Ampeak Energy (AIM:AMP) announced it has completed delivery of all batteries and key components for its Afon Wysg 1 (AW1) battery storage project at Uskmouth, putting the scheme on track for energisation later this month and full commercial operation in the first quarter of 2027.
The London-listed developer and operator of sustainable energy infrastructure is building AW1, a 240MWh battery storage scheme, at its Uskmouth Sustainable Energy Park in Wales, one of the UK's largest battery storage sites. Ampeak has previously flagged AW1 as its flagship project, with construction progressing in line with programme as of its half-year results reported in September.
The 55 batteries were supplied by e-STORAGE, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar, which will also handle commissioning, while principal contractor Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK installed the batteries alongside 36 inverters, 18 twin skids and the main grid transformer over a 22-day delivery window.
Ampeak is also progressing plans to expand AW1's capacity to 480MWh, with foundations already poured to allow the expansion to proceed with what the company says will be minimal disruption to the operating 240MWh asset.
"Our flagship project is a proof point in delivery," said David Taaffe, Ampeak's CEO Designate, who is due to succeed Graham Reid as chief executive when Reid steps down on 4 January 2027.
"We're thrilled to see the project continuing its excellent progress and look forward to reaching our next major milestone, which will be the first energisation of the batteries from the grid later this month," he said, adding that charge and discharge commissioning will follow before the company moves to "rapidly financially close the expansion to 480MWh."
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Matt Paterson, managing director for EMEA at e-STORAGE, said the next test is energisation and commissioning, when "the batteries and power conversion systems have to perform together as one system on the grid."
The company reused around two-thirds of the existing power station export cable for the new grid connection and completed a new on-site substation, while also creating an attenuation pond and carrying out landscaping as part of an ecological enhancement plan.