Driving net zero: HV commissioning power for 500 MW battery site

Client:H&MV Engineering

Location:Scotland

Sectors:Utilities

The challenge
Coalburn 1: Powering the UK's clean energy future
The solution
A bespoke power and testing package
The result
Powering sustainability with renewable energy integration

The challenge

Supporting commissioning in testing conditions

The Coalburn 1 500 MW battery storage facility marks a major European milestone, and a crucial step toward the UK's net-zero goals.

Commissioning demanded high-voltage testing that replicated live grid conditions. The constraints? Strict space limits and sustainability requirements. Any delay or failure would disrupt a critical clean energy project.

5 MWHV load bank and Stage V generator package

500 MWBattery energy storage site

HVOHydrotreated vegetable oil biofuel

500 kVAGenerator packages for LVAC panels

The solution

A bespoke power and testing package

We designed a bespoke solution that delivered three critical outcomes: accurate testing, uninterrupted power, and lower emissions.

Precise load simulation: Our load banks replicated real-world conditions exactly with reliable commissioning data
Clean, stable power: Clean generator power kept testing on track while hitting emissions targets
Engineered to fit: Tight technical constraints? We engineered our power package to work within exact parameters
True partnership: We collaborated with H&MV Engineering for 18 months. From early design conversations to final on-site delivery

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The result

Powering sustainability with renewable energy integration

Coalburn 1 completed commissioning and transitioned into full operation. One of Europe's largest battery sites is now live, adding 1 GWh of critical storage for UK grid stability.

What we delivered:

Verified performance under pressure – Battery and control systems tested under live-grid conditions
Reliable high-voltage testing within constrained site limits
Clean and efficient – Reduced on-site emissions while maintaining peak efficiency
New benchmark set – Commissioning targets met and a new standard established for sustainable grid-support projects

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This project delivers 1 GW of storage to strengthen grid stability and cut 103,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, enough to power 184,000 homes with cleaner, more reliable energy. Testing and commissioning were crucial, and we chose Aggreko for their proven expertise in complex, high voltage solutions focused on safety, reliability, efficiency and sustainability.

Hugh Prentice, Senior Project Manager at H&MV Engineering

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