Renewable energy developer Balance Power has received approval for an upcoming battery energy storage system (BESS) project in south-west Leicestershire.
Located in Hinkley, the 49.5 MW/99 MWh BESS project will include 28 battery units across the site. Planning permission was granted by Rugby Borough Council, without any public objections being raised during the planning and consultation process.
According to Balance Power, the project is expected to be energized in October 2025, although a construction start date has not yet been set. The facility has an expected lifespan of 40 years, after which the site will be restored to its original state.
Charlotte Vick, design lead at Balance Power, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been granted planning permission for this battery storage facility. It will have a significant impact on Hinckley and the surrounding area, creating local construction and operations jobs and increasing energy security and reliability.
She added: “In addition, battery storage is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero. As more and more renewable energy comes online, battery storage will play a crucial role in balancing supply and demand for clean energy, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels. We are very pleased to have received support from Rugby Borough Council and local residents.”
A financing injection facilitates Balance’s growth
This planning win for Balance Power comes after another major boon for the developer.
In July it was announced that Balance Power had secured a £5.1m debt facility in partnership with investment manager Triple Point, allowing Balance to continue expanding its solar and BESS portfolio in the UK. Part of this investment will go towards the acquisition of the Roborough project, a 6 MWP solar project with shared battery storage that Balance Power says is ready to begin construction.
Currently, Balance Power has almost 2GW of projects in the pipeline, including a 40MW BESS project in Cheadle, for which the developer successfully secured planning permission in March this year.
