NatPower UK is developing a 1GW / 8GWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) at Wilton International, Redcar, in Yorkshire. The £1 billion project is fully privately funded and will operate in phases, initially providing four hours of storage with the capacity to expand to eight hours. The GigaPark is designed to combine grid-scale storage with dedicated port electrification infrastructure.
The site covers 32 acres and holds a 1GW connection agreement to the National Grid through a 400kV substation. NatPower aims to commission the facility by 2028. The infrastructure is built to supply shore power to ships at berth and recharge electric propulsion systems for future vessels, supporting maritime decarbonisation.
The project will store surplus renewable electricity from offshore wind and other generators, releasing it during periods of peak demand or low generation. Large-scale deployment of long-duration storage could reduce national renewable curtailment by up to £3.5 billion per year. It will also replace the need for fossil-fuel peaker plants, stabilising the grid, cutting emissions, and supporting energy-intensive industries such as steel, chemicals, advanced manufacturing, and logistics.
Construction is expected to create around 200 jobs, with ongoing skilled roles in operations and maintenance. NatPower plans to invest up to £2 million annually in a community benefit fund and is exploring partnerships with local colleges, universities, manufacturers, and logistics operators to develop training and supply chain opportunities.
The GigaPark positions Teesside as a national clean energy hub within the UK Freeport network. Its scale and reliability will appeal to industrial off-takers, including data centres and clean manufacturing facilities, while serving as a model for integrating high-capacity storage and port electrification across the UK and internationally.
 at Wilton International, Redcar, in Yorkshire.){kind=link}