Local authorities have given a building permit for independent battery storage and CO-located Zonnestorage projects from developers ESB, RES and renewable connections.
Although granting permission only represents one step in the process, from conception to commercial operation, it is an essential obstacle to erase together with financial conclusion, grid connection agreements, purchasing and other steps.
360 MW project in Cumbria
During a meeting on Wednesday (July 9), Cumberland Council Planning Committee approved the development of a 360 MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) and associated infrastructure well presented by developer ESB.
The Harker Moss Bess project is located in the Rockcliffe area of Carlisle, Cumbria, adjacent to the National Grid Harker -understation, with which it would be connected via underground cabling.
The planning committee has established that the application is ‘of strategic significance’ that was reported to the committee because it was an application for a development of renewable energy that covers an area of one hectare or more.
The principle behind the development of the project was assessed, together with its impact on the environment, including visual impact, impact on trees and hedges, living conditions of nearby inhabitants, net profit for biodiversity and highway safety. According to the committee, proposals for surface water drain and ‘other goods’ were also taken into account.
Developer ESB Scotland – not to be confused with the most important energy supplier of Ireland ESB – is accompanied by the recurrent energy and developer Windel Energy from Canadian Solar and developer Windel Energy when trying to make contact with the Harker substation.
Recurring and Windel jointly develop another 200 MW/400MWH Bess In the area.
Although ESB Scotland does not seem to be much of a public presence, the company said in September 2024 that it had signed intent letters (LOI) for the offer of 1.5GW Bess equipment from US Startup American Energy Storage Innovations (AESI).
ESB Scotland said that the agreement would cover the Harker project, for which the planned output and capacity were currently given at 371 MW/742MWH, as well as ESB’s High Nether Faul Farm at Gretna substation projects in Scotland.
Since then, however, According to various employee posts for LinkedIn in May, Aesi has encountered financial difficulties in May, according to various employees.with the company that ends, as reported by the sister site Energy storage..
Although there is not yet an official announcement, neither the company website of Aesi or his own LinkedIn page has been updated for a while. Energy storage.news’ Questions to AESI leaders in May are unanswered, but the news means that ESB Scotland will look for a new supplier.
RES -Project to connect to the substation, which once served the last coal -fired power plant in the UK
This week, RES celebrated the approval for his winking Hill Bess near Ratcliffe-on-Soar, South Nottinghamshire, by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
The 99.9 MW independent currency project will connect to the substation that used to be the coal-fired Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant. Owned and operated by Uniper, the 2GW coal -fired power plant was dismantled and closed in September last year. It was the final factory in the thermal generation in the UK.
“Storage of battery energy is one of the most effective tools we have to support the carbon of the grid, while the electricity system remains resilient and responsive,” said RES -Project manager Jenna Folkard.
“We are proud that this project plays its role in supporting the transition to a cleaner and more efficient network network after the dismantling of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant.”
RES emphasized in a release that is sent to the media, including a solar energy portal, that the approach to the development of the company exceeds the national policy requirements for biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). It includes the addition of special areas for native plants, hedgerow creation and habitat diversification. Res said it would result in an estimated increase of 77% in habitat units and an increase of 66% in Hedgerow units.
To date, the developer, who started in wind energy has only developed other technologies for more than ten years, including Zonne -PV and the latter battery storage, developed more than 830 MW of BES in the VK and Ireland and more than 600 MW of operational energy storage projects, 24/7 of the Glasgow Control.
Renewable connections celebrates the timing of the decision of the council during the Neso Connections Reform window
The celebration of this week was also renewable connections, which received permission from the Canterbury municipal council for a co-location of Zonne-Plus storage in Kent.
The Council made determination on July 4, after the renewable connections of solar PV and battery storage developer submitted his application in December 2024.
The developer noted that this timing means that the 38 MW Solar PV and 30 MW Bess project can be included in the Submission window for GATE 2 projects currently opened by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) as part of the reform process of the connections.
Under the NESO plan to cut the long -term grid connection queues at both the transmission and distribution levels, developers must request requests and submit evidence to maintain their place in the queue, and if successful, get an accelerated connection offer.
Neso gives priority to viable projects from serious developers who are in line with the goals of the Clean Power 2030 of the UK. The Submission window was opened on July 8 and closes just before midnight on July 29.
Renewable connections also emphasized the biodiversity plans it has drawn up for the project near Tyler Hill in Kent. According to the CEO of the company, Michael Hughes, the site itself, in addition to helping renewable energy in the grid and tackling the climate crisis, an increase in the biodiversity of more than 100% “as a result of the implementation of a package of landscape, ecological and biodiversity benefits.”
