Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has announced that Coalburn 1, a 500-megawatt lithium-ion battery energy storage system located in South Lanarkshire in southern Scotland, has commenced commercial operations, making it the largest operational battery energy storage system in Europe.

A Landmark Project for UK Energy Infrastructure

The project, developed through CIP's flagship fund Copenhagen Infrastructure IV, represents a significant addition to the United Kingdom's energy storage landscape.

Coalburn 1 is a two-hour duration battery energy storage system, meaning it can deliver its full 500 MW of power capacity over a two-hour period. The system is transmission-connected, linking it directly to the national grid infrastructure rather than operating at a distribution level.

CIP has positioned the project as a key tool for strengthening flexibility and resilience within the UK power system, as well as supporting the continued integration of renewable energy generation.

The company noted that greater energy storage capacity can help accommodate larger volumes of variable renewable power, such as wind and solar, which do not generate electricity on a constant basis.

Part of a Broader Scottish Portfolio

Coalburn 1 does not stand alone. It is one of three transmission-connected battery energy storage assets that CIP has developed in Scotland. The other two projects, Coalburn 2 and Devilla, are part of the same strategic cluster of energy storage investments. Together, the three assets are expected to provide a combined 1.5 gigawatts of power capacity and 3 gigawatt-hours of energy storage once all sites are operational.

CIP described the trio of projects as evidence of the firm's ability to develop, commercialise, and deliver energy infrastructure at scale. The combined capacity of the three Scottish BESS projects would place CIP among the largest energy storage developers active in the United Kingdom.

Executive Commentary

Nischal Agarwal, a Partner at CIP, described the completion of Coalburn 1 as an important milestone for the firm. "The successful delivery of Coalburn 1 marks an important milestone for CIP and our growing European BESS portfolio," Agarwal said.

"As Europe's largest operational battery energy storage system, Coalburn 1 will enhance the flexibility and resilience of the UK electricity system, support the integration of more renewable power, and contribute to lowering costs for consumers."

Agarwal also used the announcement to highlight the broader strategic significance of the project within the context of CIP's industrial capabilities, pointing to the combination of Coalburn 1, Coalburn 2, and Devilla as a demonstration of what the firm can deliver across the full development and construction lifecycle.

About Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners was founded in 2012 and operates as a global fund manager focused on energy infrastructure investment. The firm invests across a range of energy sectors through its funds, including power generation from solar and wind, energy storage, transmission and distribution, advanced bioenergy, low-carbon fuels, and carbon capture.

CIP currently manages 15 funds and has raised approximately 43 billion euros to date from more than 200 institutional investors. The firm operates across more than 30 countries and employs a network of over 2,300 professionals globally.

Context Within CIP's Recent Activity

The Coalburn 1 announcement comes during a period of active project development for CIP across multiple geographies. Earlier in August 2026, the firm announced that its CI Growth Markets Fund II had reached financial close on La Esperanza Solar, a combined battery and solar project in Mexico that will mark CIP's first project in that country.

Prior to that, at the end of June 2026, CIP announced that its Advanced Bioenergy Fund had taken a final investment decision on Cobirgy, a 230 gigawatt-hour biogas plant in Spain. CIP described Cobirgy as set to become one of Spain's largest biogas facilities and the fund's first investment in the country.

The completion of Coalburn 1 adds a significant operational asset to a portfolio that spans continents and technology types, with the Scottish project serving as a flagship example of the firm's battery storage capabilities in Europe specifically.

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