The BESS project will be located on the site of SSE's former coal-fired power station at Ferrybridge. Image: SSE Renewables.

SSE Renewables has broken ground on its 150MW/300MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in West Yorkshire.

The renewable energy arm of SSE confirmed that the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024 and will be able to provide the GB national grid with 300MWh of flexible capacity for two hour periods.

The project, which is located at the company’s former Ferrybridge coal-fired power station, is being developed in conjunction with battery technology supplier Sungrow Power Supply and construction partner OCU Services and will harness Sungrow’s liquid cooled energy storage system dubbed ‘PowerTitan’.

Commenting on construction of the project starting, Richard Cave-Bigley, director of solar and battery at SSE Renewables, said: "We’re breaking new ground with our first battery at an existing SSE site. Ferrybridge used to be a coal site; but today we’ve evolved to building a 150MW flexible battery asset that can store the energy we need to help get to net zero."

Lewis Li, president of Sungrow Europe, added: "Sungrow is proud to supply our liquid cooled energy storage system, the PowerTitan, to this landmark project. We are excited for what is to come with our partnership with SSE Renewables as we work towards maximising the profitability for the project with cutting-edge products and services."

The Ferrybridge project will become SSE Renewables’ second battery storage project in delivery with the company already constructing a 50MW project in Salisbury, Wiltshire, as reported by Solar Power Portal.

Building on this, the firm has also secured planning consent for battery storage projects at Fiddler’s Ferry in Cheshire (150MW) and Monk Fryston (320MW), Yorkshire.