Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners committed more than €270 million to Kilmarnock South, a 350 MW / 1,400 MWh battery energy storage project in southern Scotland. The investment is being made through Copenhagen Infrastructure IV, the firm’s fourth flagship fund.
CIP has taken a final investment decision on the project, and construction is underway.
Commercial operations are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2028.
Kilmarnock South is designed as a four-hour-duration lithium-ion battery energy storage system.
Once operational, it is expected to become the longest-duration battery storage asset in CIP’s U.K. portfolio.
The project will store excess Scottish wind power that might otherwise be curtailed and return that electricity to the grid when network capacity is available.
Kilmarnock South represents CIP’s fourth investment in transmission-connected battery energy storage in Scotland.
The project joins Coalburn 1, Coalburn 2, and Devilla.
Coalburn 1 reached commercial operations in August 2026.
When all four projects are fully commissioned, CIP’s Scottish battery storage portfolio is expected to provide 1.85 GW of power capacity and 4.4 GWh of energy storage.
CIP said that level of storage represents nearly one-third of Great Britain’s current operational battery energy storage capacity.
The portfolio would have enough energy storage capacity to meet the electricity demand of more than 5.5 million households for two hours.
Kilmarnock South was developed by Noriker Power, which will continue managing the project’s construction phase.
The project also has an optimization agreement with Shell Energy Europe designed to provide long-term contracted revenue.
KEY QUOTES:
“CIP is pleased to add Kilmarnock South to our growing portfolio of UK battery projects, which, once commissioned, will be the longest-duration BESS asset in our UK fleet. Well-sited battery energy storage projects provide valuable power system flexibility which enables the full benefits of low-cost renewables to be captured, strengthening security of supply and helping to both cut and stabilise energy bills for consumers.”
Nischal Agarwal, Partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
“A former coal mine at Coalburn is now home to one of Europe’s largest batteries storing clean power, while at Kilmarnock South, a new GBP 232 million battery will store even more Scottish wind power for when it’s needed most. Together, these projects mean less homegrown power going to waste, greater energy security, and lower bills over the long term.”
Michael Shanks, U.K. Energy Minister
