The Stairfoot Battery Energy Storage System, also known as the Hunningley Stairfoot Battery, is a 40 MW grid-scale battery facility located in Stairfoot, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, adjacent to an existing Northern Powergrid substation. Developed and owned by smart energy infrastructure group SMS plc, the project was commissioned in 2023 as part of wider efforts to strengthen electricity network flexibility and resilience in the region.

The facility stores electricity from the grid, including power generated by renewable sources, and releases it during periods of peak demand or when additional network support is required. By providing rapid-response balancing services, the battery helps stabilise voltage and frequency on the GB electricity system while reducing the need for fossil-fuel-based backup generation.

The Stairfoot BESS forms part of SMS plc’s growing portfolio of battery storage assets across Great Britain aimed at supporting the transition toward a lower-carbon electricity system. By enabling greater integration of renewable generation and improving supply reliability, the project contributes to ongoing efforts to modernise the UK’s electricity infrastructure as energy demand patterns continue to evolve.