Battery Energy Storage System (Bess) Developer Root-Power has received a building permit for a Bess of 30 MW/60mWh in Greater Manchester.
The development of Ellen Road Bess is located next to the M62 Fastweg near Rochdale, Greater Manchester. The site was chosen because of the limited agricultural potential, whereby the proximity of the highway presented both challenges and benefits for the planning process, whereby the high level of environmental background noise helps the approval of development. Current plans for the site only occupy 0.6 hectares, but Root-Power notices that the site has the potential to be expanded if the need occurs.
The building permit was secured in less than five months, without outstanding objections from legal consulti’s.
The project has so far come as part of a successful series of planning approvals in 2025. Last week the developer announced that it had received a building permit for a 100 MW/200MWH Bess in SLAEFORD, Lincolnshire, who also received approval in less than five months.
Neil Brooks, director of Root-Power, said that the company was ‘enthusiastic’ to guarantee the building permit for the Ellen Road Bess, and added: “Greater Manchester is one of the most energy-intensive regions in the UK, and this project at Rochdale will add important spring power and security to the local network”. Brooks also noted that the company expects an exciting few months in advance, with a large Bess project that will soon be live and three projects in the detailed design phase.
A strong start for Root-Power
This year has already been full of success for Root-Power, a relatively new access to the British BESS market.
Ellen Road is the sixth Bess project for which the developer has received the planning state in the past three months. Last month, Root-Power announced that the building permit had been granted for a 40 MW/80mWh Bess in Rotherham; Just like the Ellen Road Bess, this is also next to a large highway.
Earlier that same month, the company insured the planning state for the Dounreay Bess, a project of 34 MW/68MWH in the Scottish Highlands; Once connected to the grid in 2026, the Bess Noord -Scotland and the Orkney Islands will serve.
Meanwhile, in January, Root-Power started the year with a strong foot after winning the planning stamping for the 40MW/80mWh Osgodby Bess, located in Selby, North Yorkshire. Once completed, the project will connect to the supply point of Osgodby -Grast and it will yield a net profit of the biodiversity of 40.72%.
