14th October 2025

Zenobē’s Blackhillock 200MW/400MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) has been included in TIME’s Best Inventions list of 2025. The site went into operation in March 2025 and became the first battery in the UK to provide key stability services to the National Energy System Operator, critical services to ensure an affordable and reliable renewable grid. 

Developed and operated by Zenobē, the leading owner and operator of grid-scale battery storage in the UK, Blackhillock BESS reduces the amount of wasted wind power by storing it and releasing it when needed. With grid forming inverter technology, Blackhillock can respond instantly to grid events, providing the critical inertia support previously delivered by fossil fuel generators.

Zenobē partnered with a range of industry-leading suppliers to develop the project including Wärtsilä, which supplied its Quantum energy storage system technology.

Semih Oztreves, Chief Commercial Officer (Network Infrastructure) at Zenobē, said “We are proud to see our Blackhillock Battery Energy Storage System, and the grid forming technology behind it, recognised by TIME in its Best Inventions List 2025. Zenobē has 1.2GW of battery storage assets in operation or under construction in the UK, this recognition demonstrates the critical role of grid-scale battery storage has to play in enabling an increasingly renewable grid.” 

In addition to TIME’s Best Inventions List, Blackhillock was also recognised as Best BESS Project over 100MW in the UK at the 2024 Energy Storage Awards – recognition by the industry of the significant engineering innovation behind its build.

The full TIME Best Inventions list is available to view here > https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2025/