SSE Energy Solutions has entered into an optimisation and trading services agreement with energy storage developer Pacific Green Technologies (PGT) for its 1.5-hour 249MW/373.5MWh Sheaf Energy Park battery energy storage system (BESS).

Under the terms of the agreement, Pacific Green will be responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of Sheaf Energy Park, while SSE will provide optimisation services for a ten-year period from the start of commercial operations.

It is anticipated that commercial operations will commence in July 2025 and have an operating life of 35 years.

Sheaf Energy Park will be based in Kent next to Pacific Green’s first BESS development created under a framework agreed with TUPA Energy, dubbed Richborough Energy Park. Pacific Green recently secured a combined £123.5 million facility from NatWest and the UK Infrastructure Bank (UIB) for the Sheaf Energy Park at the start of November.

Scott Poulter, Pacific Green’s chief executive, said: “SSE is one of the UK’s most prominent and reliable energy providers, and we are thrilled to have them trading Sheaf Energy Park for the foreseeable future. Southeast England is an extremely dynamic part of the country’s electrical grid, so partnering with an experienced operator such as SSE will be a big asset towards Sheaf Energy Park’s success.”

SSE Energy Solutions has revealed a string of announcements in Q3 of this year. In September, the organisation unveiled a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to collaborate on new solar projects throughout the region.

Earlier in the same month, SSE confirmed it would develop what it stated was a “major solar power project” at Teesside Airport, with a potential capacity of 50MW.

Commenting on the optimisation and trading agreement with Sheaf Energy Park, Gordon Bell, managing director of SSE Energy Markets, said: “As one of the UK’s leading electricity generators, we clearly recognise the crucial role batteries will play in providing backup to renewables.

“Sheaf Energy Park can be a major contributor to our energy future and we look forward to bringing SSE’s leading markets expertise to bear as we provide trading and optimisation services across the next decade.”