Rothienorman Flexpower

A battery storage system in the Rothienorman area.

Connected directly to the national grid.

What is the latest news?

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Ground preparation is underway at the Rothienorman site

The site is currently being prepared ahead of construction. Groundworks are in progress, and delivery of the first equipment is expected in the coming weeks.

Follow the project progress

Project Timeline

Get an overview of the project process, from where we are now to the steps ahead.

Current state Q4 2026

Site Mobilization

Preparation of the site begins, including access, fencing and ground works. Construction traffic will start using the agreed local routes during this period. Nearby residents will be informed directly before work begins.

Q1 2027

BESS arrival at site

The battery units and main electrical equipment are delivered to site. Deliveries will take place over a limited period and are planned to minimise disruption on local roads. We will share the delivery schedule in advance.

Q3 2027

Construction Completion

All installation work on site is finished, including landscaping and planting. Construction traffic and on-site activity wind down. The site is prepared for testing and connection to the Rothienorman substation.

Q4 2027

Project commissioning

The facility is tested, energised and connected to the electricity grid. Once commissioned, the site operates quietly with only occasional maintenance visits. Rothi50 begins storing and supplying electricity to support a stable grid.

Location

The Rothienorman Flexpower Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is a planned 49.9MW BESS project situated on land to the north of the Wood of Middleton, at Middleton of Blackford, approximately 2.3km west of the village of Rothienorman – adjacent to the Rothienorman Substation.

Who we are

Rothienorman Flexpower was developed by UK-based Noriker Power Ltd, who identified the opportunity, secured planning permission, and designed the project from the ground up.

The project is now owned by Equinor New Energy Ltd.

BeGreen, an Equinor company, is responsible for delivering the project through construction.

What is a batterypark and why are we building it?

A battery works like an energy tank: it stores electricity when there is a surplus and releases it again when needed.

The heart of the system is lithium-ion batteries. We use a variant called LFP (lithium iron phosphate), which is known for being the safest and most stable battery chemistry on the market. Since it contains neither nickel nor cobalt, it is also a more sustainable choice. The technology is already used in the safest electric vehicles today. The battery itself is built in several layers: the cells are grouped into a battery pack, which is assembled into a battery rack, and finally everything is placed inside a container.

The electricity is stored as direct current (DC)

The batteries in the container store direct current and deliver it back in the same format.

The electricity is converted to alternating current (AC)

The inverter (PCS – Power Conversion System) converts the electricity from DC to AC when the battery sends power to the grid, and from AC to DC when the battery is being charged. In this project, the PCS is installed together with the medium voltage station in the same container.

The alternating current (AC) is stepped up to medium voltage

When the current leaves the battery containers through the inverters, it is stepped up to medium voltage (33 kV) inside the same container as the PCS.

The electricity is fed into the power grid

Because the project is built directly next to an existing substation owned by the grid operator, the electricity is fed directly into the grid at medium voltage (33 kV), without the need for a separate transformer substation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a battery storage system?

A battery storage system – also known as a BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) – is a large-scale rechargeable battery that stores and releases electricity when the grid needs it. It plays a vital role in stabilising the electricity grid and ensuring a reliable power supply.

How much noise does it make?

A battery storage system is generally considered a quiet form of energy infrastructure. There is a quiet hum from the cooling compressors and fans — similar to the sound of an air conditioning unit. Noise levels are strictly regulated by environmental standards, and the system is designed to stay well within those limits.

Why do we need battery storage?

The way we produce electricity is changing rapidly. As we move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, we face a fundamental challenge: the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. This means that electricity production can vary significantly throughout the day – and doesn’t always match when people and businesses actually need it.

Battery storage systems solve this problem by acting as a buffer. They absorb excess energy when production is high and release it back into the grid when demand peaks or renewable generation drops. This makes the electricity grid more stable, more flexible and better equipped to handle the growing share of renewable energy.