United Kingdom renewable energy developer Balance Power has secured planning approval for installing a 30-MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
The Rochdale BESS will include 12 battery units offering two hours in discharge duration. The Balance Power energy storage system project is estimated to deliver the power equivalent for more than 16,000 homes and help reduce CO2 emissions by about 11,000 metric tons per year.
“Securing planning approval for this project marks another important milestone in our mission to deliver cleaner and more flexible energy infrastructure across the UK,” Lois Gale, design lead at Balance Power, said in a statement. “We’re thankful for the constructive dialogue we’ve had with residents and council members to help ensure our Rochdale facility will bolster national energy security while delivering meaningful environmental and economic benefits for the local community.”
The site is expected to be energized in 2028. At the end of its operational life, the facility will be decommissioned and the land fully restored to its original state.
Estimates vary, but the current UK battery storage installed capacity is close to 10 GW. Close to an additional 40 GW are within projects approved or under construction.
In the U.S., utility-scale battery capacity is estimated at more than 30 GW, according to the federal Energy Information Administration.
Stationary battery energy capacity, mainly activating lithium-ion chemistries but increasingly adding longer duration technology such as iron flow and sodium-ion, is envisioned as helping balance out the intermittency of renewable energies. It also can provide grid services by storing electricity during low demand and discharging during peak demand.
Balance Power is partially funded through a E5.1 million (US$5.8M) debt facility from investment manager Triple Point. The company is focused on solar and battery storage projects across the UK.
