Varco Energy has today (14 April) announced that it has begun full commercial operations at its Native River battery energy storage system (BESS).
The Native River BESS has a 57MW/138MWh capacity and is located just south of Liverpool in the Mersey Ring section of the UK grid. According to Varco Energy, the Native River BESS, which uses lithium-ion batteries, is one of the longest-duration transmission-connected BESS assets in the region.
The project was first announced in September 2023. At the time, GE Vernova also confirmed that it would supply modular units of its FLEXInverter, FLEXReservoir and FlexIQ solutions to build the development.
The asset is Varco Energy’s first to come online, and the company expects to energise a further 250MW of assets in the UK over the next 18 months. The company currently has an additional 275MW of BESS plans in its pipeline.
Richard Whitmore, director of Varco Energy, called the start of commercial operations at Native River a milestone that “represents a significant step forward in Varco’s expanding portfolio of BESS assets”. Whitmore also thanked Varco’s team for the delivery of the project, praising their “unwavering dedication, expertise and commitment”.
Varco and Arenko scale their ambitions
The Native River BESS is one of many that are functioning under an asset management software deal between Varco Energy and Arenko.
In September of last year, Varco Energy and Arenko agreed a deal that will see Varco Energy’s BESS assets, including the Native River BESS, integrated into Arenko’s Nimbus Performance software. This software package allows asset owners to see comprehensive data on the performance and income of their BESS assets.
The Nimbus Performance software leverages AI technology in order to provide Varco Energy with automated asset management services. Additionally, Arenko will trade Varco’s battery storage assets in the energy market under the deal.
Last year also saw Varco Energy partner with Ethical Power on a 47.5MW BESS in Cornwall. In July 2024, the two companies announced their plans to develop the Sambar BESS near Newquay, Cornwall, for which Ethical Power will undertake the electrical, mechanical and civil infrastructure needed to connect the project to the national power grid. The project is reportedly expected to come online by the second quarter of this year, and GE Vernova will once again supply BESS equipment for the site.
