the battery across all energy markets once operational.
The project is currently under construction – scheduled to begin commercial operations in summer 2027 – and will be Matrix Renewables’ first standalone battery storage development in the UK and one of the largest connected to the British electricity system. Located along key transmission corridors between Scotland and England, the site is strategically positioned to support the efficient flow of electricity across the network and to strengthen the grid’s resilience.
When operational, EDF will manage the commercial optimisation and dispatch of the battery using Powershift, its advanced digital trading and optimisation platform. Through Powershift, EDF will maximise value across wholesale and balancing markets, delivering essential grid services, supporting system stability, and enabling greater integration of renewable energy, with EDF now optimising a growing portfolio of battery assets across the UK and approaching 2GW of live, operational capacity under management.
Stuart Fenner, Commercial Director of Business & Wholesale Services at EDF, said, “Delivering EDF’s mission to build an Electric Britain depends on flexible assets that can respond instantly to the needs of the system. This project will provide exactly that capability. Using our Powershift platform, we will optimise the battery in real time to support grid stability, manage peak demand, and help integrate more low-carbon generation.”
Chris Matthews, Chief Commercial Officer at Matrix Renewables, added, “We are proud to deliver our first major battery project in the UK alongside a partner of EDF’s experience and capability. This agreement provides a strong platform for our continued investment and growth in the UK’s energy transition.”
All planning conditions have been discharged and full consent secured, enabling construction to progress at pace. The project forms part of Matrix Renewables’ ambition to develop more than 3GW of battery storage in the UK in the coming years.
