UK renewable energy developer Island Green Power has secured planning permission for a 125MW battery energy storage system (BESS) project in East Devon.
The Broadclyst Energy Storage Project will be located on approximately 25 hectares of agricultural land approximately 1 mile east of the village of Broadclyst in Devon. The plan includes battery containers and associated infrastructure, designed to support electricity grid stability and energy security in the South West of England.
The developer said the project will help balance electricity supply and demand as Britain increases its deployment of renewable energy and phases out intermittent generation capacity.
Jamie Gleeson, project development manager for Broadclyst, said: “We are grateful to the local people who participated in our consultation, and to the team who supported IGP through the design and application.”
In addition to the battery infrastructure, the project includes ecological mitigation measures, such as new native woodland planting and hedgerow improvements, intended to improve biodiversity and reduce visual impact.
The consent adds to a growing number of utility-scale storage projects progressing through the UK’s planning system, as developers seek to take advantage of increasing flexibility requirements within the electricity network. Battery storage assets are seen as crucial for integrating higher volumes of solar and wind generation, while helping National Grid manage irregularities and peak demand pressures.
The South West of England has become a key region for renewable energy and storage development, supported by demand for grid connections and the continued deployment of solar energy across the region.
Last year, Island Green Power has had its Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) application for The Droves solar plus storage project in East Anglia accepted by the UK Planning Inspectorate.
Once approved for development, the project would include approximately 500 MW of solar generation capacity, in addition to a battery energy storage system (BESS), although storage capacity was not disclosed.
