Battery energy storage system (BESS) developer Root-Power has been granted planning permission for a 50MW/100MWh ‘Lucky Star’ project in Kent.
The Lucky Star 2-hour duration BESS is located near Herne Bay, on Kent’s northern coast, north of Canterbury. It is being strategically located 100 metres from the Herne Bay Substation, enabling the battery storage site.
In doing so, this reduces infrastructure development costs associated with connecting a utility-scale BESS to the national grid.
It is also located near the Owls Hatch Solar Farm, a 49.9MW utility-scale solar PV power plant developed by British Solar Renewables and currently owned by Cubico Sustainable Investments. The power plant spans around 213 acres.
According to Root Power, the Lucky Star BESS is “perfectly placed to optimise grid stability and maximise renewable energy generation.”
The company said on LinkedIn that planning permission was granted for the project in under six months, with no outstanding objections.
Neil Brooks, Managing Director at Root-Power, commented: “Our portfolio of approved projects continues to grow with this announcement in Kent. Battery storage is going to play a critical role as the government plans to ramp up the deployment of renewable energy generation as part of its Clean Power 2030 plan.
“We look forward to starting construction on the site, which will support the reinforcement of electricity infrastructure in the area and provide long-term resilience and energy independence.”
Root Power begins construction on 48MWh BESS in Surrey
Root Power has also confirmed it has started construction on its 12MW/48MWh 4-hour duration BESS Tillingdown Farm site in Caterham, Surrey.
The BESS is located within the green belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
As such, the development process was previously described as “exhaustive,” and Root-Power’s team consulted with AONB officers and local wildlife groups before submitting the planning application in late 2023.
Root Power received planning permission for the BESS in September 2024.
Brooks hinted that Root Power’s delivery team is now gearing up to commence construction on its next three projects, with more than 130MW due to be online before the end of 2026.
