Root-Power has started construction on a large-scale battery storage project in Essex, the developer’s third project to enter the construction phase since its launch earlier this year.
The battery energy storage system (BESS) with a capacity of 11 MW and a duration of 2 hours (22 MWh) is located at London Gateway, the deepwater port on the north bank of the River Thames.
Root-Power said the site in Corringham, Essex, was selected due to its proximity to the UK Power Networks Coryton substation, from which it will take the name Coryton Energy Park.
Existing transmission infrastructure will be utilized, meaning major grid reinforcements will not be required, while the site will have lower grid connection costs than comparable projects, Root-Power said.
Launched early this year and backed by independent power producer (IPP) YLEM Group, the developer has a pipeline of 2 GW of BESS projects under development.
Earlier this month, the company said it had submitted 210 MW of new planning applications for BESS projects, bringing its planning total to more than 1 GW. According to the company’s website, in addition to Coryton, it has two other projects under construction: the 50MW/100MWh Broomloan project in Glasgow and a 12MW project at Tillingdown in Caterham, Surrey.
Root-Power received planning permission for Tillingdown earlier this month. Although it was initially proposed as a 2-hour runtime asset, and is still listed as such on the developer’s website, it is now being built with a 4-hour runtime (12 MW/48 MWh).
The Tillingdown project is being built in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the developer received local authority approval from Tanbridge Council, partly on the strength of its commitments to create a habitat bank, which will support biodiversity beyond the location will help secure.
When developing the Coryton project, Root-Power said it had to consult extensively with local planners due to the flood risk and the presence of protected species. Coryton is expected to become commercially operational in the first quarter of 2025.
Canadian Solar subsidiary e-Storage has been selected to deliver the project’s BESS solution, while Eclipse Power Networks will act as independent distribution network operator (IDNO). Independent Connection Provider (ICP) for Coryton will become RJ Power.
In August, the Root-Power director wrote in a guest blog for sister site about the importance of the Labor government recognizing the role energy storage must play in the national energy mix. Current±. Neil Brooks made the call amid government pledges make Britain a “renewable energy superpower” and overhaul the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
