International renewable energy developer Greenfield has successfully secured planning permission for a 99.9 MW BESS in Shropshire, UK.
Greenfield has worked with developer Renewable Power Capital (RPC) to develop the Ironbridge BESS project, which will connect to the distribution network via the former Ironbridge Power Station Substation.
The substation was connected to the Ironbridge Power Stations, which were completely switched off in 2015, and demolition began in 2017 after Power Station B was decommissioned.
The Ironbridge BESS will contribute to the stability and network efficiency of the UK electricity grid by providing appropriate stored energy in response to supply and demand. It is also predicted to deliver approximately 1.2 million tons of saved CO2 over its lifetime.
The collaboration between Greenfield and RPC has seen the developers has successfully secured seven BESS projects in the UK: Cardiff, Tredington, Steventon, Canalside, Sacketts Hill, Sudmeadow and Coventry.
Following construction of the 99.9 MW BESS in Shropshire, the combined approved capacity of Greenfield and RPC will reach over 452 MW.
“Ironbridge is a strategically important project within our growing BESS portfolio and reflects the increasing role of distribution-connected infrastructure in supporting the UK’s energy transition,” said David Ring, Managing Director at Greenfield.
“With a capacity of 99.9 MW, this plan will provide crucial flexibility to the network, balancing supply and demand as renewable energy generation continues to grow.”
Greenfield has stated that the BESS site will also prioritize biodiversity and contribute to Shropshire’s environment. After area development, Greenfield expects an increase of approximately 18.79% in habitat units, 18.51% more hedgerow units and a 20.4% improvement in watercourse units.
The biodiversity considerations were an important addition, with Shropshire Council granting planning permission after assessing environmental and technical considerations.
Ring noted: “We are building a scalable pipeline of projects that not only support grid resilience but also deliver meaningful environmental value.
“The pace at which we are bringing projects forward demonstrates both the demand for storage and our ability to deliver infrastructure at scale.”
