Two major battery storage projects have been boosted by investment decisions this week.
SSE Renewables has taken a final investment decision to proceed with the construction of its 320MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Monk Fryston, Yorkshire.
Meanwhile, the UK Infrastructure Bank has announced a £60 million loan to support Pacific Green in its development of a new 249MW electricity storage park in Kent.
Combined the two projects have a capacity of more than 1GWh.
SSE’s 320MW / 640MWh Monk Fryston BESS will be one of the UK’s largest battery storage projects, with construction slated to begin within months.
Richard Cave-Bigley, director of solar & battery at SSE Renewables, said: “It’s fantastic that we have taken a final investment decision on the Monk Fryston BESS project, one of the largest battery storage projects in the UK.
“This is another positive step towards reaching our net zero targets, enabling us to provide stored energy to the grid and provide balancing energy supply to support intermittent renewable energy generation, and, in doing so, strengthening the UK’s energy security.
“The project team has worked very hard to reach this landmark milestone and I’m looking forward to construction starting in the coming months.”
SSE Renewables’ Solar and Battery portfolio currently comprises four projects in delivery in the UK totalling 550MW, including: a 50MW BESS site in Salisbury, a 150MW BESS site in Ferrybridge, a 30MW solar farm in Littleton, and now a 320MW BESS site at Monk Fryston.
A 150MW BESS site in the former SSE coal-power station at Fiddler’s Ferry has also been consented, with construction potentially commencing as early as 2024 subject to reaching a final investment decision.
National Grid has forecast that up to 29GW of storage could be needed by 2030 and up to 51GW by 2050 – up from around 5GW today.
To meet that target, the UK Infrastructure Bank has identified investment in battery storage as a priority.
The £60 million investment in the Sheaf Energy Park in Kent is the second debt investment made in the battery storage market by the government-led investment vehicle.
It follows its £62.5 million commitment to Pulse Clean Energy in May, in addition to £200 million of investment into the Equitix UK Electricity Storage Fund and Gresham House Secure Income Renewable Energy & Storage LP.
John Flint, UK Infrastructure Bank chief executive, said: “The rapid scale-up of renewables onto the grid means the UK needs more storage capacity, and we need it fast. That means scaling this technology which in turn presents challenges for the market. This is exactly why the Bank is here.”