Green energy company EDF Renewables UK has secured planning permission for three grid-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) in recent weeks, with a total capacity of 221MW..
The three new grid-scale lithium-ion battery storage facilities will be located in Kent, Norwich and Essex, and have a capacity of 50MW/100MWh, 114MW/228MWh and 57MW/114MWh, respectively.
EDF stated that planning permission had been granted for the Kent battery project in July 2023 and will support the government's target of reaching net-zero by 2050.
The Norwich battery project, which will have the highest capacity of the three, was granted consent at the end of August 2023 with construction anticipated in early 2024. EDF’s project will consist of 176 battery cubes along with power conversion systems and cooling units. Underground cabling will connect the battery asset to the Norwich Substation.
Finally, the Essex-based battery asset is expected to begin construction in early 2024 with the aim of being operational in early 2025. The firm stated that it is actively seeking methods to improve the local environment, via a biodiversity net gain, with the proposals.
All three of these projects will be co-located with nearby solar projects.
Currently, EDF Renewables UK has two 50MW battery storage facilities operational in Kemsley and Oxford, with two more sites in the West Midlands set to be operational this autumn, and a further two sites currently in construction.
“The approval of our Sellindge, Norwich and Braintree battery storage facilities is an active proof point of the growing momentum behind battery storage and we are really pleased with the progress we’ve been able to make over the summer. We are taking an important step towards creating a smarter, cleaner and more resilient electricity system that will enable the transition to renewables that we need as we look to tackle the climate crisis,” said Simone Sullivan, head of storage at EDF Renewables UK.
“What we’re doing is not only providing the battery technology needed to improve grid flexibility but also co-locating it near our planned solar farms – breaking new ground to ensure a zero-carbon energy system for these regions.”
